*Official* Season XII Results and Discussion Thread

[DCC_legend]

Good Solid Performance from the Greens!! Well Done Lads!!!

[Kweek]

well done Colts

stoked at my own form aswell just in time i'd say

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Cricket Web Green v Cricket Web Colts
Preseason Cricket - PDV Dome

Scorecard
Ball by Ball

Even given the lifeless nature of the pitch at the PDV Dome, the quality of batsmanship was stunning. More than 1000 runs were scored in the first innings for the loss of just 17 wickets. Rob Malone (190), Daniel Hogarth (176) and Darren Dubb-Lynch (129 not out) racked big hundreds for CW Green, and they set the tone with an enormous score of 599-7 declared, having chosen to bat first. All the bowlers laboured, and aside from Mike Wilson's excellence, the spinners were the best of the bunch on the difficult surface.

The Colts started well in response to the massive total, but found more difficulty in coping with the sometimes awkward bounce. Daniel Towns was the clear topscorer, as he played perhaps the finest innings in Development League history. His was an unassuming innings, but placed in situational context, it was epic in its own regard. When the eighth wicket fell, the score was 318 and Towns stood unbeaten on 101, having entered at number 3. With his team still 82 runs short of the follow-on target, Manan Shah came to the crease and assisted his vice-captain in a truly remarkable turnaround.

Shah had gone wicketless for the cost of 114 runs the day before, and looked determined to make amends for his loose performance. By the time the partnership was broken, 153 runs had been added to the total, and Shah was dismissed for 22. Thad Bochat was out a ball later, leaving Towns unbeaten on 215, his last 112 runs coming from 149 balls in batting with the tail. CW Colts finished on 471, trailing only by 128 runs at that stage, compared to the 281 at the fall of the eighth wicket.

The comeback did not deflate the Greens, however, and though Lezama fell early on, another batting feast was to be had. Malone and Hogarth followed up their first innings form with dominant half-centuries, paving the way for a comfortable total of 226-6 declared. At the dismissal of Hogarth, a small collapse was triggered (5 wickets for 75 runs) but Tom Halsey slogged a quickfire 21 on the fifth morning to keep the momentum with CW Green.

CW Colts set out to chase 355 for victory with the best part of three sessions to do so. Arunava Das nicked Mitchell to first slip in the first over, and Towns was forced into battle again. He and Fitzsimmons added 125 and the Colts looked well on course to save the game. A sharp legbreak bamboozled Towns and dealt with his offstump and the game caught life again. Fitzsimmons went on to score 117, but found no worthwhile partner of the middle order. Wickets tumbled, and though Mike Wilson and Dan Rai batted well down the order, the Colts entered the last hour of the day with just one wicket intact. As he did in the first innings, Xavier Rose wrapped up the innings with the dimissal of Bochat.

Cricket Web Green 1st 599-7 dec.
RJ Malone 190, DD Hogarth 176, DY Dubb-Lynch 129*
MW Wilson 4-79, T Bochat 2-120

Cricket Web Colts 1st 471 all out
DP Towns 215*, SG Fitzsimmons 39, CR Butler 37
XPA Rose 5-79, TC Halsey 2-60

Cricket Web Green 2nd 226-6 dec.
DD Hogarth 87, RJ Malone 63, TC Halsey 21*
T Bochat 2-36, DK Rai 2-47

Cricket Web Colts 2nd 307 all out
SG Fitzsimmons 117, MW Wilson 47, DP Towns/DK Rai 35
XPA Rose 4-53, MT Mitchell 3-67

Cricket Web Green won by 47 runs.
Man of the Match: DP Towns

Cricket Web Black v Cricket Web Under-19
Preseason Cricket - CWBCC Stadium

Scorecard
Ball by Ball

Cricket Web Black were at the heart of another tight contest, though this time Zac Gelman guided them to victory over Cricket Web Under-19. Last week the Blacks lost their first warmup game, as CW Red chased a moderate target for victory. On this occasion it was CW Black who did the chasing, and Gelman scored 36 not out and contributed strongly to the winning partnership of 37 with Ben Fox.

Black fast bowler, Kev Gough won the toss on day one and chose to bat first. The openers, Luff and Hopgood negotiated the bowling well early on, adding 66 for the first wicket. A moment of madness led to the run out of Luff and the inexperience of the Under-19s was shown up dramatically in a steady slide to 153 all out. Neil Pickup tore through the middle order with superb control and variation. He took 4 wickets, while Gelman was the best seamer on show, with 3.

CW Black began batting half-an-hour before tea on the first day, and scored a fiesty 27 runs from the 6 overs before the interval. The high tempo batting continued in the final session, and CW Black go to 50 in 10th over. Arnold was first out to a full swinging delivery from Gough, and Dan Smith followed quickly. Andrew Cloete eased to 38 from 37 balls, but it was Ash Chaulk who shone brightest in the Black innings. His 81 cost 109 balls and featured 7 fours and a six. Gerard Armstrong (46) also contributed nicely, but Corey McMeekin failed in a rare incident. A ball after Gelman came to the crease, Fox was caught out by a slower ball and CW Black slipped to 226-7. Largely with Syd at his side, Gelman scored 63 in lifting CW Black to 334 all out.

Once again the openers took charge in the second CW U-19 turn at the innings. Luff and Hopgood notched half-centuries, but neither carried on to a large score as required. Jack Ullungura was the only other batsmen to get going, and Pickup collected another 3 wickets in a score of 321 all out. From 137-1, the Under-19s were made to settle for a sub-par score. Though it was a greatly improved batting performance, the Blacks faced a target of only 141 for victory.

Gough started superbly, intent on impressing his team with an incisive display. An inswinger removed Arnold for 1, and later Cloete (27) with an outswinger. Chaulk received an even better outswinger for the Gough's third wicket. Amidst the bunch, Dan Smith's pugnacious little innings of 37 came to a disappointing end, a top-edged pull shot caught at mid-on. Armstrong dragged Dwyer onto his stumps and McMeekin fell for 10, failing for the second time in the game. At 106-6, the Under-19s looked well in contention with the tail exposed.

Gelman had survived a confident shout by Gough before he had scored, but looked at relative ease in his determination toward victory. He was not without flair though, as epitomized by the nonchalant flick over midwicket to seal the result.

Cricket Web Under-19 1st 153 all out
MR Hopgood 37, MD Luff 30, NG Scott 22
NS Pickup 4-20, ZE Gelman 3-36

Cricket Web Black 1st 334 all out
AP Chaulk 81, ZE Gelman 63, GAJ Armstrong 46
M Reddlapalli 3-74, KJ Gough 3-79

Cricket Web Under-19 2nd 321 all out
MR Hopgood 91, MD Luff 68, J Ullungura 48
NS Pickup 3-59, NL Patrick 2-60

Cricket Web Black 2nd 143-6
DP Smith 37, ZE Gelman 36*, AP Cloete 27
KJ Gough 3-30, CR Dwyer 1-17

Cricket Web Black won by 4 wickets.
Man of the Match: ZE Gelman

Cricket Web Blue v Cricket Web Red
Preseason Cricket - Fardin Qayyumi Stadium

Scorecard
Ball by Ball

"Deeply disappointing," was the call by Liam Camps jr. after his team suffered a second consecutive defeat in its preparation for the upcoming Dev League season. Cricket Web Blue were soundly beaten by Cricket Web Red by a margin of 174 runs. Most disappointing to Camps was the manner of defeat, as the Blues lost their last 7 wickets for 40 runs late on day five.

Camps himself was one of the poorest players on show, as he failed in both innings with both bat and ball. He did win the toss, however, and inserted CW Red under overcast skies. Aseem Sharma looked intent on making the decision a poor one with his quickfire 30, but he was caught at short extra cover off Lee Payne, making his CW Blue debut. Payne continued to impress, dismissing Kenny Dobson with a full delivery. Mørk and Kearsley followed and the Reds were struggling in the first hour of play, 72-4.

Jamee Gray and Marc Robbins played well in making 37 and 30 respectively, but when the former was bowled by Williams, the score read 180-6. Callum Thompson followed a ball later to the bowling of Currie. Gaurav Nayak considered his uncertain position as the lost man in the Red franchise. His was an incredible innings - 90 unbeaten from 79 balls - and deflated the Blue bowlers. Nayak was particularly harsh on Currie, taking 4 fours from 5 balls against him at one stage. He raced to 50 from 35 balls, but was denied a hundred when Currie returned to bowl Amir and end the innings.

CW Red had reached a commendable 293 all out, however, 113 came for the price of their last 3 wickets. It was the mark of a good pitch, and despite the cloudy overhead conditions, the Blues started well and trusted the trueness of bounce and pace. The top four batsmen all got healthy starts, but unlike Nayak, no one carried on to truly take control of the innings. Instead it was Clapham who dominated proceedings. The left-arm seamer emerged from nowhere last season, and looks set to make his presence known this season, as he claimed 6 for 72 in swinging the ball clinically. CW Blue collapsed from 171-2 to 274 all out.

That disappointment was compounded by CW Red excitement. Their batsmen set about to grind the Blues into submission. Mørk made his first significant score of the preseason - a chanceless 100 - and his was the anchor of 472 all out. Sharma finally carried on with a start and posted a classy 64. Dobson joined his captain in making runs, and did so to the effect of an excellent 88. The other half-centurion was Jamee Gray, scoring 52 gritty runs. Again Callum Thompson and Gaurav Nayak teed off against the tired bowlers and put on a quickfire 85 for the eighth wicket. To his credit, Matt Smith took 5 wickets in the innings, including those of Mørk, Thompson and Nayak.

The Blue openers emerged on day with a minimum of 127 overs left in the match and a target of 492 in their sights. Again Young and Mamesh laid a solid platform - 86 in 24 overs - and again Clapham made the ball speak to great effect. A jaffa removed Young's offstump and he stood for a while after bemused by the delivery. Mamesh and Cribb batted to the close with the Blues looking imposing at 146-1.

The good batting continued into the fifth morning amidst regular and annoying rain delays. Mamesh got to his hundred and was dropped Raghav a ball later. Amir was visibly distraught and frustrated by the miss, but began his next over with a sharp rising delivery to catch the same batsman's glove. It showed great composure from the young man, and Mørk took the catch comfortably in the gully. Amir followed up with the wicket of Cribb with a similar delivery, but CW Blue reached lunch still comfortable at 212-3.

Wilshere and DeSilva progressed carefully after lunch. The former got to his half-century due a pleasant offdrive against Amir. But like Mamesh before him, DeSilva perished two balls after raising his bat in celebration, bowled playing away from his body. The dismissal triggered a stunning collapse. First Camps was dropped, then dismissed, by Raghav. Amir pressed on and finished with 5 wickets. CW Blue fell apart for 319 all out.

Cricket Web Red 1st 293 all out
GN Nayak 90*, JR Gray 37, MJ Robbins/CP Thompson/A Sharma 30
LR Payne 3-57, MJ Currie 3-66

Cricket Web Blue 1st 274 all out
MW DeSilva 55, RGEWS Cribb 46, PE Young 44
KR Clapham 6-72, CP Thompson 2-36

Cricket Web Red 2nd 472 all out
H Mørk 100, GKK Dobson 88, A Sharma 64, JR Gray 52
MJ Smith 5-93, LR Payne 2-80

Cricket Web Blue 2nd 319 all out
MU Amir 5-85, CP Thompson 2-37

Cricket Web Red won by 172 runs.
Man of the Match: GN Nayak

[Loony BoB]

Gutted at the loss, but as was said, a lifeless surface. Extremely happy with my batting, though! Once I can put those kind of performances in during the regular season, I'll be happy.

[Mister Wright]

Disapointed that we lost, however there were some fine individual performances. Our inexperienced new ball partnership showed promise in never giving up considering the hiding they were on the end of. Good to see 'Fitzy' hit the 3 figures and what else can be said about Towns' innings except that it was phenomenal?

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Originally Posted by Mister Wright

what else can be said about Towns' innings except that it was phenomenal?

Granted, he was dropped on 22, 35 and 52. Richard won't be happy, but it was a stunning display with very little support.

[Loony BoB]

Originally Posted by Mr Mxyzptlk

Granted, he was dropped on 22, 35 and 52. Richard won't be happy, but it was a stunning display with very little support.

Bah, I just hit the ball too hard for their feeble hands.

[Johnners]

Fantastic win Reds. It feels good to finally be amongst the FC Wickets Great to see Aseem & Kenny get some runs up the top of the order, whilst Thommo & Gaurav dominated with spectacular innings late in the peice.

[age_master]

Good to see the rest of the batting order fire there, good signs for the start of the season

[Majin]

Sad to lose, but still our batting shows much promise compared to the last few seasons. Epic knock from Towns, awesome stuff.

[PY]

Gah, that is 4 starts and only one 50 for me, letting the side down.

Unlucky Blue, we best not have a similar start to this season as we did last.

[Samuel_Vimes]

Very pleased to get such a result with some of our best players rested, though of course the Blues were lacking some stalwarts too. Some selection headaches to be had, particularly as the bowlers seem to go on form alternately.

[bugssy]

good win greens, happy with my start, and good to see eveyone else firing up. good stuff

[Turbinator]

Yes finally some runs, I am so happy . Finally I carried on after a good start.

Well done everyone else, honestly, this is our year baby our year, I can feel it .

GO REDS!

[Perm]

Disappointed with the U19's, thought we might have come close. Average performance by myself.