Tuesday 12th February
Cricket Web Green v Masters XI
CWBCC Stadium
Scorecard
Ball by Ball
For a time Cricket Web Green threatened an historic run chase against the Masters XI, but ultimately fell for 403, 58 runs short. Almost 1500 runs were scored over the course of the match, but a result was always likely on a sporting pitch.
Brian Lara set the match up nicely after his team was inserted on day one. Off his own bat he contributed 223 of 468 total runs. He was dropped twice, most crucially by Malone when he had 60, but was largely in control and at his entertaining best. Driving with confidence through the covers, he hit 14 fours and 3 sixes. He was by no means alone in his dominance, as he received excellent support from Geraint Jones (90) and Damien Martyn (84). Lara was eventually caught behind attempting a paddle sweep against Tom Halsey, and Xavier Rose brought some life to the game with the quick wickets of Dale Benkenstein and Lance Klusener, for 2 apiece. After the latter was bowled, Lara declared the innings closed.
The Greens started well with an opening partnership of 84, until both openers were out in successive openers. Klusener added a third and the score was 95-3 at stumps. The next day small partnerships came to nothing and wickets fell at inopportune times throughout. Not until Dubb-Lynch came together with Halsey did a half-century stand manifest. They put on 65, and Dubb-Lynch went on to top score with 84 and guided CW Green past the follow-on target. Some further good work by Rose (26) then pushed the score past 300.
The Masters XI started their second innings leading by 159 runs. They faced a much-improved performance, but recovered nicely from the early trouble of 31-2. Again Lara (81) and Martyn (61) chipped in with half-centuries, but it was the attacking strokeplay of the South African duo that moved the game out of CW Green reach. Benkenstein scored 84 not out and Klusener hit a 33-ball 30, carrying the score to 301-5 and a declaration.
CW Green stared up at a mountainous target of 461 but they were not intimidated. As early as the 5th over Malone pulled Henderson for six, and he chipped in with a handy 41 before missing a topspinner from Warne. Nick Scott continued the positive play, but was bowled off the inside edge for 64 shortly before lunch, at 196-2. Anthony Lezama stayed firm and went to lunch on 81. Through the afternoon session the Greens lost two wickets, including that of Lezama for 103, but by the end of it they had whittled the requirement down to 159 and set up an enthralling final session.
After tea, in the last leg of their epic chase, the Greens got a shaky jump with the loss of their captain for 43. Garven had played positively and was one of the driving forces in the post-lunch session, but inside-edged a Klusener offcutter onto his stumps. And as CW Green approached the final hour they lost another key wicket to terrible communication. Cunningham's poor call resulted in Dubb-Lynch being run out for 38, leaving the tail to negotiate the final 15 overs and 91 runs needed. Warne removed Halsey for 4 and Rankin speared in a fantastic yorker to take the key wicket of Cunningham for 46. The Irish quickie then wrapped up the innings and his 5-wicket haul, just 3.3 overs before the scheduled close.
Masters XI 1st Innings 468 for 6 dec.
Lara 223, Jones 90, Rose 3-90, Cameron 1-69
Cricket Web Green 1st Innings 309 all out
Dubb-Lynch 84, Garven 49, Warne 4-84, Henderson 2-45
Masters XI 2nd Innings 301 for 5 dec.
Lara 81, Benkenstein 81*, Rose 3-82, Cunningham 1-41
Cricket Web Green 2nd Innings 403 all out
Lezama 103, Scott 64, Rankin 5-83, Warne 2-116
Masters XI won by 57 runs.
Man of the Match: BC Lara (Masters)
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Cricket Web Red v Cricket Web Blue
CW Oval
Scorecard
Ball by Ball
Cricket Web Red fought back from a desperate position against Cricket Web Blue, but ultimately succumbed to defeat by 7 wickets. After they were bowled out for 288, CW Red saw the Blues reach 270-3 at stumps on day two. But led by the persistent efforts of Sean Bennett, they battled back into the game, only to lose comfortably at the final hurdle.
For the second successive innings David Kearsley topscored for the Reds, playing well for 87 but again missing out on a hundred. He was joined only by Rob Dauth as a half-centurion, though Under-19 star Zac Ritchie promised much with 42 from 52 balls. It was another disappointing display by the Reds on the whole, as at no point did any of the CW Blue bowlers find outstanding rhythm. The best of the bowlers was Adam Collins, with 2-15 from his 22 overs.
The response of the Blues was soild and emphatic. The openers put on 143, both scoring half-centuries, and the middle order followed on to contribute two more fifties to the cause. There was keen threat for a larger total than the eventual 420, particularly when Thamba Mamesh (73) and Luke Tyson (38) were scoring relatively freely in their stand of 97. The legspin of Bennett was then of huge importance, as he was consistent and economical and was rewarded with 4 wickets for his efforts. CW Red limited the deficit to 132 and stayed in the game with a fair shout and seven sessions remaining.
The opening partnership looked much more organized the second time around, as Sharma in particular looked in good nick. But the first to go was Mork, as early as the 7th over, bowled by his opposite number for 12. He was quickly followed to the pavilion by Dauth (1) and Sharma (31), both of whom played injudicious strokes against the gentle swing of Collins. By stumps CW Red were 102-5, still trailing by 30 runs and with only 5 wickets remaining. Their hopes were pinned on the batting of Kearsley and Ritchie once more, after both had played so well in the first innings.
Kearsley was twice reprieved by Pete Young off the bowling of Demeza, and then proceeded to play some classy strokes through the morning session. He was matched well by Ritchie, who seemed to have a century for his taking until he misjudged a Gooljar googly and was caught behind for 66. After lunch Kearsley was Collins' fourth victim, having scored his third consecutive half-century, out for 75. Though the tail fought for a bit, CW Red were all out for 272, leaving CW Blue 141 to win.
The spirit that was lacking at the start of the Blue first innings was overflowing during an exceptional first spell by Kingsley Clapham. He continued to push his claim as CW Red's best seamer this year, getting both openers with beautifully landed inswingers. What magic he conjured up to limit the Blues to 21-2 was surrendered by lacklustre fielding and a very crucial dropped catch. As in his match-saving century against CW Black, Stephen Young was dropped before he had scored - first ball - and he made his chance count. This time he weighed in with 63, but it was enough to take the Blues to within 10 runs of victory. A good slower ball from Watt then accounted for his wicket, but it allowed DeSilva to play an exquisite cover drive and to hurry the end.
Cricket Web Red 1st Innings 288 all out
Kearsley 87, Dauth 50, Demeza 3-95, Collins 2-15
Cricket Web Blue 1st Innings 420 all out
Young P.E. 85, Mamesh 73, Bennett 4-34, Clapham 3-104
Cricket Web Red 2nd Innings 272 all out
Kearsley 75, Ritchie 66, Demeza 4-101, Collins 3-53
Cricket Web Blue 2nd Innings 141 for 3
Young S. 63, Camps 39*, Clapham 2-47, Watt 1-43
Cricket Web Blue won by 7 wickets.
Man of the Match: AAA Collins (Blue)
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Cricket Web Colts v Cricket Web Black
Fardin Qayyumi CC
Scorecard
Ball by Ball
Cricket Web Colts pushed Cricket Web Black to the very end, but a fantastic allround performance by Dave Richards was paramount in victory by 12 runs. First Richards scored a composed half-century to help the Blacks fightback from a poor second innings position to a defendable total, then he took 4 wickets to inspire victory.
After they were asked to bat first, CW Black scored 67 for the first wicket and got to lunch on 114-2. Five balls into the second session Kyle Wright procured the edge of his opposite number, and Dan Smith walked without scoring. The major highlights of the session came from the bat of Andrew Cloete, who scored 71 off 88 balls, but a late clatter of wickets left the Blacks struggling on 214-6 at tea. In the final session the Blacks regained some control of their innings through the fight of Zac Gelman and Dave Richards. The former struck 51 and the penultimate wicket to fall as CW Black posted 315.
One over was due to be bowled before the day's close, but after James Griffen was run out a ball into the first over, stumps was called. The morning of day two belonged entirely to the Blacks. Between Nick Borcich and the spinners CW Colts were reduced to 63-5, then 131-8 soon into the afternoon session. Again Nick Hancock was called to service with his team in trouble. He scored 43, while Wright (36 not out) and Thomas (11) offered excellent support in the final total of 214. The Colts still trailed by 101 runs, so they needed quick Black wickets in the third innings.
The early wickets did not come, and instead CW Black posted another half-century opening stand. Wright was again the spearhead on the third morning, and he took 3 of the first 4 wickets to fall in a dramatic collapse. Cloete experienced a rare failure, out for a duck, and the middle order was spectacularly ineffective as CW Black slipped to 135-8. The lead was only 236 as Borcich came together with Richards. Bit by bit they pressed forward with a partnership of 94 for the ninth wicket. Richards raised his fifty and topscored in the innings with 65 as the Blacks were all out for 229.
The Colts set out confidently in search of 331 to win. Griffen and Rai added 90 for the first wicket, then the latter was lbw to Borcich for 33. The more impressive of the openers, Griffen raced through to 62 by stumps. The game moved into the fourth day and CW Black seized the early initiative. Cloete snatched up a catch off Gelman's bowling, accounting for Griffen in the second over. It was a rare success until just before lunch, when the Blacks stormed back into control with the wickets of Towns (30) and Jasotharan (13) before the interval. After lunch the Colts lost 4 for 64, including the key wicket of Chris Butler, who had played outstandingly for 67.
Wright took guard at 260-8, again needing to play a big innings in support of his more accomplished partner, Weber. The Blacks searched desperately for victory, but failed to create clear chances while the home team motored toward the target. A 71-run requirement became 13, and Richards finally broke through. He spun the ball out of the rough outside legstump and took the thin edge of Wright's bat, then Chaulk held the chance calmly behind the stumps. At the other end Weber looked on, unbeaten on 35, as Thomas set out to face with 4 balls left in the over. Richards went around the wicket and ensured only one more ball was needed, trapping Richards lbw with a quick delivery that straightened.
Cricket Web Black 1st Innings 315 all out
Cloete 71, Gelman 51, Hancock 3-27, Thomas 3-100
Cricket Web Colts 1st Innings 214 all out
Hancock 43, Wright 36*, Borcich 4-55, Richards 2-46
Cricket Web Black 2nd Innings 229 all out
Richards 65, Arnold 43, Thomas 5-81, Wright 3-60
Cricket Web Colts 2nd Innings 318 all out
Butler 67, Griffen 62, Richards 4-54, Pickup 3-79
Cricket Web Black won by 12 runs.
Man of the Match: DP Richards (Black)
