Jamee999
Hall of Fame Member
Yeah, sorry Liam, I did the report then slept.
Black vs Blue
Black Innings
As Liam Camps and Neil Pickup went back to their respective dressing rooms after the toss, it was the CW Black captain who had the initiative, having won the toss and sent out Simon Fitzsimmons and young Dan Smith to bat on the hard, flat PDV Dome pitch.
The two batsmen started aggressively, but Smith fell quickly, slashing at a swinging ball from Adam Collins, and watching it straight into Peter Young’s hands at slip for just six runs.
Fitzsimmons and Alex Blackman batted on, playing the bowlers away, and through good running, and great timing. When the two men returned to the changing-rooms at lunch, the score was 107-1, and CW Blue were on the back foot.
Travis Dezema got Fitzsimmons in his first over after the break, Fitzsimmons tried to fend off a throat ball, but only managed to send a looping catch to Young at slip.
Alex Blackman carried on batting well, passing fifty, and moving on with his partnership with CWXI batsman Chris Butler. As the two batters hit the CW Blue bowlers around, Butler and Blackman smashed Matt Currie to all corners of the Dome, and Butler’s fifty was brought up, a quick single off Adam Collins’ bowling. The two batsmen carried on past tea, and an Alex Blackman’s flick down to fine leg, to bring up his century, as the team continued past 200 runs and half an hour later, Butler and Blackman bought the 150 partnership up.
Later on that first evening, the new ball was taken. Travis Demeza and Adam Collins returned, to face the two buccaneering batsmen, who offered no respite. The powerful arms of Blackman and the amazing elegance of Butler pushed past the 300 mark, and the 200-run partnership, including one huge six straight back into the Media Centre from Blackman.
Sean Fuller and Liam Camps worked hard, and were able to keep the scores down at the end of the day’s play, as the two umpires called stumps with the score at 318 for 2, and both of the batsmen nearing milestones of one hundred and one hundred and fifty.
The next morning, the two batsmen found the pitch in a good state, with a fast outfield. Half-an hour in, Butler drove Demeza through the covers, and although Matt Currie got a hand on it as it rocketed along the floor, the batsmen were able to take two runs, and brought up Butler’s ninth century in his first class career. Soon after, Blackman cracked his one hundred and fifty, and the two took the attack to CW Blue.
Tom Halsey was determined he had Blackman with the second ball of his spell, as the Black batsman missed his slog sweep, and was hit inline with the stumps. The leg-spinner was gleeful, but his delight turned to misery as the umpire decided that the ball had pitched outside leg stump, and was thus not out.
Soon after though, there was joy for the Blue bowlers, as an Adam Collins yorker forced a simple return catch for the medium pacer to hold on to. It had been a determined innings from the CWXI star, and his two hundred and twenty-three ball innings had forced CW Black into a very nice position. Wicket-keeper Ash Chaulk strode to the crease at number five, and took the game to the bowlers. Fours, sixes, fours galore, as the timing of Chaulk, and power of Blackman advanced the game, breaking the four-hundred barrier, and then started hitting Matt Currie out of the attack, as lunch came, with the score at 416 for 3.
Chaulk passed fifty, and part-time spinner Andrew Cloete was brought into the attack to liven up proceedings. Wicket-keeper Alex Crampton shelled a catch from Travis Demeza, but it would have been catch of the season if he’d caught it, as he managed to get a hand to the ball, which was wide of orthodox first slip, so Chaulk was safe.
However, soon Andrew Cloete cleaned up the wicket keeper, as a quicker one out-foxed his attempt to flick over mid-wicket. His innings of fifty-seven was over, and as Mike Wilson came to the crease, all eyes were on Alex Blackman, as he came closer and closer to his double-century.
The great arms of Blackman played second fiddle to his brain, as he nudged singles, and ran quick twos, to bring him onto one hundred and ninety-nine as Tom Halsey, who thought he had him on one hundred and sixty, came on to bowl. Blackman blocked a ball. Left another as it turned past his off-stump. The next ball, he nudged it past DeSilva at short leg, and towards the leg-side boundary. The sweeper pulled it in, but Alex Blackman had done it. His maiden First Class double-century, and he pulled off his Black helmet, kissed the crest, and signalled with his bat to the dressing room, turned around and received a mighty bear hug from Mike Wilson. The score was 469 for 4, and as Blackman replaced his helmet, and went back to work, Nick Borcich was seen padding up on the Black balcony.
Later in the afternoon, Mike Wilson hit a towering drive from Sean Fuller straight into the Blue changing room, and soon after the new ball was taken. Blackman didn’t relent, pushing the score onto 526 for 4 at tea, and when he returned after the break by hooking Demeza out of the ground. Soon after, he got to watch Alex Crampton make a mess of a simple take after a Blackman leave, leading to four byes, and the one hundred-run partnership between Blackman and Wilson.
Unfortunately for him, Mike Wilson fell on forty-nine, looping a simple catch to Dinu DeSilva at cover. A cheer came up from the Croatian fans in the crowd, as Nick Borcich strode out to bat for CW Black, to try and hit the bowlers around. He only made it to ten, before getting an edge through to Crampton, while trying to hit Sean Fuller into Australia.
Callum Thompson came to the wicket next, and watched Blackman drive his way to two hundred and fifty, and get close to the CricketWebHead record First Class score of two hundred and fifty-three not out, scored by Rob Malone for New South Wales. A great cheer came out from the stands, as a flick went to the boundary, but was signalled as four leg byes by the umpire. Sean Fuller ran in next ball, and Blackman got a full bat on it, and it rolled down the hill for two runs. Blackman equalled the record. It took just one more delivery for the record to go, as he drove the ball to deep extra cover for two more, and the record score. His two hundred and fifty-five runs had taken five hundred and ninety-one balls, and after many of the CW Blue players, including Cricket Web XI captain Brendon Goff, had shaken his hand, he returned to his crease, after receiving a signal from the box. 3.0.0. Blackman was getting a chance at a triple century.
With thirty minutes left in the day, Matt Currie, who had been dispatched by Blackman, Butler and Chaulk earlier in the game, returned and trapped Thompson with his wrong’un, leaving the all-rounder bamboozled by the deceptive delivery. Dave Richards, spinner, and grafting lower order batsman came in next, and stuck by the more crash-bang-wallop style of Blackman, as he ended the day with two hundred and eighty-six unbeaten runs, one hundred and forty more than he had started the day with. For that night, life truly was Alex Blackman’s oyster.
The next morning, the third of the match, started geared totally towards Blackman. His innings didn’t have long to go, and after a punch over the rope by Richards, a jogged single brought up the triple-century, and after he dropped to his knees, raised both arms in the air, and received a standing ovation. He added one run to his total, bringing him to three hundred and one runs, with Richards on forty-four not out. It had taken 204 overs, and CW Black had scored 695 runs for seven wickets, when Neil Pickup called in Blackman and Richards, with only twenty-six minutes having been spent batting.
As Blackman came off the field, the whole ground rose to appreciate great batting. He walked past so many adoring fans, young children seeing the joys of cricket, pensioners, knowing they’ve watched something special. He shook many hands on the walk up the stairs, knowing that he’s waiting for a hero’s welcome in the changing room.
For CW Black the job was not done. They still had work in the field to work. But when you’re playing with a triple-centurion, anything’s possible.
Black vs Blue
Black Innings
As Liam Camps and Neil Pickup went back to their respective dressing rooms after the toss, it was the CW Black captain who had the initiative, having won the toss and sent out Simon Fitzsimmons and young Dan Smith to bat on the hard, flat PDV Dome pitch.
The two batsmen started aggressively, but Smith fell quickly, slashing at a swinging ball from Adam Collins, and watching it straight into Peter Young’s hands at slip for just six runs.
Fitzsimmons and Alex Blackman batted on, playing the bowlers away, and through good running, and great timing. When the two men returned to the changing-rooms at lunch, the score was 107-1, and CW Blue were on the back foot.
Travis Dezema got Fitzsimmons in his first over after the break, Fitzsimmons tried to fend off a throat ball, but only managed to send a looping catch to Young at slip.
Alex Blackman carried on batting well, passing fifty, and moving on with his partnership with CWXI batsman Chris Butler. As the two batters hit the CW Blue bowlers around, Butler and Blackman smashed Matt Currie to all corners of the Dome, and Butler’s fifty was brought up, a quick single off Adam Collins’ bowling. The two batsmen carried on past tea, and an Alex Blackman’s flick down to fine leg, to bring up his century, as the team continued past 200 runs and half an hour later, Butler and Blackman bought the 150 partnership up.
Later on that first evening, the new ball was taken. Travis Demeza and Adam Collins returned, to face the two buccaneering batsmen, who offered no respite. The powerful arms of Blackman and the amazing elegance of Butler pushed past the 300 mark, and the 200-run partnership, including one huge six straight back into the Media Centre from Blackman.
Sean Fuller and Liam Camps worked hard, and were able to keep the scores down at the end of the day’s play, as the two umpires called stumps with the score at 318 for 2, and both of the batsmen nearing milestones of one hundred and one hundred and fifty.
The next morning, the two batsmen found the pitch in a good state, with a fast outfield. Half-an hour in, Butler drove Demeza through the covers, and although Matt Currie got a hand on it as it rocketed along the floor, the batsmen were able to take two runs, and brought up Butler’s ninth century in his first class career. Soon after, Blackman cracked his one hundred and fifty, and the two took the attack to CW Blue.
Tom Halsey was determined he had Blackman with the second ball of his spell, as the Black batsman missed his slog sweep, and was hit inline with the stumps. The leg-spinner was gleeful, but his delight turned to misery as the umpire decided that the ball had pitched outside leg stump, and was thus not out.
Soon after though, there was joy for the Blue bowlers, as an Adam Collins yorker forced a simple return catch for the medium pacer to hold on to. It had been a determined innings from the CWXI star, and his two hundred and twenty-three ball innings had forced CW Black into a very nice position. Wicket-keeper Ash Chaulk strode to the crease at number five, and took the game to the bowlers. Fours, sixes, fours galore, as the timing of Chaulk, and power of Blackman advanced the game, breaking the four-hundred barrier, and then started hitting Matt Currie out of the attack, as lunch came, with the score at 416 for 3.
Chaulk passed fifty, and part-time spinner Andrew Cloete was brought into the attack to liven up proceedings. Wicket-keeper Alex Crampton shelled a catch from Travis Demeza, but it would have been catch of the season if he’d caught it, as he managed to get a hand to the ball, which was wide of orthodox first slip, so Chaulk was safe.
However, soon Andrew Cloete cleaned up the wicket keeper, as a quicker one out-foxed his attempt to flick over mid-wicket. His innings of fifty-seven was over, and as Mike Wilson came to the crease, all eyes were on Alex Blackman, as he came closer and closer to his double-century.
The great arms of Blackman played second fiddle to his brain, as he nudged singles, and ran quick twos, to bring him onto one hundred and ninety-nine as Tom Halsey, who thought he had him on one hundred and sixty, came on to bowl. Blackman blocked a ball. Left another as it turned past his off-stump. The next ball, he nudged it past DeSilva at short leg, and towards the leg-side boundary. The sweeper pulled it in, but Alex Blackman had done it. His maiden First Class double-century, and he pulled off his Black helmet, kissed the crest, and signalled with his bat to the dressing room, turned around and received a mighty bear hug from Mike Wilson. The score was 469 for 4, and as Blackman replaced his helmet, and went back to work, Nick Borcich was seen padding up on the Black balcony.
Later in the afternoon, Mike Wilson hit a towering drive from Sean Fuller straight into the Blue changing room, and soon after the new ball was taken. Blackman didn’t relent, pushing the score onto 526 for 4 at tea, and when he returned after the break by hooking Demeza out of the ground. Soon after, he got to watch Alex Crampton make a mess of a simple take after a Blackman leave, leading to four byes, and the one hundred-run partnership between Blackman and Wilson.
Unfortunately for him, Mike Wilson fell on forty-nine, looping a simple catch to Dinu DeSilva at cover. A cheer came up from the Croatian fans in the crowd, as Nick Borcich strode out to bat for CW Black, to try and hit the bowlers around. He only made it to ten, before getting an edge through to Crampton, while trying to hit Sean Fuller into Australia.
Callum Thompson came to the wicket next, and watched Blackman drive his way to two hundred and fifty, and get close to the CricketWebHead record First Class score of two hundred and fifty-three not out, scored by Rob Malone for New South Wales. A great cheer came out from the stands, as a flick went to the boundary, but was signalled as four leg byes by the umpire. Sean Fuller ran in next ball, and Blackman got a full bat on it, and it rolled down the hill for two runs. Blackman equalled the record. It took just one more delivery for the record to go, as he drove the ball to deep extra cover for two more, and the record score. His two hundred and fifty-five runs had taken five hundred and ninety-one balls, and after many of the CW Blue players, including Cricket Web XI captain Brendon Goff, had shaken his hand, he returned to his crease, after receiving a signal from the box. 3.0.0. Blackman was getting a chance at a triple century.
With thirty minutes left in the day, Matt Currie, who had been dispatched by Blackman, Butler and Chaulk earlier in the game, returned and trapped Thompson with his wrong’un, leaving the all-rounder bamboozled by the deceptive delivery. Dave Richards, spinner, and grafting lower order batsman came in next, and stuck by the more crash-bang-wallop style of Blackman, as he ended the day with two hundred and eighty-six unbeaten runs, one hundred and forty more than he had started the day with. For that night, life truly was Alex Blackman’s oyster.
The next morning, the third of the match, started geared totally towards Blackman. His innings didn’t have long to go, and after a punch over the rope by Richards, a jogged single brought up the triple-century, and after he dropped to his knees, raised both arms in the air, and received a standing ovation. He added one run to his total, bringing him to three hundred and one runs, with Richards on forty-four not out. It had taken 204 overs, and CW Black had scored 695 runs for seven wickets, when Neil Pickup called in Blackman and Richards, with only twenty-six minutes having been spent batting.
As Blackman came off the field, the whole ground rose to appreciate great batting. He walked past so many adoring fans, young children seeing the joys of cricket, pensioners, knowing they’ve watched something special. He shook many hands on the walk up the stairs, knowing that he’s waiting for a hero’s welcome in the changing room.
For CW Black the job was not done. They still had work in the field to work. But when you’re playing with a triple-centurion, anything’s possible.
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