*Official* Season XII Results and Discussion Thread

For information, the grade cricket season officially began today: Official grade season 12 thread.

Just to inform those who aren't quite sure were they belong yet:

Blue players are at the following team:

Campsfield Braves: LA Camps, AAA Collins, RD Dunn, GS Gooljar
Edfield Seahawks: MJ Smith
Fitzworthingham Broncos: J Ullungura, R Williams
Gofftown Tigers: RGEWS Cribb, TJ Demeza, BJ Goff
Maddington Frenzy: LR Payne, JP May-Quinlan
Pickford Panthers: MW de Silva, SE Fuller, PE Young
Stedingham Jets: T Mamesh
Twybridge Titans: A Crampton, BL Wilshere
To be assigned: RF Bowen

Black players:

Campsfield Braves: AJ Blackman, DP Smith
Davistow Darters: NL Patrick
Edfield Seahawks: NA Borcich
Fitzworthingham Broncos: AR Arnold
Garven Island Sharks: AP Cloete, DP Richards
Greater Robbham de Grooters: AP Chaulk
Maddington Frenzy: CR McMeekin, AK Syed
Nixonstown Foxes: ZE Gelman, BB Fox, GAJ Armstrong
Pickford Panthers: KJ Gough, Kexing Su, NS Pickup, GM Roberts
Stedingham Jets: JE Stedman
Twybridge Titans: BC Donald

Green players:

Campsfield Braves: DY Dubb-Lynch
Davistow Darters: BS Read
Fitzworthingham Broncos: EAP McNamara, DD Hogarth, DG Speirs
Garven Island Sharks: BC Cunningham, AJ Garven, A Lezama, XPA Rose
Gofftown Tigers: RJ Malone
Greater Robbham de Grooters: MT Mitchell, NG Scott
Maddington Frenzy: M Corrin
Nixonstown Foxes: N Dravid, PG Gundry
Pickford Panthers: TC Halsey
Stedingham Jets: AA Cameron, M Gaukroger
Twybridge Titans: JNE Forner

Colts players:

Campsfield Braves: MW Wilson
Davistow Darters: MR Hopgood
Edfield Seahawks: P Bharat, DK Rai, DP Towns
Fitzworthingham Broncos: WA Kerr, KS Wright
Garven Island Sharks: SG Fitzsimmons
Gofftown Tigers: S Jasotharan, JB Malthus, GM Thomas
Nixonstown Foxes: Manan Shah
Stedingham Jets: CR Butler, T Bochat
Twybridge Titans: AS Das, NR Hancock, JP McNamara, TV Weber

Red players:

Davistow Darters: DM Kennett, DA Kearsley, SV Raghav, ZJ Ritchie, DJ Watt
Edfield Seahawks: KR Clapham, GN Nayak, H Mørk
Gofftown Tigers: CR Dwyer
Greater Robbham de Grooters: MU Amir, RJ Dauth, GKK Dobson, MJ Robbins
Maddington Frenzy: AS Sharma
Nixonstown Foxes: JR Gray, MD Luff
Stedingham Jets: SA Bennett, M Reddlapalli
Twybridge Titans: CP Thompson

Thanks for that info, glad to play for Fitzworth blah whatever ha! I hope its a good season for me and all concerned. Great start so far with us Blues playing well for a draw (I wasn't in the team but it was a performance worthy of mention).

Long may it all continue.

April 27

Cricket Web Colts v Cricket Web Green
CWBCC Stadium

Scorecard
Ball by Ball

One of the great Dev League contests transpired at the CWBCC Stadium in Cricket Web Green's season opener. In front of a packed crowd, CW Green rallied to beat CW Colts by 1 wicket on the morning of the fourth day. The game swung back and forth throughout, as both teams gave their all on a difficult batting surface.

Conditions seemed pleasant enough when Kyle Wright won the toss, and accordingly he chose to take first strike. The decision was mocked by the Green opening bowlers. Xavier Rose and Bryce Cunningham proved a deadly combination, swinging the new ball under clear skies. At the stroke of the hour, Pooja Bharat was bowled by Andy Cameron and the score was a dismal 53-4. For all the good work of the new ball operators, Cameron was the man set apart on the day. He hit his stride and operated with a smooth rhythm, curling the ball sharply into the right handers.

Shan Jasotharan was the only Colts batsman who seemed to have a measure of the pitch. Anything loose was dispatched fiercely to the boundary, and his half-century came up in 33 balls, fittingly with a six off Cunningham. But reaching the milestone only added more urgency to Jasotharan's game. Facing only 26 more balls, he added another 46 runs, striking a total of 7 fours and 4 sixes in 100 from 59 balls. The display was electric, and hailed back to the young man's debut season, not too long ago. Finally he was bowled by Cameron, backing away to the legside, but his 119 was paramount in the Colts getting to 195 all out.

The Colts bowlers looked eager to get in on the tricky pitch. But they were met with resistance in the form of Rob Malone and Nick Scott early on. Both were dislodged by superb deliveries, Malone receiving a sharp bouncer from none other than Nick Hancock. The commentators noted that Hancock looks stronger and fitter this season, and it showed in his bowling. He bowled with sharper pace than usual, and his two wickets - Malone an Garven - were arguably the biggest of the Green bunch. Greg Thomas, however, was the most dangerous bowler on either side, and he took 7 wickets in the match.

Martyn Corrin was a rock in the middle order, but for all his hard work he managed only 37 runs. Down the order it was left up to Paddy Gundry to push CW Green past the meek Colts score. Gundry slogged and swiped effectively, scoring 38 from 33 balls and adding 39 with Cameron for the 9th wicket. Mitchell entered at the fall of Gundry and pushed aimlessly at his first two balls before nicking the third to slip - 201 all out.

Just 6 runs sat between the teams at the halfway stage. The pitch seemed especially keen on keeping the contest alive, as the batsmen were continually made to fight for survival half the time and to score runs all the time. For the most part of his 47, Fitzsimmons gathered all his experience and displayed the manner in which to perform in such conditions. As such it was an anticlimactic dismissal when he was given out for 47, despite a healthy inside edge onto his pad. The task was left to Shan Jasotharan once again. This time he was joined by Mike Wilson, and the two launched into an impressive counterattack. Wilson eventually perished flicking at a Corrin googly, leaving Jasotharan to chase his second hundred of the game with just the tail (and Weber) for company.

Jasotharan's 50 had cost 37 balls on this occasion, then he slowed to a more responsible pace, still smacking two sixes off Rose. He faced up to Cunningham on 99 and was tragically deceived by a slower delivery, trapped lbw on the score. Visibly disappointed, he eventually trudged off the pitch furious with himself. The Colts succumbed for 246, leaving CW Green needing a tricky 241 runs to win.

Both sides entered the final quarter desperate for victory. Wright and Thomas were exceptional in their inital bursts, and they removed Lezama and Scott before rain brought an early tea at 7-2. After the interval, Garven was reprieved by Malthus off the bowling of Thomas, so he and Malone lived to battle for a 64-run partnership for the third wicket. Again Hancock was amidst the action. He struck in his third over to remove Malone, then an over later he had Garven. It was a dramatic turnaround that was consummated further as Wright bowled Dubb-Lynch for 22.

Corrin matched his first innings courage with another purposeful knock. He lost Cunningham along the way, then was caught behind after an 81-ball fight. The score of 148-7 would have soon been 149-8, had Jasotharan held on to a very difficult one-handed chance. Gundry survived and rattled off 3 boundaries in his 17. Attempting another slog over cover, he holed out off the bowling of Hancock, leaving CW Green needing 68 runs with just 2 wickets in hand. But the packed audience at the CWBCC Stadium continued to believe; no one left until stumps, at 187-8. On the fourth morning Rose continued to play one of his finest innings. From 22 overnight, he hit 3 fours and a six to get to 47, then was spectacularly yorked by Hancock.

The allrounder simply would not be kept out of the game, and must have felt certain of victory when Mitchell took guard with 27 still needed. Alas, these glorious uncertainties are so reliable. Mitchell and Cameron approached the target carefully, ticking away the runs and swatting at the loose deliveries. Soon the requirement was under 10 and Wright called upon Wilson and Hancock, his best bowlers of the innings. In one maiden over by the latter, the ball beat Mitchell's bat all 6 times, but survival was all that mattered then. Cameron faced up to Wilson and clipped the ball off his toes, only to fling his arms up in celebration and he charged through for winning runs. The Greens rushed onto the field to embrace their heroes, and the camera pictured Wright standing with arms folded in disbelief.

Cricket Web Colts 1st 195 all out (42.3 overs)
S Jasotharan 119
AA Cameron 5-30, BC Cunningham 2-40

Cricket Web Green 1st 201 all out (62.5 overs)
NG Scott 46, PG Gundry 38, M Corrin 37
GM Thomas 4-58, MW Wilson 2-13

Cricket Web Colts 2nd 246 all out (71.4 overs)
S Jasotharan 99, SG Fitzsimmons 47, MW Wilson 38
BC Cunningham 4-30, AA Cameron 3-72

Cricket Web Green 2nd 242-9 (71.3 overs)
XPA Rose 47, RJ Malone 40, M Corrin 26
NR Hancock 4-50, GM Thomas 3-66

Cricket Web Green won by 1 wicket.
Men of the Match: AA Cameron and S Jasotharan

Cricket Web Black v Cricket Web Red
CW Oval

Scorecard
Ball by Ball

Whatever Håkon Mørk said to David Kearsley in the offseason, it's certainly working. In a Cristiano-Ronaldo-like transformation, Kearsley has met maturity spontaneously and found by far the best form of his career at the start of this season. His 192 may have been granted two half chances, but will be remembered as one of the best in Dev League cricket history.

Mørk chose to bat first, given his team's weakened bowling attack. Again he and Luff started well. This time they put on 70 for the first wicket. In his battle for the opening slot, however, Aseem Sharma made a creditable first-class debut in scoring 47. Granted, he was dropped first ball by Kexing Su - the simplest chance on display in years. Mørk played the anchor role at the top of the order, but could not claim a very richly deserved hundred. Instead he was lbw to Kexing Su, beaten for pace and out for 85. Kearsley thought nothing of the dismissal, batting with as much confidence as he did against the Colts, and bringing up his third consecutive half-century of the season.

Jamee Gray was out to a loose stroke late in the day. Again Kearsley hardly took notice. He hit both Syed and Kexing Su - both using the second new ball - out of the park in the final hour. The umpires called stumps at 310-5, with Kearsley on 94. The next morning was an exercise in patience for Kearsley. Smith formulated a plan to keep him off strike as he searched for his hundred. The Black fielders then helped execute it to perfection. In the process Syed dropped a catch against Thompson, however.

Kearsley faced 34 balls on the second morning before he paddled Roberts for 2 runs to bring up his hundred. Chaulk missed him, an extremely difficult chance, off Roberts when he had added 9 more runs, and then he never glanced back. While Thompson was at the crease, Kearsley played a measured innings, mixing attack and defense. With Nayak at his side, he played comfortably to reach 150. Nayak was stumped off Richards for 26, and Bennett played well enough to allow Kearsley to continue playing normally. He got to his highest first-class score with a cut shot to the boundary off Richards. The right-hander reached the heights of the 190s for the first time in his career, then suffered an unfortunate decision to be given out for 192. The innings closed on 509 all out, though the ball looked to be clearly heading down the legside.

CW Black were then in the same situation that they had placed Blue a week earlier. And in much the same way, they stumbled from a position of strength. Dan Smith and Gerard Armstrong set the game up at 115-1, then fell in quick succession to trigger a collapse. Bennett took 3 wickets of a score of 231 all out. Gelman, Richards and Roberts fought hard for their team, but the Blacks were forced to follow on on the third evening of the match.

Again the openers started with great resolve. This time Arnold found more fluency and he followed up his first innings 19 with a promising 69. Smith was out for a frustrated 20, and McMeekin and Chaulk fell away quickly. Armstrong was dropped on 17 and from there he looked at the peak of his powers. Gelman's fighting 27 came to a soft end - caught and bowled by Kennett - hailing Blake Donald to play the defining innings of his career to date, and his first in first-class cricket. With the reliability of Armstrong facing at the other end, Donald carefully played himself in. When he was set, he let loose with the power hitting that he was so revered for in the CW Black youth system.

Armstrong cracked Raghav off the back foot to bring up his maiden first class hundred, in only his fourth game. And he certainly celebrated it. Tears came to his eyes as he leaped in the air, then removed his helmet and acknowledged the cheering Black balcony. He was out two overs later.

Donald went after Kennett to get to his fifty from 74 balls. He continued the attack against everyone Mørk threw at him, growing in strength and composure with every boundary. He had 11 of them and a towering six to his name by the time he turned Bennett away for his hundred. It was another maiden ton and another emotional outpouring. This time Donald was dropped once then caught by Kearsley for 106. Richards added a couple more boundaries to his score before he too was out to Bennett, caught bat-pad for 39.

CW Black started the final day at 414-8, some 136 runs ahead. Raghav and Kennett wasted no time in cleaning up the tail. CW Red then set out to chase 145 runs for victory.

The potentially tricky target looked certainly so when Sharma was bowled by Gelman - 43-2 - but Mørk eased the pressure with two boundaries in the over before lunch. He was dropped off Gelman after lunch, and later brought up his 50 with a drive off the same bowler. Just to add a last bit of drama to proceedings, Armstrong clutched on to a screamer to remove Dobson just before lunch. But the damage was done. Though Kearsley and Mørk faced up to some fiery reverse swing by Kexing Su after the resumption, it was never enough. Kearsley deservedly hit the winning run, finishing unbeaten on 11. His captain ended on 71, guiding his team to a maiden Season XII win.

Cricket Web Red 1st 509 all out (157.1 overs)
DA Kearsley 192, H Mørk 85, CP Thompson 49, A Sharma 47
GM Roberts 3-101

Cricket Web Black 1st 231 all out (75.2 overs)
GAJ Armstrong 47, DP Smith 46
CP Thompson 3-59, SA Bennett 2-26

Cricket Web Black 2nd (f/o) 422 all out (127.4 overs)
BC Donald 106, GAJ Armstrong 104, AR Arnold 69
SA Bennett 3-59, DM Kennett 3-107

Cricket Web Red 2nd 145-3 (58 overs)
H Mørk 71*, GKK Dobson 29
ZE Gelman 2-51

Cricket Web Red won by 7 wickets.
Man of the Match: DA Kearsley

Excellent win Greens, always sweet to win close contests.

Colts fan deals for Dubb-Lynch

Darren Dubb-Lynch received a firm punch to the jaw as he was about to enter his car in leaving the CWBCC stadium tonight. Following CW Green's dramatic win over the Colts, emotions were high, likely resulting on the incident. Dubb-Lynch has sustained a fractured jaw and will be out for 7 game days.

Thoroughly pleased. The bowlers struck at it throughout on a fine wicket, props to Sharma, Luff, Nayak, Bennett and of course the inimitable Kears. Just too good for Black.

Well satisfied with my own performance too. Not every day you make 156 runs against Black, even though their bowling was even more weakened than ours to be fair.

And of course, we're top of the league, too! (mainly thanks to Green)

A golden duck.

Cameron and Mitchell heroes with the bat!!!

Fantastic performance from Cameron all round tearing through the colts batting in the first innings and taking another 3 in the 2nd. Cunningham's 2nd innings spell was unplayable taking wickets and going for less then 1.5 per over.

The batting definately struggled abit but we got over the line in the end. Fantastic effort guys

Excellent work from the Red boys, espiecally Mork and Kearsley.

Didn't do much with the ball but glad that me and Cameron managed to scrape us home for the win.

GO REDS!!!!

Well done Reds!! Particularly Kears, Mork, Kennett & Bennett

good win greens, even though we did it tough it was a good win. silly dubb-lynch doing his jaw.

Damn! Nearly got the double! Oh Well, it's a good boost to the tally, hope the good form lasts.

What a heartbreaker at the end tho....

Go Reds indeed.

Wouldn't mind seeing a few more performances like this over the next week or so - nothing would please me more than not being able to get into the side because they're performing too well.

Colse win there Green but they all count. Disappointed with now taking wickets but glad we got the win.

LOL @ Reds top order for the OD.

Disappointing loss in that game for Black but it is understandable with the internationals away, injuries and suspensions. Happy with my performance in scoring a debut century. Hopefully we can get a win in the next game.

James90 said:

LOL @ Reds top order for the OD.

Click to expand...

...because Bennett and Thompson have great records opening the batting?