[ICC 2005] multiplay offline

[superkingdave]

Mcgrath and Gilchrist bring Windies back to earth

WI won the toss and decided to bat first, they then proceeded to try and bore the Aussies to sleep, at 179-2 they were doing quite well and also reached 260-5 but a late order collapse saw the last 5 wickets fall for 24 and a dissapointing total of 284. Lara top scored with 53 but Tamar Lambert again impressed with 35 before a shocking decision by Rudi Koertzen saw him given out LBW to a ball from Martyn that pitched a foot outside leg. Mcgrath took 6fer

Hayden and Langer added 50 with few alarms but then West Indies hit back taking 4-19 as they stumbled to 69-4. Unfortunately Adam Gilchrist strode to the wicket and started to hit the ball sweetly from the off, he added 175 with Hayden(109) before finally falling for 99. Then a last wicket partnership between Gillespie(41*) and Mcgrath(3) frustrated WI even more before Nurse bowled Mcgrath to take the second michelle of his career(5-97). Aus got 338 for a lead of 54

The second dig began badly with Lambert out for a duck and Gayle out early aswell. Brian Lara settled down and despite regular wickets at the other end, looked to be putting WI back in it at 233-5 whilst adding 89 with Baugh, but when the wicketkeeper went, Lara soon followed for 106 and the tail folded to Gillespie and Mcgrath for 250.

The bowler fought admirably but the target was always too small, a sixth wicket partnership of 43 saw them home, 197-5

a dissapointing result but still some positives and hopefully a win will come in the last match

 

[superkingdave]

Hayden powers Aussies

A century from Matthew Hayden saw Australia post an impressive 340 on a pitch already looking worn. Damien Martyn chipped in with 62 in a third wicket partnerhsip of 130 but the West Indian bowlers toiled away manfully with Dave Mohammed finishing with 4-94 and Ryan Nurse 3-99.

 

[superkingdave]

Lara heroics but WI still short

Brian Lara's 3 century of a golden series was the glue that held together the WI innings, he had assistance from Gayle(48) and Chanderpaul(63) but once again the lower order could not wag and the Windies collapsed from 252-3 to 305 all out. Lara 116. Mcgrath took 4-80

 

[superkingdave]

Hayden once again

with a lead of 35, Australia added another 75 before losing a wicket, Justin Langer run out by a brilliant piece of work from Dave Mohammed. The genious spinner would then go on to bowl 40 overs and take 4-108 including the vital wicket of Matthew Hayden for 101. Katich added 72 but the tail folded, Emrit taking 3-56. Australia out for 291 and WI having a sniff needing 327 to win.

 

[superkingdave]

Gayle blows the Aussies away

Ricky Ponting may well rue the simple chance he dropped off Chris Gayle for the rest of his career. The laid back left hander went on to make a brilliant 152* and in partnerhsip with Shivnarine Chanderpaul(92*) destroyed the Australian attack. Glenn Mcgrath was reduced to tears after being smashed for six on his way to 0-76. Another famous win in a famous series for the West Indian, a test win in Australia, who would have thought it?

 

[Kweek]

whoah Good stuff Dave! guess you had 3 now right?
mail pskov and steds...get ready.
@ Pskov you will play the following ODI series and the test series that comes after the australia tour and then pass it on to Stedsy: )

 

[superkingdave]

Series Stats

Batting
WI
BC Lara - 557 runs @ 111.4, 3 Hundreds, 2 Fifties
S Chanderpaul 291 runs @72.75 - 3 fifties
R Sarwan 212runs @ 42.4 - 3 fifties
C Gayle 300 runs @ 60 - 1 hundred

Aus
M Hayden - 487runs@81.17 - 3 hundreds 2 fifties
S Katich 192@38.4 - 2 fifties
J Langer 210@35 - 1 fifty
AC Gilchrist 150@30 - 1 fifty

Bowling
WI
Mohammed 21 wickets @22.67
R Nurse 15 Wickets @ 29.87

AUS
Mcgrath 16@ 26.81
Gillespie 13@35.85

Will email file to pskov

 

[superkingdave]

Email sent

 

[pskov]

Pre-Series Musings...

New West Indies coach Pskov was extremely puzzled by the squad that had been selected, but after their excellent result in the Test series against Australia was farily confident of at least getting to the finals in the upcoming Triangular series with South Africa and the Aussies. Before that was a warm up friendly against Victoria, where Pskov left outa few players guarenteed to play in the ODIs in an attempt to guage some of the less experienced players. The line up was:

Lambert
Jackson
Sarwan
Ganga
Findlay
Baugh +
Hinds
Bennett
Emrit
Nurse
Taylor

Lara, Gayle, Chanderpaul, Bravo, Best and Mohammed were certs to start so were left out. Sarwan needs some form so will go in at 3 and as the most experinced is captaining the side too. Jackson and Lambert are battling for one openers spot alongside Gayle. Ganga, Findlay and Hinds are fighting it out for the final batsman spot. ALL the pacers are fighting it out for one spot in the line up, as we will probably use a mixture of Gayle, Sarwan and Chanderpaul as the fifth bowler. Bennett has experienced an absolutely shocking start to the WI domestic season, so will really have to turn it on to get a place.

 

[pskov]

One Day Warm-Up vs Victoria

We win the toss and chase on a good wicket, mainly because of the heavily overcast conditions likely to be around all day. Emrit and Taylor will open the bowling.

Victorian Innings

Emrit got smashed around early, so was replaced after 4 by Nurse. Nuse and Taylor then bowl wel, taking a couple of wickets and stemming the flow of runs. Taylor comes off after an opening spell of 6 overs, replaced by Bennet. Nurse then gets his second in the final over of restrictions and his third in his first over after them. He comes off after 6 overs also, with good figures of 3-23, bringing Emrit back into the fray. Bennet, who has kept it tight but not threatened, comes off after 14 from 5 overs, to bring Hinds' spin on. Emitt bowls his ten out for a disapointing 0-50 in favourable conditions. He is replaced by Taylor with the view for a quick two over burst before coming back at the end. Next over however Hinds strikes, who has been bowling ridiculously well, and he now has 1-12 from 6 excellent overs. Taylor is replaced by Bennett after conceding 3 runs from two overs. Bennett and Hinds will now bowl out, and Taylor and Nurse will bowl the final overs. Bennett's good figures are spoilt a bit as he is leapt on in his second spell, Hinds takes a second wicket and finishes with very good figures, Nurse and Taylor fail to take another wicket but bowl the end overs well enough.

We will have a target of 216 to win.

West Indies Innings

A farily comfortable start from Lambert and Jackson bring us to 51 for no loss after the fielding restrictions, and they produce a fine partnership of 110 in 25 overs before Lambert is out for 59, cauht at third man. Jackson is out later after a tedious 57, but an undefeated 66 at better than a run a ball from Sarwan and a handy 22 by Ganga make this an easy victory.

 

[superkingdave]

good start Pskov, keep it up

 

[pskov]

ODI - Australia at the Gabba

Our line up for the first ODI is:

Gayle
Lambert
Lara *
Sarwan
Chanderpaul
Ganga
Baugh +
Bravo
Mohammed
Best (1)
Taylor (2)

Taylor just sneaks in ahead of Nurse due his better domestic record and being a genuine fast bowler too. Nusre will be ready to step in if things go wrong bowling wise. The Aussie line up is basically their current real life side, but with no Symonds and a long tail instead:

Hayden
Gilchrist +
Ponting
Martyn
Katich
Langer
Lee
Kasprowicz
Warne
Gillespie
McGrath

They lost to SA in the opening match of the tournament, completley collapsing in a low target chase despite a magnificent century from Ponting. Absolutley no-one could stay with him.

Second match in a row we win the toss. The strip is very good and we ponder batting but decide to field, thus not exposing our limited bowling attack to the pressure of defending late in the game.

Australia Innings

Best and Taylor share the first 12 overs without taking a wicket and best getting hit for quite a few. Bravo comes in, as does Mohammed after the restictions lift, but fail to stem the flow. We decide to bwol spin from both ends as Gayle replaces Bravo aftter a short spell and he with Mohammed bowl a good spell on the trot together, keeping it fairly tight but with no wickets down after 30 overs, we know we'll be facing a big total. Finally, Gayle gets Gilchrist lbw in his final over, but not before geting carted around the park by him late in his spell. Bravo, who had gone for runs since he back on, gets Ponting, then Martyn in the same over, but with 7 wickets in hand and 200 already on the baod, the last 10 overs look menacing for the Windies. Then, saviour Bravo gets Hayden in his next over, before Taylor removes Katich. Into the tail now and Bravo gets Lee with the first delivery of his final over. Best gets rid of Kaspa in the 50th over and the Aussies make 257-7. A good score but much less than they could have reached.

West Indies Innings

Gayle starts slowishly and leaves quickly for 9, soon followed by Lambert who made a respectable if unspectacular debut innings. Sarwan falls in the final over of restictions leaving us 80 for 3 after 15 overs. Lara and Chanderpaul consolidate for a few overs, the rate climbing but remaining managable before Chanderpaul is caught going for it over long-off. Ganga, Baugh nor Bravo can last long at the crease and with the rate over 7, Lara will virtualy have to do it alone. Alas, he cannot and we fail to either bat out the overs or make 200. A very disapointing batting performance.

 

[pskov]

ODI - South Africa at the WACA

We go with the same line up as the last game, however changes will be made for the next match if we play poorly here too.

The South African line-up is:

Smith *
Gibbs
Kallis
Rudolph
Puttick
Boucher +
Van Jaarsveld
Pollock
Hall
Thomas
Terbrugge

Puttick is a 25 year old opening batsman who has done well in both Tests and ODIs since making his debut this year. Thomas a handy 28 year old all-rounder who has done okay-ish with the ball since his debut this year, but adds excellent length to their batting.

We win the toss again, but this time decide to bat. The wicket has plenty for the pace bowlers in it, so we hope to set a 220-ish score and skittle them out after. Hey, we can dream...

West Indies Innings

Lambert goes for 1 in the second over and Gayle follows also after an uncharacteristically sluggish innings. Sarwan then makes a painful duck, leaving us looking uncomfortable after the restrictions, even less so after our sole in-form batsman, Lara, goes soon after. Chanderpaul and Ganga decide to consolidate for the next 8 or so overs, doing okay before Chanderpaul is stupidly run out in a poor decision to come back for two. However, Ganga gets going and starts really putting the Saffies to the sword, making a tremendous, possibly match winning, century with good support from Baugh and Bravo. We end up with 244-6, Ganga making an unbeaten 104. It seems we really pilled onto Thomas, who gave up 73 runs for no wicket in his 10 overs.

South African Innings

Best and Taylor open up again, Best keeping it tight, but Taylor goes for 31 in his first 5 so is removed for Bravo. In a risk, Mohammed is brought on with one over of restictions of remaining, it turn out to be a mistake as he concedes 16 runs via four fours. After four very expensive overs, he is removed for Gayle, then Sarwan comes on to replace Bravo. The two part timers bowl well, and Sarwan finally makes our first breakthrough, removing Smith for 56, then Gibbs for 97 in the same over! Taylor comes on to take Kallis and we have clawed our way back into it after an onimous start from SA. Best bowls rudolph in his first over back, but we look done for with SA needing just 19 from the final five overs. However, some excellent death bowling from Best and Bravo leaves them needing 14 from the 50th over. Best bowls Puttick with the first delivery and has Van Jaarsveld playing a missing twice, to assure an excellent victory.

We had a good batting performance first up, although Gayle and Sarwan failing twice in a row is a concern. But the biggest worry is that once again we couldn't get any early wickets, allowiung them far too good a start and were lucky to pull it back in the final overs, just see how far ahead SA were throughout their entire innings. Sarwan was an absolute hero with the ball, don't know how many times he has bowled his full allocation before!

 

[Kweek]

unlucky on the Australia game mate! but well done to Win against South-Africa ! keep it up

 

[pskov]

ODI - Australia at

Australia beat SA by 89 runs after setting a mamoth 300-3 (Gilchrist 109*, Ponting 102) then skittling them for 211 inside 40 overs (Kaspa 3-38). I see that Thomas conceded over 70 runs again, he just doesn't seem international class to me.

I am half contemplating removing Taylor after two okay but not great performances from him, but decide to give him one last chance so we remain unchanged. Australia replace Lee (who went for 70 runs in the last game vs SA) with Tait. Their batting line up has a very impressive top six, but when you have Kasprawicz at seven looks flat out dodgy. We lose the toss and are asked to bat first, but are not disapointed as we would have done so anyway.

West Indies Innings

For once we get off to a great start of 81 for 0 after the first fifteen, Gayle looking his old self with 56 from 57. The partnership falls at 128 when Lambert is caught and bowled by Tait one short of a maiden fifty (I've just noticed, this is Tait's international debut). Gayle goes not too long after, but not before making a rapid 92 from 88. Lara is run out late on, but Sarwan and Chanderpaul make good the final few overs and we have our first truly excellent batting performance of the tournament: 278-3.

Australia Innings

Taylor is crashed for 28 from the first three as Gill and Haydos go all out at the start. He is rapidly removed for Bravo who does much better. Best again bowls an excellent opening spell 0-27 from 7 overs and we tempt fate a second time, this time forced, by putting Mohammed on under restrictions, again he goes for runs this time 11 but we had no choice. Even worse he goes for 14 the over after and is quickly yanked for Gayle. Bravo gets our breakthrough right after, Gilchrist for 38, but Hayden is the one doing the damage with 72 from 59. Then, as if he saw me type that Bravo gets Hayden next over. Bravo bowls his first seven over spell but is replaced as we have to keep him for later, on comes our world-class allrounder Sarwan. However this time he goes for 25 from three, so is removed for Taylor's second chance. The rate is nearly down to 5 an over now, again we really ballsed up in the first 15 or so overs bowling. Gayle gets Martyn next, but his good bowling is being comprimised by Taylor's poor show at the other end. He is removed by Mohammed who suddenly finds his place at risk too, and decides to bowl aroun the wicket to Ponting. However it makes no differnce as he is smacked again. With Gayle bowled out and Bravo and Best having 5 between them, it seems we have a 5 over gap we somehow have to fill, the Aussies need only 45 from the last ten and have 7 in hand, I feel we've thrown it away already. Well, Chanderpaul will try his luck in the attack but gives up 13, virtually assuring our defeat. We are forced to bring Best and Bravo to the attack early, Taylor also gets a third chance a does not too terribley. They now need 16 from 4, but with our three pace bowlers only haveing one over left each, Mohammed comes back for one last go. He gives up 13 runs, including of all things a no-ball (from a spinner!!!). Bravo bowls the last over as the Aussies win.

Okay, the bowling was a disater. Taylor and Mohammed are dropped for the next game. Perhaps we could have made a little more headway in the 30-40 overs in our innings, but regardless if defend 278 that poorly we have no chance in the rest of the tounament.

 

[superkingdave]

you can't drop the prophet surely?

keep up the good work

 

[pskov]

ODI - South Africa at WACA

The Aussies crush SA, chasing down 252 from the loss of one wicket, Hayden making an astonishing run a ball 160.

We replace Taylor for Nurse and Mohammed for Cuunningham. SA are unchanged from when we last met, including still playing Thomas who so far in this tournament has taken 1-223 in 18 overs . We win the toss and decide to bat first on a dodgy looking pitch.

West Indies Innings

Lambert falls for 7 early on, but Gayle looks in good touch after his good knock last time out. He and Lara put a decent partnership together before Gayle goes for 60. Sarwan can't stay at the crease, departing early soon followed by Lara and we are in a bit of a hole, so when Ganga gets a first ball duck, it seems more like an abyss. Bravo does his best to guide the tail and we do manage to bat out the 50, but can only scramble to 203 for 9.

South African Inning

Best and Bravo open the bowling, with Nurse ready to come on first change. They both do a respectable job, but again no wickets in our opening spell. However, Nurse comes on to replace Best and hits on his fifth ball, scoring Smith, edging a full toss to slip (hey, they all count...). After the restrictions are over Cunningham comes on to replace Bravo but goes for more than 6 an over. Nurse too starts taking punishment, so we bring on Gayle. With Best making a quick two over burst at the other end, Gayle gets Kallis out. We decide to go back to Cunningham rather than introduce Sarwan and are duly rewarded when he bowls Rudolph in his second over of the spell. However, he reamins expensive and SA now need just 2.7 an over with 12 to go, a target the reach with ease.

Well, this was just disapointing all round. Nurse seems only marginaly better than Taylor and Cunningham only a small improvement on Mohammed. We just can't take early wickets and that always compromises us when we get to the last 15 or so overs when the opposition start throwing the bat around. The batting perfomance was also poor. Seemingly Lara is the only guy we can consistently rely on to make a score, but he hasn't made a big one yet. Lambert has been thoroughly mediocre at the top of the order and Chanderpaul and Sarwan ahve one fifty between them. We will need to win both our last matches to have a chance of qualifying for the finals.

 

[pskov]

ODI - Australia at Adelaide

I decide to strengthen the batting, as I feel we will need a big target to defend on a good pitch. Hinds replaces Cunningham and Lambert is removed for Findlay. Hinds will open as a pinch hitter alongside Gayle. If Hinds goes very early, then Baugh will go in at 3 to protect the middle order. Australia have brought Lee back in for Tait. They win the toss and ask us to bowl.

Australia Innings

Hayden and Gilchrist get off to a slow, but onminous start. Again we cannot get an early breakthrough! Bravo and Best both bowl out 7 overs each in their opening spell, searching for a wicket but we just can't find one. At least they are only going at 3.3 an over. Nurse goes at over 6 an over for his first spell and is taken out for Gayle. Hinds has been bowling well at the other end and finally we remove Gilchrist for 56, but once again we have conceded a 100+ opening partnership. A few overs later, Gayle gets Hayden and is bowling very well indeed, but Hinds at the other end bowls out after an unimpressive spell. He better make some runs. However, the Aussies kick into overdrive as Gayle's excellent figures for his first 5 overs are ripped into and Nurse is absolutely destroyed. Bravo gets a late, late wicket of Ponting, but the damage is done and they make 269.

West Indies Innings

Chasing 270, Gayle and Hinds better damn well get us off to a good start, so whenGayle plays out a maiden first up I am not happy. Hinds howver fulfills his breif well, quickly getting up to 30 before getting out. Lara and Gayle take it fairly cautiously, still hitting the odd boundary but generally playing safe whilst keeping the rate managable. Gayle goes after a scratchy 29 from 69 and the rate is just above 6 an over, however Lara looks in good touch. Sarwan goes quickly, and Lara makes some runs before leaving for 75 with work to do. Chanderpaul and Ganga must make 82 from the final ten overs, but we do have batting in hand with Findlay, Baugh and Bravo still to come. Tough, but do able. Ganga goes soon, as does Findlay but he made a useful 21 from 15 and we need 40 from the last five. Then 30 from the last three. Eventually, we need 20 off the last over and simply cannot make it. We fall slightly short and will not make the final.

The Hinds strategy worked out okay, he bowled about as well as Mohammed and Cunningham have been and helped us off to a good start chasing a big total. But the one batsman that lost it for us was Gayle, who took far too long to make his runs, very uncharacteristic of him. But really it was the bowling that let us down, specifically Nurse who was atrocious. Bravo and Best give us two solid pacemen, Gayle is good in his role, Hinds will likely keep his place now, we just can't find the extra paceman. Next up we will try Emit in the meaningless game. Of course, we will be desperate to win.

 

[pskov]

ODI - South Africa at the MCG

We make only one change, Nurse out for Emrit. South Africa are unchanged from last time out. We lose the toss and are asked to bowl first on a track that has something in it for the bowlers.

South Africa Innings

Best and Bravo take the new ball and again, cannot take a wicket but do keep them very restricted. However, Emrit gets Gibbs with his first ever ball in ODIs, then bowl out a maiden. Hurrah the saviour has arrived! He bowls six solid overs before replaced by Gayle who keeps things very, very, tight. Hinds completes his allocation with an uneventful but certainly acceptable tally as Emrit comes back into the attack and again strikes in his first over of a spell, getting Kallis lbw. He then removes the dangerman Smith a few overs late and finishes his first ever ODI with expensive but encouraging figures. Gayle gets Puttick, allowing Best and Bravo to finish out, both getting late wickets. I would have to say that overall, this was our first entirely acceptable bowling performance of the series as we restrict them to a very chasable 220-6.

West Indies Innings

Hinds' pinch hitting makes him 18 from 10 before getting out, allowing Lara and Gayle to build a tremendous partnership, cruising along at more than 5 an over. Eventually, Lara goes for 71 and Gayle falls just one run short of victory, but it was in the bag at the 25 overs stage.

One question: how come we don't play like that when it means something?

 

[pskov]

What the!?!?!? We're in the Final!

Well, obviously I did my sums wrong and we've made it to the final against Australia somehow, by net run rate. It's a three game finals section, I'm not sure if we would play a third game if someone is 2-0 up already. Well, that makes things interesting, i was just totting up the series averages etc.