*Official* India in CWLand Discussion and Results

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Unchanged CW XI look to secure series

The successful Cricket Web XI formula will be kept intact, as an unchanged team has been named for the third Test against India. Though the game is due to be played at the most spin-friendly venue of the series to date, Dave Richards has again been left out of the final XI.

"[The bowling attack] Has been going well in the series," said CWBCC co-chairman Liam Camps. "The last Test we played at the [CWBCC] Stadium [against New Zealand] the spinners struggled [to take wickets] in the second innnings."

Dan Smith has also been overlooked again, with the batting lineup having performed stunningly in three innings to date.

Cricket Web XI 3rd Test squad:
NS Pickup (c), H Mork (wk), PE Young, T Mamesh, RJ Dauth, CR Butler, AP Cloete, MW Wilson, TJ Demeza, AAA Collins, NA Borcich. 12th Man: DP Richards

 

[mikeW]

lets sweep the series fellas.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

A bit late for a sweep really.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Demeza wins day for CW XI late
Day 1 - Cricket Web XI vs India - 3rd Test @ CWBCC Stadium

Fast bowler Travis Demeza stung India with the second new ball, taking 3 late wickets and leaving the tourists 7 down at stumps. It was a frustrating day for the Indians, as they chose to bat first, but consistently threw away any advantage they fought to gain. At stumps they were 250-7 and CW XI walked off the field satisfied with their first strides in the third Test as they look to wrap up the series.

Travis Demeza celebrates another wicket. © Getty Images

Early on Nick Borcich caught the edge of Virender Sehwag's flashing blade, and the ball settled into the safe gloves of wicketkeeper Mork. India recovered from the early loss with a promising partnership, but neither Jaffer nor Dravid looked confident on a pitch that offered a little movement to the seamers. Demeza angled a ball away from Jaffer (27) and found the edge of his probing stroke, and Mork took his second catch of the innings. The wicket united Sachin Tendulkar and Dravid, and although they added a calm 58, neither managed to find any real fluency. For Dravid it was another hard-fought innings, but Tendulkar threw away his start with an unsually poor shot. Pickup flighted the ball and Tendulkar (27) drove the ball uppishly into the safe hands of Mike Wilson at short extra cover.

At 119-3 the Webheads sensed an opening, but were made to wait for their next wicket. The Indians again played with promise, but as soon as they began to play with some freedom, a loose shot pegged them back. On 77 Dravid failed to get on top of a pull shot and Dauth showed excellent judgment and commitment to catch the skier at wide midwicket. Running to his right and swerving to his left, Dauth had to dive sharply to forward at the end of the move to cling on to the ball. The inspirational fielding spurred on the Webheads, but after Borcich beat Sourav Ganguly with 2 balls first up, India set about building another stand.

Into the final hour of the day the share of the game remained balanced, but armed with a new ball, Demeza swung a delivery away from Ganguly and the left-hander obliged with a thin edge through to Mork. Demeza followed up with a sharp yorker to deal with Pathan (0), then bowled the ball of the day to catch Kumble fending to slip. In the space of 16 balls CW XI battled back with three Indian wickets and edged in front. MS Dhoni may be all that stands in the way on day two, and will have to score big to push his team past 300.

India 1st innings 250-7 (92 overs)
R Dravid 77, SC Ganguly 45, MS Dhoni 43*, Harbhajan Singh 6*
TJ Demeza 4-43, NA Borcich 2-65

Indian spinners hang Test in the balance
Day 2 - Cricket Web XI vs India - 3rd Test @ CWBCC Stadium

Four wickets fell in the final session, and Cricket Web XI lost some of their footing and finished on par with India in the fight for a first innings advantage. In the morning India, behind a hardhitting 75 from MS Dhoni, reached 296 all out. Travis Demeza (5-67) took the wicket of Harbhajan Singh to complete a 5-wicket haul, and after a few massive blows by Dhoni, Borcich (4-83) claimed the final two with full and quick deliveries. For the second time in the series, Demeza and Borcich shared 9 wickets in the innings.

Anil Kumble snaps up Cloete for 78.

India set about well with the ball, first dropping Mamesh and then removing him for 6. Ishant Sharma, making his return to the team, was the successful bowler, enticing a half-drive from the in-form opener and having Sachin Tendulkar take a smart catch in the slips. The early promise was briefly blunted, but Irfan Pathan got Mork (20) edging behind at the start of the afternoon session. Andrew Cloete and Pete Young then proceeded to extend their third wicket stand into the final session, raising half-centuries and threatening big things.

Anil Kumble retreated to defensive tactics against Cloete and they paid off when he scooped a catch to the cover fielder, on 78. But Young was not phased, bringing up his third consecutive Test ton with a drop-and-run single. The CW Blue batsman dropped to his knees and kissed the turf in elation, while the meagre crowd at the Stadium stood and applauded. At 241-3 the home side were clearly on top, but the Indian spinners chose that moment to step in. First Kumble trapped Chris Butler, padding up to a ball that went on with the angle, from around the wicket. Young then tapped a low full toss back to Harbhajan Sigh, out for 108, and Kumble rounded things off with an eerily similar dismissal of Rob Dauth (3).

Sehwag had a chance to celebrate a 7th wicket, but he dropped Borcich at gully and denied Kumble his fourth. Mike Wilson on 5 and Borcich on 6, CW XI went to stumps still trailing by 40 runs with 4 wickets in hand.

India 1st innings 296 all out (103.1 overs)
R Dravid 77, MS Dhoni 75, SC Ganguly 45
TJ Demeza 5-67, NA Borcich 4-83

Cricket Web XI 1st innings 256-6 (81 overs)
PE Young 108, AP Cloete 78, NA Borcich 6*, MW Wilson 5*
A Kumble 3-51

Cricket Web XI trail by 40 runs with 4 first innings wickets in hand.

 

[Travis_Teh]

Confident Wilson and the tail can get a little lead for us here.

Enjoying bowling with Nick, too. Starting to find some consistency with the new ball between us.

 

[Mister Wright]

Interesting stage of the match.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Poised.

And non-spinners took wickets for a change. Hooray!

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Match hangs in balance after Sehwag fifty
Day 3 - Cricket Web XI vs India - 3rd Test @ CWBCC Stadium

Some careful batting by the Indian top order wrestled a measure of control of the third Test match, after Cricket Web XI took a first innings lead in the morning session. Virender Sehwag needed 107 balls to score 65 not out, as he led India to 147-1 at stumps.

Sehwag collects a rare boundary.

Earlier Mike Wilson added 8 to his overnight total before he was struck on the back pad by Ishant Sharma, and given out lbw. Adam Collins joined Nick Borcich and was dropped by Khan off the second ball he faced. He took such generousity to heart and contributed to a partnership of 17, between annoying rain delays. Nick Borcich was the key to the stand, and he looked set on 32 before he offered Khan a dose of absolution and was caught at deep square leg. The remains of the tail conspired to put on a further 39 for the last 2 wickets. As they did at the Oval, Pickup and Collins looked determined at the crease and each made 18.

CW XI led by 35 when they started the second innings with the ball. They should have had the early blood, but for Dauth's drop in the gully, as Sehwag survived on 16. Not until the 22nd over did they produce another chance, and Borcich held on for Collins' first wicket of the match. Sehwag gave a half-chance when he had 49, but lived to bring up a half-century from 88 balls. He then ended the day with a flurry of 15 runs from 19 balls and headed to the dressing room unbeaten with Dravid (27 not out) at his side.

India 1st innings 296 all out (103.1 overs)
R Dravid 77, MS Dhoni 75, SC Ganguly 45
TJ Demeza 5-67, NA Borcich 4-83

Cricket Web XI 1st innings 331 all out (115.3 overs)
PE Young 108, AP Cloete 78, NA Borcich 32
A Kumble 4-76, I Sharma 3-54

India 2nd innings 147-1 (44 overs)
V Sehwag 65*, W Jaffer 38, R Dravid 27*
AAA Collins 1-16

India lead by 112 runs with 9 second innings wickets in hand.

 

[Mister Wright]

A good fightback by the Indians has really held us up, but some quick wickets can turn that around.

 

[Travis_Teh]

Blah, Mike let us down

Not overly happy the Indian top 3 got them off to a decent start.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

CW XI under pressure after India declare
Day 4 - Cricket Web XI vs India - 3rd Test @ CWBCC Stadium

For the first time in the series India finished a day the clearly dominant team. Cricket Web XI will start their second innings on the final day needing 381 to win. India again struggled to get on top of the bowlers with any great authority, but battled bravely enough 415-7 before a declaration.

The day started poorly for the tourists, losing Virender Sehwag to the first delivery for his overnight total of 65. And Pete Young fumbled the ball when Sachin Tendulkar should have been run out easily before he had double figures. But although the boundaries did not come, it was fairly smooth sailing from then unitl lunch, with India on 242-2. In the first over of the second session, the hundred partnership came up, and Tendulkar took a single off Collins to reach fifty, then Dravid punched the next ball past cover for four to score another hundred. Shoulders drooped for the fielding side and the partnership crossed 150, but with the last ball before tea, Neil Pickup fired a ball into the rough outside the legstump, and Dravid tried to sweep, but edged the ball back onto his stumps.

Dravid celebrates another hundred. © AFP

In the final session the plan was definitely to attack, but defensive tactics and flat bowling by Pickup foiled most attempts. He saw Ganguly dropped by Mork behind the stumps, but snapped up Tendulkar for 82, trying to clear midwicket, but picking out Pete Young. Collins then chimed in with the wickets of Ganguly (18) and Dhoni (5) and suddenly India were wobbling with a lead of 330 and 6 wickets down. Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan Singh addressed the slump with a stand of 50, and when the latter nicked Borcich behind, Anil Kumble declared. There was no time for the home side to bat on the evening, and stumps were taken immediately after the declaration.

To make up for time lost to rain, Cricket Web XI could face close to 100 overs on the final day, as they fight to save the Test match.

India 1st innings 296 all out (103.1 overs)
R Dravid 77, MS Dhoni 75, SC Ganguly 45
TJ Demeza 5-67, NA Borcich 4-83

Cricket Web XI 1st innings 331 all out (115.3 overs)
PE Young 108, AP Cloete 78, NA Borcich 32
A Kumble 4-76, I Sharma 3-54

India 2nd innings 415-7 dec. (144.4 overs)
R Dravid 110, SR Tendulkar 82, V Sehwag 65
AAA Collins 3-50, NS Pickup 2-107

Cricket Web XI need 381 runs to win, with 10 second innings wickets in hand.

Mamesh falls after CW XI start positively
Day 5 - 1st Session - Cricket Web XI vs India - 3rd Test @ CWBCC Stadium

India claimed 2 wickets in the morning session, as they searched to defend 381 and bowl out Cricket Web XI to level the Test series at 1-1. Thamba Mamesh got the innings off to a rollicking start, in stark contrast to his partner Mork, and took on the fast bowlers with 8 fours in a 39-ball half-century. He achieved the milestone by hitting Ishant Sharma back overhead, and the home side raced away to 66 in the first 14 overs.

Thamba Mamesh on the go. Photo: AP

Anil Kumble brought himself on for the 15th and immediately troubled Mamesh, beating him once and then striking him on the pad. With the latter delivery came a loud appeal that was upheld by the umpire and the opening batsman had to go for 51. Harbhajan Singh was quickly into the attack at the other end and neither batsman approached him with confidence, as the ball spit up at them and turned sharper off the pitch than it has all series. Mork should have been out when padded up in the 26th over, but instead it was Young (8) who was next out, using his feet to get to the pitch, but instead miscuing the ball to mid-on. There Sharma took a comfortable catch and rewarded Harbhajan for his efforts.

At lunch Cricket Web XI have improved from 87-2 to 117-2, behind some exciting shots by Andrew Cloete. But India remain marginally in the lead with their spinners on the prowl.

India 1st innings 296 all out (103.1 overs)
R Dravid 77, MS Dhoni 75, SC Ganguly 45
TJ Demeza 5-67, NA Borcich 4-83

Cricket Web XI 1st innings 331 all out (115.3 overs)
PE Young 108, AP Cloete 78, NA Borcich 32
A Kumble 4-76, I Sharma 3-54

India 2nd innings 415-7 dec. (144.4 overs)
R Dravid 110, SR Tendulkar 82, V Sehwag 65
AAA Collins 3-50, NS Pickup 2-107

Cricket Web XI 2nd innings 117-2 (34 overs)
T Mamesh 51, AP Cloete 25*, H Mork 24*
Harbhajan Singh 1-18, A Kumble 1-30

Cricket Web XI need 264 runs to win, with 8 second innings wickets in hand.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

What happened to the fourth day? Shocking fielding effort, it seems

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

What happened to the fourth day? Shocking fielding effort, it seems

Oops. Meant to post it with day three. Added to post above yours.

 

[Travis_Teh]

Pisses me off when we can't bowl teams out.

 

[roseboy64]

Interesting so far.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Khan gets Cloete and CW XI under pressure
Day 5 - 2nd Session - Cricket Web XI vs India - 3rd Test @ CWBCC Stadium

Andrew Cloete played a promising knock of 52 but fell to a loose shot and allowed India back into the game. Mork was out at the start of the session, bowled by Harbhajan Singh for 24. The pressure was on at 125-3, but Cloete and Butler played solidly in a brief stand. Driving beautifully throughout his innings, Cloete progressed with absolute confidence. Cricket Web XI moved to 157-3, but a moment of uncertainty by Cloete saw him poking miscuing a pull shot to be caught at midwicket.

Harbhajan gave India the perfect start to the second session.

Rob Dauth took guard and was watchful against the seamers, hardly playing at balls outside the offstump. But as the spinners entered the attack uncertainty crept into his game until he flicked a legstump from Kumble into the lap of Ganguly. Tea was called 5 balls later, with Chris Butler digging in with 32 and Mike Wilson just starting with 2 to his name.

India 1st innings 296 all out (103.1 overs)
R Dravid 77, MS Dhoni 75, SC Ganguly 45
TJ Demeza 5-67, NA Borcich 4-83

Cricket Web XI 1st innings 331 all out (115.3 overs)
PE Young 108, AP Cloete 78, NA Borcich 32
A Kumble 4-76, I Sharma 3-54

India 2nd innings 415-7 dec. (144.4 overs)
R Dravid 110, SR Tendulkar 82, V Sehwag 65
AAA Collins 3-50, NS Pickup 2-107

Cricket Web XI 2nd innings 199-5 (66 overs)
T Mamesh 51, AP Cloete 52, CR Butler 32*, MW Wilson 2*
Harbhajan Singh 2-40, A Kumble 2-37

Cricket Web XI need 182 runs to win, with 5 second innings wickets in hand.

 

[roseboy64]

India with the advantage.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Needs a massive hand from the tail. Come on boys, let's stand up and be counted.

We have seen plenty of promising positions slip; let's turn it around. A draw from here will feel like victory.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Brave Wilson fights to the end
Day 5 - 3rd Session - Cricket Web XI vs India - 3rd Test @ CWBCC Stadium

Allrounder Mike Wilson tried his best to usher Cricket Web XI to safety, and was left unbeaten on 74 as the match came to an end late on the fifth evening. Cricket Web Colts team mates, Wilson and Chris Butler carried their team into the final hour of the game, but the new ball brought success for India. Zaheer Khan brought the ball back into the left-handed Butler and struck him in line with the stumps, ending his brave knock on 54.

The wicket hardly deterred Wilson, and he continued to play positively. He scored 10 runs off a Khan over to get to his second fifty of the series. But after reaching his milestone he seemed to lose concentration. First he survived a very tight appeal against Anil Kumble. The Indian captain could hardly contain his frustration, but stuck to his task and enticed a big shot from Wilson two balls later. The ball came off the toe of the bat and lobbed at chest height to Ganguly in the covers, but he floored the simple opportunity. It was clear that success for the Webheads would hinge on Wilson, but even so he flashed at a Pathan delivery in the next over and Dhoni just failed to hang on to a tough chance.

Allrounder Mike Wilson on the go. (c) Getty Images

But Pathan was not too disheartened. He persisted and picked up Borcich for 11, caught by Tendulkar. He threw the ball up with a loud roar, attempting to rally his team by example. And Kumble furthered the ecstasy by trapping Adam Collins lbw for 1. Only 16 balls were left in the game, but with 2 wickets intact, there was no end to the drama. First to the task was Neil Pickup, facing his opposite number and having to survive 4 balls left in the 97th over. He was beaten twice and then pushed forward with authority, smothering the spin. And to end the over he showed even more confidence by driving the ball through the covers. The batsmen stayed at their respective ends, considering the situation and leaving Wilson on strike for the penultimate over.

Questions have surrounded Wilson's commitment with the bat, but he embraced the opportunity to clear his name. In an expert manner he kept the strike and faced up to the last 12 balls. With every delivery he negotiated, the crowd cheered and the pressure eased. But in typical fashion, Wilson did so with some extravagence, collecting 2 boundaries in 11 runs in the process. The draw leaves CW XI with an unassailable 1-0 lead in the series, with a game to play.

India 1st innings 296 all out (103.1 overs)
R Dravid 77, MS Dhoni 75, SC Ganguly 45
TJ Demeza 5-67, NA Borcich 4-83

Cricket Web XI 1st innings 331 all out (115.3 overs)
PE Young 108, AP Cloete 78, NA Borcich 32
A Kumble 4-76, I Sharma 3-54

India 2nd innings 415-7 dec. (144.4 overs)
R Dravid 110, SR Tendulkar 82, V Sehwag 65
AAA Collins 3-50, NS Pickup 2-107

Cricket Web XI 2nd innings 309-8 (99 overs)
MW Wilson 74*, CR Butler 54, AP Cloete 52, T Mamesh 51
A Kumble 3-71, Harbhajan Singh 2-50

Match drawn.
Man of the Match: A Kumble (India)

Scorecard
Ball by Ball

 

[Neil Pickup]

That's the fighting spirit we needed. Played, boys.