Saturday 23rd February
Cricket Web Blue v Cricket Web Black
PDV Dome
Scorecard
Ball by Ball
Casting aside any illusions of their status in the Development League, Cricket Web Black thrashed pretenders to the throne, Cricket Web Blue, by an innings and 1 run. On their home turf, the Blues were no match for CW Black, who boasted another team effort, receiving contributions from everyone in the memorable win.
Alex Blackman set up the match nicely with a classy ton, continuing his fine form and checking out for 111. Together with Gerard Armstrong (90), the fourth wicket stand scaled the heights of 166, and after a brief fightback by CW Blue, the CW Black lower order charged forward to a final total of 498. Spearheading the late effort was Dave Richards with 60, and he led the bowling attack admirably the next day. Richards was high on confidence following a Test match recall, and he took 4 for 26 as the home side crumbled for 198. Again Nath Patrick showed his keen knowledge of the Dome, taking 3 wickets to trouble the middle order.
CW Blue were asked to follow-on late on day three. They went to stumps at 21-0, but lost wickets on the morning of day four. Solid partnerships through the remainder of the day left the game poised for a fifth day fight. The hopes of CW Blue hinged on the partnership of Robert Cribb (73) and Alex Crampton (55), on 44 at stumps. Mostly streaky runs were scored on day five, until Cribb missed a lovely arm ball from Richards. It was the breakthrough CW Black desperately needed, and they quickly gathered the momentum to wrap up the innings, claiming the last 4 wickets for 21 runs.
Cricket Web Black 1st Innings 498 all out
Blackman 111, Armstrong 90, Collins 4-87, Demeza 3-132
Cricket Web Blue 1st Innings 198 all out
Bowen 49, Crampton 39, Richards 4-26, Patrick 3-35
Cricket Web Blue 2nd Innings Following On 299 all out
Cribb 73, Young P.E. 62, Richards 3-40, Gelman 3-65
Cricket Web Black won by an innings and 1 run.
Man of the Match: DP Richards (Black)
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Cricket Web Colts v Cricket Web Green
Fardin Qayyumi CC
Scorecard
Ball by Ball
The Fardin Qayyumi Cricket Centre stayed true to its batsman-friendly reputation, but Cricket Web Colts needed a brave innings from Chris Butler to ensure a draw against Cricket Web Green. Batsmen on both sides filled their boots, though a second innings collapse almost left the Colts in trouble on day five.
Butler scored 117 in the first innings to drive home an impressive top order performance. The Colts were inserted on a rain-filled opening day, but made the best of more pleasant conditions of day two. Both openers struck half-centuries before Butler carried on to his ton in the middle order. While Xavier Rose worked hard to pick up 5 wickets, the Colts looked well set at 465. In response CW Green looked solid, rather than spectacular, losing both openers within 62-2. Revival came in spectacular fashion, however. Nick Scott eased in at the crease against a Colts attack that struggled to get anything from the surface. He cruised to fifty and onward to a big hundred.
With him all the way, Martyn Corrin was even more at ease. He offered no chances in a workmanlike hundred, his first since his historic double. Together the two put on 321 for the third wicket and set up a draw as the likeliest result. Scott eventually perished for 189, and through Wright, the Colts fought back into the game. They were blunted, however, but the surprising spirit of Andy Cameron (20) and Mat Mitchell (21 not out) and could only break the tenth wicket stand with a run out.
CW Green surged into the lead by 81 runs, but could not force a breakthrough in the final 28 minutes of day four. The Colts resumed on day five on 11-0. The Green openers fired, and both Law and Griffen returned to the pavilion with 35 on the board. CW Green did themselves no favours by dropping easy catches at crucial stages, helping the Colts to fight back to safety. Butler led the way with 75, and Wright declared to leave 13 overs and a target of 111 for the Greens to tackle. Malone (9) was the lone casualty in a largely uneventful final session.
Cricket Web Colts 1st Innings 465 all out
Butler 117, Griffen 76, Rose 5-100, Halsey 2-74
Cricket Web Green 1st Innings 546 all out
Scott 189, Corrin 124, Wright 3-133, Hancock 2-61
Cricket Web Colts 2nd Innings 192 for 5 dec.
Butler 75, Towns 23, Corrin 3-41, Cunningham 1-32
Cricket Web Green 2nd Innings 44 for 1
Lezama 17*, Scott 14*, Wright 1-23
Match drawn.
Man of the Match: CR Butler (Colts)
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Masters XI v Cricket Web Red
Casston Reserve
Scorecard
Ball by Ball
Cricket Web Red finished their game against the Masters XI strongly, earning a draw after their second innings batting looked destined to lose the game. Sean Bennett was particularly heroic in the recovery, scoring 68 and batting at length with the tail to blunt the charge of the Masters.
In their first innings the Reds looked confident and racked up 369. David Kearsley rode his luck - dropped on 98 - and scored 101 of the runs. He was particularly strong through the legside and shared big partnerships with Rob Dauth (62) and Jamee Gray (96). The latter walked off the pitch in disbelief after he missed out on a first-class ton again. He was adjudged lbw by umpire Ainsley Smith, when replays suggested that he hit the ball from Klusener. After his demise the batting began to fall apart, but Bennett stood up with 32 to help the innings past 300.
The Masters responded with contributions all down the order and took the lead by 20 runs. Bennett was again the main performer for CW Red, taking 4 wickets to assist his Man of the Match bid. It was prelude to his greatest shining moment, after the Reds had collapsed to 113-6 in their second turn. All his problems with the bat in FC cricket seemed a distant memory as he battled back against the might of Shane Warne, ripping the ball across him and already with 5 wickets to his name. Just as crucial was his support, most notably David Kennett in an innings 101 balls long. Bennett showed great confidence in his partner and slowly built his innings, offering nothing to the Masters until he was stumped for 68.
CW Red batted until there were 30 overs left in the game, all out for 223 and leaving a target of 204. On a pitch still well intact for the batsmen, the Masters might have gone after the total. But even as Mork dropped three catches in the first eight overs, the top order struggled to get on top of the Red seamers. In particular, Callum Thompson (3-21) found good rhythm, and Inzamam-ul-Haq (22 not out) and Lance Klusener (16 not out) were made to bat safely to a draw.
Cricket Web Red 1st Innings 369 all out
Kearsley 101, Gray 96, Benkenstein 3-27, Klusener 3-48
Masters XI 1st Innings 389 all out
Klusener 79, Jones 56, Bennett 4-65, Kennett 2-70
Cricket Web Red 2nd Innings 223 all out
Bennett 68, Kearsley 45, Warne 5-57, Streak 2-30
Masters XI 2nd Innings 123 for 5
Inzamam-ul-Haq 22*, Martyn 21, Thompson 3-21, Kennett 1-21
Match drawn.
Man of the Match: SA Bennett (Red)
