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Cricket Web Black vs Cricket Web Colts
at Goffmouth Park
Battling to the very wet end, captain Neil Pickup stuck around with Nathan Hoy in a classic stand, which lasted all of 59 deliveries. Rain eventually played spoilsport to a fascinating finish, but the work done by Pickup and Hoy went a long way in securing a draw for the Blacks. When play was called off, the champions stood at 210/9, still 100 runs short of their victory target.
It was a game of twists, turns and fightbacks. The Colts batted first and reached 163/1, then built upon it more steadily in a total of 327. Happy with their batting effort, the home team was further delighted when Fitzsimmons and Smith perished early to the sharp Kyle Wright. The score shivered at 17/2, but the in-form David Kearsley accounted for a revival. Still, when the middle order fell away it was 140/6 and the Colts were in firm control. Enter Harry Warwick.
Noted more for his bowling than batting, Warwick showed the class he offers down the order in a partnership of 101 with Kearsley. By the time he was caught at midwicket off Hancock, the Colts still led by 86 runs and 7 wickets were down. When Pitt trapped Richards in front for 69, the lead was firmly with Black. Pitt trapped Kearsley for his second career wicket and ended the innings - 373 all out.
Never deterred by the deficit of 46, the Colts began to build some momentum on their side once more. Admittedly the task looked difficult at 36/2, but Burke and Towns handled it admirably with a stand of 106. Both fell short of deserved hundreds, and though the lower order crumpled, Jasotharan, Bharat and Rai made important contributions in a total of 355.
The champions facing a target of 310 in 76 overs. A thrilling last day contest. Smith and Fitzsimmons looked to be attacking the total at the start, but as Thomas bowled an incisive spell, the game swung the way of the Colts. The fall of each wicket energized the home crowd and the home team further, and when Pickup came to the crease, the result appeared secure. More than 12 overs remained in the game with 1 wicket needed by the Colts. "Surely only weather can ruin the inevitable," exclaimed commentator Marcus Capri. He never figured Pickup into the equation.
Cricket Web Colts 1st Innings 327 all out
Cricket Web Black 1st Innings 373 all out
Cricket Web Colts 2nd Innings 355 all out
Cricket Web Black 2nd Innings 210 for 9
Match Drawn.
Man of the Match: NS Hoy
Cricket Web Blue vs Cricket Web Green
at the CWBCC Stadium
"Shattered!" - the Green supporters filed out of the CWBCC Stadium dejected and dismayed after their team collapsed in the second half of a previously competitive game. The Blues only won by 5 wickets, but it was a game that the Greens seemed to surrender at the most crucial venture of the season for CW Blue.
Leading by a precious 24 runs on first innings, the Green batsmen could hardly imagine the carnage even as it unfolded in the second innings. Travis Demeza was at his incisive best. He and Nath Patrick shared all 10 wickets, and a score of 86 all out was both devastating and inadequate as far as the plans of CW Green and CW Red. It left the Blues needing 111 runs to reach the final. Though Xavier Rose ensured it would not be a cakewalk, the batting of Dinu DeSilva commanded the task efficiently.
The Greens had elected to bat first back on day one. They soon regretted the decision, but if not for the brilliance of Rob Malone, the regret would have been far greater. The veteran allrounder batted amidst a clutter of wickets and scored 114 of a total of 220. It was an innings of great importance and the crowd celebrated it with a huge ovation as one of Malone's best. Patrick did the most damage with 4 wickets and the Blues sensed a keen advantage. The advantage soon faded, however, at 10/2. Sean Fuller and Andrew Cloete breathed new life with 126 runs, but the lack of class from then in saw a score of just 196 all out.
A pitch nearing minefield status and only worsening, the 24-run lead would surely prove crucial. Few would have betted on the complexion of the situation just 20 overs later.
Cricket Web Green 1st Innings 220 all out
Cricket Web Blue 1st Innings 196 all out
Cricket Web Green 2nd Innings 86 all out
Cricket Web Blue 2nd Innings 111 for 5
Cricket Web Blue won by 5 wkts.
Man of the Match: TJ Demeza
at Goffmouth Park
Battling to the very wet end, captain Neil Pickup stuck around with Nathan Hoy in a classic stand, which lasted all of 59 deliveries. Rain eventually played spoilsport to a fascinating finish, but the work done by Pickup and Hoy went a long way in securing a draw for the Blacks. When play was called off, the champions stood at 210/9, still 100 runs short of their victory target.
It was a game of twists, turns and fightbacks. The Colts batted first and reached 163/1, then built upon it more steadily in a total of 327. Happy with their batting effort, the home team was further delighted when Fitzsimmons and Smith perished early to the sharp Kyle Wright. The score shivered at 17/2, but the in-form David Kearsley accounted for a revival. Still, when the middle order fell away it was 140/6 and the Colts were in firm control. Enter Harry Warwick.
Noted more for his bowling than batting, Warwick showed the class he offers down the order in a partnership of 101 with Kearsley. By the time he was caught at midwicket off Hancock, the Colts still led by 86 runs and 7 wickets were down. When Pitt trapped Richards in front for 69, the lead was firmly with Black. Pitt trapped Kearsley for his second career wicket and ended the innings - 373 all out.
Never deterred by the deficit of 46, the Colts began to build some momentum on their side once more. Admittedly the task looked difficult at 36/2, but Burke and Towns handled it admirably with a stand of 106. Both fell short of deserved hundreds, and though the lower order crumpled, Jasotharan, Bharat and Rai made important contributions in a total of 355.
The champions facing a target of 310 in 76 overs. A thrilling last day contest. Smith and Fitzsimmons looked to be attacking the total at the start, but as Thomas bowled an incisive spell, the game swung the way of the Colts. The fall of each wicket energized the home crowd and the home team further, and when Pickup came to the crease, the result appeared secure. More than 12 overs remained in the game with 1 wicket needed by the Colts. "Surely only weather can ruin the inevitable," exclaimed commentator Marcus Capri. He never figured Pickup into the equation.
Cricket Web Colts 1st Innings 327 all out
Cricket Web Black 1st Innings 373 all out
Cricket Web Colts 2nd Innings 355 all out
Cricket Web Black 2nd Innings 210 for 9
Match Drawn.
Man of the Match: NS Hoy
Cricket Web Blue vs Cricket Web Green
at the CWBCC Stadium
"Shattered!" - the Green supporters filed out of the CWBCC Stadium dejected and dismayed after their team collapsed in the second half of a previously competitive game. The Blues only won by 5 wickets, but it was a game that the Greens seemed to surrender at the most crucial venture of the season for CW Blue.
Leading by a precious 24 runs on first innings, the Green batsmen could hardly imagine the carnage even as it unfolded in the second innings. Travis Demeza was at his incisive best. He and Nath Patrick shared all 10 wickets, and a score of 86 all out was both devastating and inadequate as far as the plans of CW Green and CW Red. It left the Blues needing 111 runs to reach the final. Though Xavier Rose ensured it would not be a cakewalk, the batting of Dinu DeSilva commanded the task efficiently.
The Greens had elected to bat first back on day one. They soon regretted the decision, but if not for the brilliance of Rob Malone, the regret would have been far greater. The veteran allrounder batted amidst a clutter of wickets and scored 114 of a total of 220. It was an innings of great importance and the crowd celebrated it with a huge ovation as one of Malone's best. Patrick did the most damage with 4 wickets and the Blues sensed a keen advantage. The advantage soon faded, however, at 10/2. Sean Fuller and Andrew Cloete breathed new life with 126 runs, but the lack of class from then in saw a score of just 196 all out.
A pitch nearing minefield status and only worsening, the 24-run lead would surely prove crucial. Few would have betted on the complexion of the situation just 20 overs later.
Cricket Web Green 1st Innings 220 all out
Cricket Web Blue 1st Innings 196 all out
Cricket Web Green 2nd Innings 86 all out
Cricket Web Blue 2nd Innings 111 for 5
Cricket Web Blue won by 5 wkts.
Man of the Match: TJ Demeza
Typical Colts luck I guess. 
Still, great to see Burke continuing well and Nayak, Jaso and myself all chipping in too. Wright has some real "first innings form" with the ball lately. Great to see him doing so well, and also good to see Pitt making 2-2 off 1.4, not a bad BBI for a part timer. 
