May 27
Cricket Web Black v Cricket Web Red
CW Oval
Scorecard
Ball by Ball
One of the most important games of the season, Cricket Web Red played host to Cricket Web Black with the top spot in the five-day competition on offer. On a seam-friendly pitch, in wet and overcast conditions, and with a three-pronged fast bowling attack, CW Red elected to bowl first.
Dave Watt's ability as a strike bowler has never been questioned, and once again he showed the way with a brilliant opening burst. None of the CW Black top order could have anticipated the pace and fire with which Watt opened the contest. A fierce and full inswinger trapped Dan Smith lbw with the second ball of the game, and only three balls later, Corey McMeekin fended a spiteful lifter to Thompson at third slip. Flashing at an ouswinger, Gerard Armstrong was caught in the gully for 6, leaving the Blacks in disarray and the scoreboard reading 14-3.
Ashley Arnold cracked two square drives off the bowling of Watt, announcing a revival alongside Alex Blackman. One, a batsman in his first year of Dev League servies, and the other, a talented batsman making his return after half-a-season in the wilderness. The partnership of 116 was a revelation and in the circumstances, a critical stand. Yet the Reds pressed on, with each of the five seam options used by Bennett acquitting himself in some fashion. From 165-6 a sub-200 total seemed on the cards, but Dave Richards played a spirited knock of 42 to deny such a fate for his team. CW Black pressed on to 239 all out in the final session of day one.
Kev Gough took the new ball for CW Black and an already thrilling opening day immediately was immediately amplified. Ripping the ball off the seam he grabbed the edge of Matt Luff's bat to inflict a first-ball duck. And he could have had Sharma to end with a double-wicket-maiden, but Donald failed to hold a hard chance at fourth slip. Gough pressed on, and in his third over he dismissed Dobson in identical fashion to Luff before him. Donald removed a shuffling Sharma's legstump for a pleasant 37, then slipped past Reddlapalli's defence for a second wicket. Kearsley whipped Patrick into the hands of square leg, and the day's carnage was complete as Gray edged behind two balls later. A total of 16 wickets fell by day's end, and CW Red were baffled and downcast at 71-6.
And the action simply would not subside to kick off day two. Patrick took the early wicket of Marc Robbins for 9, and CW Red were ultimately felled for 124, largely due to scores of 20 and 25 by Thompson and Watt respectively. Only four bowlers were needed by the Blacks, and all were impressive, taking at least two wickets each.
Despite the lead of 115, on such a sporting pitch, the game remained alive. On this occasion Thompson set himself into rhythm with the wicket of Arnold for 8. For the second time in the game Alex Blackman was called into action in a moment of crisis. He played brilliantly for his 43, but with wickets tumbling around him, his reach was hindered. Thompson took 6 for 53 and made the best of the bouncy pitch and overcast conditions, bowling short and full in an effective mix. CW Black were all out for 175 with almost three days left in the game, and CW Red needed 291 to win.
The intriguing prospect was further stated by Gough first up. Another gem searched Luff's edge and Smith took a simple catch at slip. Again CW Red were 0-1 after one delivery. But Dobson and Sharma were not overwhelmed. Instead they played positively in the path to a lunchtime score of 82-1. The second session brought more frustration and little success for CW Black in its early stages. Both batsmen notched half-centuries, then Donald broke through due a loose drive by Dobson. Gough followed up with the wicket of Sharma an over later, enlivening proceedings once more. A close shout by Richards against Reddlapalli might have been given out on most days, but was denied on this one and looked to be costly as the allrounder got into stride with the bat. Two balls after the event he clubbed the spinner over midwicket for six.
As in the first innings, Kearsley flicked Patrick to square leg, but this time Armstrong floored the most straightforward of chances. The game looked to have swung dramatically away from CW Black at that stage, and more so with the arrival of the 50-run stand and CW Red's arrival at tea on 175-3. The batsmen continued in merry fashion in the final session, in complete control until Reddlapalli misjudged a Patrick slower ball and was lbw for 62. Only 59 runs were needed then, but the Blacks looked keen on a spectacular finish. Patrick roared past the edge of Robbins' bat on three occasions in his first 5 balls, and it seemed something was about to break. Two authoritative fours later, Robbins looked a changed man and intent on seeing the game through. He survived a close shout against Gough and a very tough chance behind the wicket against Borcich, and reached day's end at Kearsley's side - 272-4. The 19 runs needed on the fourth day looked a formality, barring a very good appeal with Robbins on strike, but with only 6 needed. The fitting end came when Kearsley leaned forward and stroked Patrick through the covers for the winning boundary.
Cricket Web Black 1st 239 all out (67.5 overs)
AR Arnold 77, AJ Blackman 49, DP Richards 42
CP Thompson 3-47, DJ Watt 3-48, M Reddlapalli 2-21
Cricket Web Red 1st 124 all out (36.1 overs)
A Sharma 37, DJ Watt 25, CP Thompson 20
NL Patrick 3-29, KJ Gough 3-41
Cricket Web Black 2nd 175 all out (62.4 overs)
AJ Blackman 43, GAJ Armstrong 23, DP Smith 21
CP Thompson 6-53, DJ Watt 3-66
Cricket Web Red 2nd 291-4 (92.5 overs)
DA Kearsley 67*, M Reddlapalli 62, A Sharma 55, GKK Dobson 53
KJ Gough 2-75
Cricket Web Red won by 6 wickets.
Man of the Match: CP Thompson
Cricket Web Colts v Cricket Web Green
CWBCC Stadium
Scorecard
Ball by Ball
Victory has been an almost alien concept for Cricket Web Green in first-class cricket this season. So when they defeated Cricket Web Colts by a comfortable 10-wicket margin, it was a shock to all involved. Martyn Corrin put in a champion allround performance, posting career highs with bat and ball to lead the Green charge.
The slow outfield and overcast conditions on the opening morning inspired Andrew Garven to bowl first, and Cunningham rewarded him early on by inducing a hook shot from Malthus. Wickets fell regularly in the morning session, leaving CW Colts in trouble at 97-4 when lunch was called. The afternoon session looked to belong to the Colts, but the dismissal of Jasotharan for 45 brought another tumble of wickets. Only Will Kerr faced up to the Green pacers from that point, and did so for an outstanding 55 not out. Even his best efforts were not enough to take CW Green any further than 194 all out.
Though the cloudy conditions persisted, the Green batsmen looked much more organized in their turn at the crease. At stumps the score was 116-1. The morning of day two was also in the hands of CW Green, as they reached lunch on 223-3. Scott charged after Wright soon after lunch, searching a boundary down the ground to bring up another first-class ton. And even after he was out for 124, the Greens continued to dominate. Corrin played solidly as ever, tight in defence and quick to rotate the strike, holding the innings together. As Manan Shah stated a case for continued selection in taking 4-65, CW Green scored 405 all out, and Corrin contributed a best score of 85.
The Colts returned to the middle with a mountain seeming too great out of sight. A deficit of 211 practically determined the result at that halfway stage, barring interruption from the weather. True to the odds, they managed just 263, but not without a devastating collapse against spin. In this instance the spinner was the less heralded, but still excellent, Corrin. He was called upon when the Colts were going well at 138-1, and picked up the wickets of Fitzsimmons (77) and Bharat (15) immediately. After tea Corrin followed with Towns, Jasotharan and Kerr, and the Colts were a spent force. The allrounder had 5, a maiden achievement. He finished with 5 for 41. Nick Hancock batted bravely and hit 9 fours and 3 sixes in 81 not out, but only Wright supported him to any extent down the order. The final nine Colts wickets cost 125 runs.
CW Green needed 53 runs when they batted on the morning of day four. Malone crashed two looseners from Manan Shah for boundaries to start the innings, and 10.4 overs later, he flicked past midwicket to finalize the crushing result.
Cricket Web Colts 1st 194 all out (53.3 overs)
WA Kerr 55*, S Jasotharan 45, SG Fitzsimmons 30
BC Cunningham 4-38, JNE Forner 2-28, MT Mitchell 2-49
Cricket Web Green 1st 405 all out (134.1 overs)
NG Scott 124, M Corrin 85, RJ Malone 76
Manan Shah 4-65, T Bochat 2-71
Cricket Web Colts 2nd 263 all out (83.4 overs)
NR Hancock 81*, SG Fitzsimmons 77, DP Towns 35
M Corrin 5-41, MT Mitchell 3-39
Cricket Web Green 2nd 54-0 (11.1 overs)
RJ Malone 34*, A Lezama 16*
Cricket Web Green won by 10 wickets.
Man of the Match: M Corrin