Story A Tiger's Tale

[Gaurav_7]

South Australians have responded solidly.Tassie bowlers need to get wickets or as Michael said the match might be buried.

 

[Covvy]

Just you guys wait for the next update, full of action to say the least! Anyway, after the next update I'll just do each days play instead of each session so it can get through the matches quicker.

 

[Covvy]

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Day 2, Session 3

Gone! Redbacks were under extreme pressure for runs after three maidens in a row after tea and the youngster James Smith couldn?t handle it. Geeves bowled a shortish ball to Smith but no where near short enough to pull as it?s skims and thuds onto the pads, height the main issue, but the umpire gives him out, he?s gone for a well played 68 and that?s the end of that wonderful opening partnership. The new man in, Mark Cosgrove, looked like somebody forgot to tell him he?s playing in a test as he played his first two balls for two very aggressive shots which he did pull of and got fours on both of them.

Both the batsmen were looking set and ready to compile a partnership. Tasmania needed them to get out, and it took something special to get Cosgrove out. Jason Krejza was bowling and the bowl went well outside off stump. Seeing a chance of runs Cosgrove hammered a cover drive. It looked like to be going to be four, but the silly point, Michael Dighton, dived out and took the best catch you?ll ever see one handed! Tasmania were going ecstatic, they were now well in the match again with the Redbacks 2/213.

Callum Ferguson was the next man in and he immediately looked to get the scoreboard going, hitting a huge six to get off the mark. The next Krejza over a huge LBW appeal was set against him. The umpire turned it down but it looked really close, maybe just hitting outside the line. However it didn?t matter though as the next ball a huge mix-up occurs, both the batsmen were at one end as Ferguson did the team thing and walked despite it been Klinger?s fault. He was gone for 6.

Daniel Harris was next in line and he looked to try and play a safe innings and try to re-focus the innings. But still the Tigers hammered him with brilliant balls. More LBW shouts were made with one of them looking absolutely plumb, but the umpire didn?t give him out. A few more overs past and South Australia were looking comfortable again, but the Tasmania got the main man, Klinger out. He tried to cut a Krejza ball but got a massive edge which ballooned towards third man who took it comfortable. His fantastic innings of 140 off 237 balls had come to the end.

The hard-hitting Dan Christian was now in and he looked to be trying to play aggressive as he took 16 of a Krejza over, including a mammoth six over Cow Corner. Bailey puts Dighton back on just before the new ball to give his paceman a break. Interestingly enough, he started to really trouble the batsmen, so much so that in his second over of his spell he got Dan Harris to get a nick on a straight one which Paine took comfortably. He was out for 12 and South Australia was 5/272 with the captain, Graeme Manou, now in.

The new ball got taken as soon as it was available but the ball had nothing to do with the next wicket. Manou and Christan have a huge mix-up and was should have been an easy single saw Manou diving for the crease but despite the valent effort, he was out for 1. Now it was the last over of the day and Christan was looking to just see out the day. Tasmanian?s strike bowler, Ben Hilfenhaus, was bowling and he was just bowling tempters. The very last bowl of the day sees Hilfenhaus all of a sudden rip out a fantastic unplayable out-swinger which Christan tried to block but gets a fine edge and taken safely. He was out for 22 and Tasmania has taken 7 wickets in a session to turn this game on it?s head. Tasmania will now go into day three looking to win first innings points.

South Australia 7/280 off 87 overs trail by 23 runs
M.Klinger 140(237)
J.Smith 68(189)
D.Christan 22(28)
J.Krejza 22-4-106-2
M.Dighton 5-3-14-1
B.Geeves 12-6-38-1

Jason Krejza Helped Tasmania get back into the match​

 

[MaD]

Seems like a close game, hope to see a narrow margin

 

[mattfb]

Nice comeback there, taking 7 for under 100. Hopefully you can finish them off quickly. Good stuff mate.

 

[Covvy]

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Day 3​

Tasmania got off to a brilliant start. Brett Geeves got an immediate breakthrough on the second ball of the day when Dan Cullen clean missed a straight ball and was clean bowled for 1. The South Australian batsmen were looking really edgy, not really adding a lot to the scoreboard. More plays and misses followed as Tasmania looked to zero in on the kill. Brett Geeves again got a breakthrough when Peter George got beaten for pace and bowled for 2. The Redbacks now were nine down and still needed 21 runs to get first innings points. But they didn?t last much longer as two balls later Tait edged one straight to Tim Paine to finish their innings 21 runs behind Tasmania, with Tasmania getting the 2 points for winning the first innings and Geeves ending up with brilliant figures of 4/39

South Australia 282 All Out off 93.4 Overs Trail by 21
M.Klinger 140(237)
J.Smith 68(189)
D.Christan 22(28)
B.Geeves 15.4-8-39-4
J.Krejza 22-4-106-2
M.Dighton 5-3-14-1

A Cautious start was made by the Tigers. They didn?t take any risks in the running, seeming to have learnt from their first innings. But a wicket soon fell. Ed Cowan nicked a full ball of Shaun Tait and Manou took it with ease and Cowan was gone for a very slow 5. Ponting had a big sigh of relief as he got of the mark. Now Ponting and Dighton both looked very comfortable as their partnership began to grow. Now it was worth fifty and the Redbacks were desperate for a wicket. But neither batsman showed any mistakes as they went to lunch at 1/83 with Ponting on 30 and Dighton on 34 and a lead of 104.

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A few overs after lunch Michael Dighton brought up his half-century, the second of the match. But he got undone the next over quite embarrassingly. Dan Cullen bowled one well out-side off and Dighton left it, but it had so much turn that it span back and hit the off stump and Tasmania are now 2/97. The new batsmen, Travis Birt, and Ricky Ponting both looked to continue to build the lead and bat South Australia out of the game. With Birt now well set they both looked dangerous for the Redbacks. Ponting now reached his 50 off 100 balls as the Redbacks were desperate for wickets and fast.

A Big LBW Shout was given against Birt but the umpire shook it down. The South Australian players all thought it was out and clearly showed their despair but the replays showed that it pitched just out-side leg stump so the umpire?s decision was right. As tea loomed their partnership still was strong and they looked to be prepared to go to tea two down. But Travis Birt missed a straight delivery by Christan and the middle stump went cart wheeling back. He was gone for 36, that partnership worth 83, and South Australia was now up and about raring to get another wicket. It didn?t happen though as Bailey (2) and Ponting (71) survived the last lot of overs to tea to be 3/184 and a lead of 205.

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Tasmania started the final session just how they went about all their batting so far in the second innings, completely dominating the bowlers. Both of the batsmen were looking set and very comfortable at the crease, playing a few shots as well. Soon enough Ponting was thinking about his century. But the pressure was too much for Ponting as he, all of a sudden, nicked one of Dan Cullen and Manou took a pretty hard catch to get rid of Ponting for a solid 88, much better than his first innings. The Tigers were now four wickets down. Tim Paine, the new man in, wanted to continue to build another annoying partnership for South Australia.

But luck went the Redbacks way as Paine played a pull shot off Haberfield only to bottom edge it and see it roll onto the stumps, just enough to dislodge the bails. Paine was out for 17 and Tasmania was now 5/259. South Australia really needed to now put on the pressure if they wanted to be chasing a modest total. But another partnership grew before stumps, this time Jason Krejza and George Bailey. Just before stumps Bailey brought up a well-deserved 50 as himself and Krejza added 42 more to the total as they survived until stumps on day three at 5/301 with a strong lead. The Redbacks are now seeing this game slowly get away from them, run by run.

Tasmania 5/301 off 83 Overs lead by 322 Runs
R.Ponting 88(165)
G.Bailey 58*(113)
M.Dighton 50(96)
D.Cullen 17-2-63-2
D.Christan 5-0-19-1
J.Haberfield 18-1-72-1

​

 

[MaD]

Finish it off, get like 350? Declare, bowl them out and VICTORY!

 

[Gaurav_7]

Aye, where is that off-field chat? I missed the laughter.

 

[Covvy]

^^^^
Don't worry, it'll be back soon. From now on I'll be doing session (Or half-innings for OD and Innings for T/20's)updates but only the off-field chats after each day's play and Innings break for One Day matches.

BTW guys, look what I've discovered. I hope my story finishes better than this! http://www.planetcricket.org/forums.../tassies-tour-world-cricket-07-a-33450-2.html

 

[Covvy]

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Day 4, Session 1

South Australia got the start they were after thanks to Peter George. He bowled an absolutely sensational ball that nipped back into the right-handed Krejza which thudded into the pads. The umpire had no hesitation in giving Krejza out and replays backed up the umpire?s decision, it was plumb. With Krejza now out for 13 and the inexperienced youngster James Faulkner at the crease, South Australia really amped up the pressure, putting fielders in very close. The pressure was eventually way too much for Faulkner as Cullen bowled a loopy delivery which Faulkner tried to smash over the in-field only for it to skid off the pitch and make a mess of the stumps, a perfect Top Spinner. Faulkner was out for 3 and Tasmania was now 7/321.

The Redbacks really needed to get these last three wickets in a hurry if they wanted to be chasing a target of fewer than 400. But Brett Geeves got settled as he and Bailey started to build their partnership. Geeves was now just trying to survive and give all the strike to Bailey, who was playing a brilliant knock, showing true grit and determination. Unfortunately for Tasmania Geeves resistance came un-done as he missed a straight ball of Haberfield and got bowled for 11. Tasmania was 8/352 and Brendan Drew was now in.

Soon George Bailey was into the nervous nineties as Drew continued to frustrate the South Australian bowlers. Bailey sure didn?t seem nervous as he hit consecutive fours to bring up his century off 176 deliveries, a true captain?s knock. But his job wasn?t over yet as he looked to get things going more. He was playing more like he was in a Twenty/20 match, hitting three fours in a row off one Haberfield over to make the Tigers lead skyrocket to 400. But Bailey?s partner, Drew, fell clean bowled again by Haberfield for 3 valuable runs in a partnership worth 35.

The new man, Ben Hilfenhaus, made his intentions clear that he won?t be playing at any balls, instead letting Bailey do all the work. The Redbacks were getting desperate for that last wicket, each run meant further away victory fell for them. Bailey took another chunk of runs of an over as Hilfenhaus continued to block the balls away. Bailey was now officially going berserk, smashing fours and sixes all over the park. He soon brought up his 150 just before lunch, his last fifty runs coming off an incredible 23 balls. But his aggressive eventually got him out caught at cover trying to hit Cullen for another boundary. He was out for a magnificent 161 off 204 and giving Tasmania 435 runs and a huge lead of 456, a near impossible task. The last partnership was worth 48 but Hilfenhaus didn?t score a single run!

Tasmania 435 all out off 111.4 overs leads by 450
G.Bailey 161(205)
R.Ponting 88(165)
M.Dighton 50(99)
D.Cullen 24.4-2-94-4
J.Haberfield 24-1-103-3

South Australia still had to survive just one over before lunch, still a tricky task. But they managed it well, taking five off it but still 451 runs to get.

​

 

[MaD]

Super batting by Bailey, looking to see a good win for Tasmania, South Australia don't have much of a chance, could be going for a draw

 

[hedger_14]

Lol. Hilfenhaus didn't score a single run in his and Bailey's 48 run partnership.

 

[Covvy]

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Day 4, Session 2

South Australia started very slowly in their massive run chase. They had plenty of time to get the runs, just over three an over required. But in the 4th over disaster struck. James smith guided the ball down to fine leg in what looked like a simple single. Michael Klinger was just jogging through and that careless act cost him his wicket as Faulkner quickly swooped on the ball and threw a bullet throw which did a direct hit on the stumps. Centimetres were in it but Klinger had to go for 9. Now the Redbacks were under a lot of pressure from the Tigers as runs became hard to score. Mark Cosgrove released the pressure though, hitting consecutive boundaries off Hilfenhaus.

But Ben Hilfenhaus had the last laugh as next ball Cosgrove played an uppish cover drive and was caught at cover for 15. South Australia were now 2/30 and the match slipping away from them. It went worse for the Redbacks as next over Brett Geeves got James Smith to edge one and Gully gobbled up the opportunity. George Bailey then made a change in the bowling, bringing on youngster James Faulkner. It worked brilliantly as first ball he bowls a cracking delivery which Ferguson half prods at and gets a clean nick which is taken easily by first slip. The Redbacks were 4/39 with the Tigers bowling line-up ripping through the Redback?s batsmen.

But it still went south for the home side. Three balls later Dan Christan did the same thing Ferguson did, of an identical delivery as he nicked it and first slip again took it comfortably. South Australia need 413 runs with only five wickets in hand, a very big ask. Tasmania now decided to try spin for a change and get these last wickets quickly. But immediately it didn?t work as Krejza got hit for 12 off it. Graeme Manou and Daniel Harris were both looking to put the innings back on track.

They were going at a good run-rate, especially Harris who began to build in confidence. But chaos emerged as Harris hammered one to point and was quickly off the mark for a run. Manou shouted ?no? but Harris kept coming and it was too late despite Manou diving full length to get there. He was gone by a foot for 19 and now the tail was exposed. Dan Cullen tried to play a defensive innings and was starting to be successful.

But he just didn?t have the skill as a Krejza bowl thudded into his pads and the umpire put him on his way for a duck. Replays showed though that it wasn?t out, the ball was going to miss the stumps. Three balls later Haberfield was gone, stupidly dancing Krejza but then missing the ball as Paine was quick to whip off the bails. The Redbacks were 8/106 and were now hoping for a miracle.

Next over though Faulkner comes back on and, just like his first spell, takes a wicket first ball. He clean bowls Dan Harris, Redbacks final pure batsmen, for a well played 47. The match didn?t last too much longer as Faulkner got his fourth wicket by sending middle stump cart-wheeling back as tait played and missed one. South Australia have now ended up all out for 107, 349 runs short in what would be a very disappointing loss for them and a bad way to start the season. Tasmania on the other hand, it couldn?t have gone any better for them, dismissing the Redbacks in a session.

South Australia 107 all out off 29.4 overs lost by 349 runs
D.Harris 47(47)
G.Manou 19(31)
M.Cosgrove 15(15)
J.Faulkner 7.4-2-27-4
J.Krejza 3-1-20-2
Geeves 7-3-11-1

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:Now I, Brendon Julian, am joined by Mark Waugh to discuss the match. Then Greg Blewett will be interviewing the man of the match George Bailey. But first, Junior, what do you think was the turning point of the match?

:Well the turn point in the match was most definitely George Bailey?s 161 in the second innings. It completely demoralised the South Australians and instead of chasing around 350, they had to chase 450 which is basically impossible. I think also the way he went about it, especially the last 50 or so runs which the Redbacks became frustrated with and that carried onto their innings with the bat.

:It was still a shock though, I believe, when the Redbacks crumbled to 107 all out in one session where as the other three innings were all around the 300 mark and around 90 overs. Sure the Tigers did bowl pretty well in the last innings, but still I thought it was more the Redbacks playing awful than the Tigers playing brilliantly.

:Yeah, I do agree with you there BJ. I didn?t think the Tigers bowled all that well apart from the young left arm bowler James Faulkner whom I was extremely impressed with how much control he had and he?s one for the future for sure.

:Now let?s go back to the first innings. The Redbacks were at one stage well on top, getting the Tigers in trouble at 3/8 mainly thanks to Shaun Tait and Tasmanian?s bad running. But then some good batting by Tim Paine and Michael Dighton along with support from the tail enders, something the Redbacks didn?t get, got them up to a decent total. But still it looked like the Redbacks wouldn?t lose when James Smith and Michael Klinger put together 184 for the opening stand.

:Yes, I really thought by then Tasmania would need a miracle as I thought the two batsmen were going strong, but once they fell so did everybody else. I think they ended up with 282 so that means they lost 10/98. South Australia really need to address this issue of the idle order batsmen failing to get runs, also the tail was shocking for them to.

:Ok, so it was the Tasmanian Tigers taking all six points over here at Adelaide Oval. Now we have Greg Blewett on the boundary with George Bailey.

:Thanks guys, now I?m looking for the man of the match but I can?t find him, oy Bailey, you seen Michael Klinger around?

:Ha ha, good one Blewy! I think the man of the match is standing right in-front of you.

:But it?s only you??oh, wait how the hell did you get man of the match!? No offence but you?re a Tasmanian and Michael Klinger played better than all of you put together because he?s a South Australian!

:Um, he?s still Victorian! Also have you not seen the scoreboard I believe we won?

:Yes that is what the scoreboard says but of course it?s wrong. Anyway I suppose I better interview someone, so Mr Bailey the scoreboard says you scored 161, that?s a lie isn?t it?

:No, I actually did score 161 and it was a good knock but I couldn?t have done it without the support I got.

:You?re lying, just like that scoreboard. It says that we got all out for 107, only crap teams like England get a score like that!

:No, that did happen thanks to a brilliant effort by our bowlers. Especially James Faulkner who will be a real talent for us in future years to come.

:You?re going to look like a real idiot when that scoreboard becomes right again. I watched the match and the Redbacks were easily on top.

:Yeah they were on top but we fought back hard to win, a great effort by the boys.

:Well done anyway, I'm pretty sure though that we wern't trying at all and giving you hope. You just wait until the second innings!

:Um, the match has already finished

:!$&@

 

[MaD]

Haha Greg was so confused, excellent writing up top

 

[hedger_14]

Great interview.

Easy win there for Tassie.