CWC Round 2 review!
Two thrashings, a comfortable win and one nail-biter. CWC week two is in the books, here's a quick recap!
@Magrat Garlick's Dynamo Schmaltzberg roared to life with their first win of the CWC, crushing
@jimmy101's Picasso Moon by 103 runs. Opting to field first at the Schmaltzberg Mining Inc Stadium, the PMs utilised 10 bowling options, but to no avail. Shanuka Kurusumuttu hit 53 off 32 and every batter in the top 6 crossed double digits as the hosts piled on 199/4 in their 20 overs. Karl Small hit 42 but was a lone hand as PMs were bowled out for just 96 - Christian Owen taking 3/21 and Lickley and Ndlovu taking 2 wickets apiece.
@morgieb's Inner Western Wombats played hosts to defending-champs ZCC, and were at the receiving end of an incredible 165 run defeat. Electing the bowl first they too used 10 different bowlers. A wicket in the 1st over would have raised hopes, but SL international squad member Sajith D Estandau (85 off 54) and BD international player Raun Shkorer (78 off 50) piled on 169 runs in just 16.3 overs, laying the platform for ZCC's final score of 228/3. Arif Jalal and Sampath Ramalingam then took 3 wickets each as the Wombats were bowled out for just 63 in 17 overs, with only two batters crossing double digits.
@honestbharani's Honest Hunks were sent in to bowl first on home turf at FHK, and followed the pattern of the other two games by utilizing 10 bowling options as well! However they were slightly more successful, restricting FHK to just 131/8. The two Michaels - Spavor and Kovring - scored 30s as the batting lineup struggled on a slow and worn pitch. However 131 would prove to be plenty. Spavor took 3/5 with the new-ball and legspinner Lai O Yin took 3 wickets as well, as the Hunks were bowled out for just 80.
And finally, the best for last - an all time classic between
@JOJOXI's Winton CC and Mag's Dynamo Morpork. The Winton Home turf drew lots of criticism for being basically 22 yards of solid mud - 93 moisture, 99 wear and 91 pace! It was no surprise that Dynamo's skipper Ryan Moon elected to bowl first upon winning the toss. WCC keeper/opener Dwayne Dickens batted exceptionally well for his 46 off 32, and Alex Davy held together the middle order with 34 off 23, as WCC were bowled out for 132 in 18.2 overs. Only 3 batters crossed double digits, a sign of how difficult it was to get in on this pitch. All the Morpork bowlers tasted success, with offspinner Martijn Van Heerdens returning the best figures of the lot (4-0-24-3).
133 on that wicket was never going to be easy, and Morpork had to work hard in the chase. Anthony McGrath anchored one end with 35 off 39 as wickets tumbled from the other, and was 4th man dismissed with 64 on the board in 11.3 overs. Gwong Long then biffed a useful 32 off 23, but was bowled with another 31 runs needed in 20 balls. With the entire top 6 dismissed, it would take something special for Morpork to pull of the chase. It was then that Van Heerdens and Charlie Bungay managed to take 15 runs off the 18th over, swinging the balance back in Dynamo's favour, before Ian Clemence conceded just 3 and nabbed the wicket of Van Heerdens in the 19th! With 11 needed in 6 balls and club legend Daniël Potgieter to bowl, we were looking at potentially the first ever tie in the CWC.
Tailender Barnard Mason was on strike for the first ball, and a wild slog at a delivery sliding down leg fetched the Dynamos 4 crucial runs! 7 needed off 5. Potgieter found his radar with a well directed slower ball, conceding just a single, but slid down leg again for the 3rd ball to Charlie Bungay. However this time around luck was on his side, as Bungay miscued an attempted slog, nicking it behind to keeper! Morpork's last recognised batter dismissed with 6 still needed in 3 balls. New-boy Saleem Saleem had a mighty heave first ball, skewing safely over the infield and away for four to rapturous cheers from the dessing room, 2 now needed off 2! But Potgieter was not yet done, and a clever change up next ball got Saleem chopping back onto his stumps! 2 needed in 1 ball and it was all up to skipper and number 11 Ryan Moon.
After 39.5 overs of exhilarating cricket, it was ultimately to be Morpork's day. Potgieter once again firing the ball down legside, allowing Moon to comfortably flick it to fine leg. A hard run two was followed by a victory lap around the field as Dynamo Morpork picked up their 2nd consecutive win of the CWC! Great effort.
At the end of round two it is ZCC back on top, courtesy of the massive NRR boost from their win. FHK and Dynamo Morpok both unbeaten, but FHK with a bonus point in the bank. Last season's finalist Winton CC are yet to win a game, tho they will be glad to have salvaged a bonus point from both of their losses so far.
Gonna try and do more this week as I might have a slower week at work. But wont know till tomorrow.