Story International Cricket - Great Series

[Slowcoach]

I recently purchased Lambourne Games International Cricket from their website.
It's a dice game where players are rated according to their real life averages, strike rates, and economy rates.
It includes pitch conditions, weather, new ball, different styles of bowlers, different aggression levels of batting, and an opposed dice roll as batsmen and bowlers compare the quality of their shot and different deliveries.
It's time consuming but very immersive.

I decided to start a series between Pakistan and India in 1983/4 to test the game out.
I used a lot of statistical analysis to match the real life players stats with the cards from the New Faceless Ones download.
I used Home and Away stats to rate players to help reflect the difficulty of being a touring team, and the Pakistani team are all rated according to their Away stats for this series.

The first match I will play is a 3 Day Friendly Match between Central Zone and the Pakistanis at Nagpur.

Match Reports and Innings Updates to follow...

 

[Slowcoach]

Central Zone v Pakistanis at Nagpur, 3 Day Match 1983/4

A wicket of solid grey mud, baked hard, greeted the players in hot and sunny conditions on Day 1 of the 3 Day tour match.
The bowlers will need to toil with little hope of success, the ball will come slowly onto the bat so quick runs will be hard to come by.
This type of wicket could produce a dull high scoring match.

Pakistan won the toss and had little hesitation in opting to bat first.

Pakistan got off to a slow start, but saw off the new ball, before Mohsin Khan was first out, missing a leg glance to be bowled by left arm finger spinner Raj Hans for 20.
Score 28/1 (12.0 overs)
Salim scratched around but never got settled, edging behind to keeper Vedraj from the offspin of Gopal Sharma for 7.
Pakistanis 44/2 (19.0 overs).
Javed Miandad was next to go, gloving a catch to backward short leg off Hans, sensationally out for a second ball duck.
Pakistanis 45/3 (19.5) and in trouble on a blameless pitch.
Mudassar took an age to get settled, grinding his way to lunch on 21* off 78 balls, accompanied by the defensive Zaheer on 9*.
Raj Hans was the pick of the bowlers with 2-24 off 8 overs, though all the bowlers kept it tight in a good team performance.
At Lunch the Pakistanis closed on a nervous 62/3.

Lunch

Pakistanis 62/3 (30 overs)

Mohsin Khan.....................b Hans...................................20 (42 balls) 1 four
Mudassar Nazar....................not out...............................21* (78 balls)
Salim Malik......................c Vedraj b Gopal......................7 (25 balls)
Javed Miandad.................c Rao b Hans............................0 (2 balls)
Zaheer Abbas (c)................. not out................................9* (33 balls)
Extras: 5 (2b, 2nb, 1w)
TOTAL: 62/3 (30 overs)
Fall: 28,44,45

...........................................O...M...R...W...
A.G.Mathur (LM)..................5 - 1 - 9 - 0
P.Banjerjee (RFM)...............5 - 0 - 9 - 0
Gopal Sharma (OB)............10 - 1 - 17 - 1 (nb)
R.Hans (SLA).......................8 - 0 - 24 - 2 (nb,w)
K.Dutt (OB).........................2 - 1 - 1 - 0



Javed Miandad was sensationally dismissed for a second ball duck.

 

[Slowcoach]

Central Zone v Pakistanis at Nagpur, 3 Day Match 1983/4

The Pakistanis lost Mudassar Nazar not long after Lunch when he skied a ball to mid on from the bowling of Hans to be out for 26.
Pakistanis 73/4 (35.4 overs).
Wasim Raja then joined captain Zaheer Abbas in a steadying unbroken stand of 74 for the 5th wicket to take the Pakistanis to tea at 147/4.
The spinners continued to cause problems, but all the bowlers were hard to get away on a slow pitch.
The pitch at Tea is showing it's first signs of wear, though still looks good for batting.

Tea, Day 1

Pakistanis 147/4 (60 overs)

Mohsin Khan....................b Hans...................................20 (42 balls) 1 four
Mudassar Nazar................c P.Sharma b Hans...................26 (99 balls)
Salim Malik......................c Vedraj b Gopal......................7 (25 balls)
Javed Miandad..................c Rao b Hans...........................0 (2 balls)
Zaheer Abbas (c)....................not out.............................49* (119 balls) 1 four
Wasim Raja...........................not out.............................34 * (73 balls) 2 fours
Extras: 11 (2b, 4w, 5nb)
TOTAL: 147/4 (30 overs)
Fall: 28, 44, 45, 73,

..........................................O...M...R...W
A.G.Mathur (LM)....................7 - 1 - 15 - 0
P.Banerjee (RFM)...................7 - 0 - 13 - 0 (w)
Gopal Sharma (OB)...............19 - 1 - 37 - 1 (4nb)
R.Hans (SLA)........................17 - 0 - 54 - 3 (3w, nb)
K.Dutt (OB)...........................7 - 1 - 21 - 0
P.Sharma (OB).......................3 - 0 - 5 - 0



Wasim Raja helped resurrect the Pakistani innings.

 

[Slowcoach]

Central Zone v Pakistanis, at Nagpur, 3 Day Match 1983/4

Zaheer Abbas and Wasim Raja have taken their unbroken 5th wicket partnership to 183 at Stumps on Day 1 of the 3 Day Match.
Zaheer posted his half century off 123 balls with 1 four, before looking for runs against the spinners and accelerating.
He slowed as he moved into the 90's, making sure of his hundred which he brought up off 207 balls against the 2nd New Ball.
Wasim Raja attacked after reaching his 50 off 109 balls with 3 fours.
Riding his luck Raja was dropped by Chaturvedi at square leg after skying Hans on 35*.
With the score at 157/4 at the time it could have been a different game if the catch had been taken.
Raja again skied Hans, this time on 51* to Dutta at mid-wicket, who spilled a sitter.
Raja accelerated after 50, settling down and moving serenely into the 80's shortly before stumps.
The Central Zone bowlers wilted under the onslaught, with the early wickets now a distant memory they must be wondering where there next wicket will come from.
The pitch has dried out slightly into a Normal test wicket, offering neither help to batsman or bowlers.
Quick runs and a declaration seems to be the order of the day for Pakistan on Day 2, with Zaheer well set, and Raja approaching his hundred.

Stumps, Day 1

Pakistanis 256/4 (90 overs)

Mohsin Khan...............b Hans..........................................20 (42 balls) 1 four
Mudassar Nazar...........c P.Sharma b Hans..........................26 (99 balls)
Salim Malik................c Vedraj b Gopal..............................7 (25 balls)
Javed Miandad............c Rao b Hans...................................0 (2 balls)
Zaheer Abbas (c)..............not out....................................103* (211 balls) 6 fours
Wasim Raja.....................not out......................................86* (151 balls) 8 fours
Extras: 14 (b2, w 7, nb 5)
TOTAL: 256/4 (90 overs)
Fall: 28,44,45,73

.............................................O...M...R...W
A.G.Mathur (LM)......................12 - 3 - 24 - 0
P.Banerjee (RFM).....................12 - 0 - 42 - 0 (4w)
Gopal Sharma (OB)..................24 - 1 - 56 - 1 (4nb)
R.S.Hans (SLA)........................24 - 1 - 77 - 3 (3w, nb)
V.Dutt (OB).............................13 - 2 - 40 - 0
P.Sharma (OB)..........................5 - 1 - 15 - 0



Zaheer Abbas posted an unbeaten hundred on the first day of the tour.

 

[Slowcoach]

Central Zone v Pakistanis at Nagpur, 3 Day Match 1983/4

Bright sunshine greeted the players on Day 2, with Hot and Sunny weather forecast.
Pakistan declared their innings closed immediately after Wasim Raja stroked a 4 to bring up his hundred.
With Zaheer still unbeaten, some thought Pakistan might go for quick runs to try and set up a win, but the captain decided enough was enough and declared the innings closed at 274/4 off 96 overs.
Both batsman deserve credit for dragging the Pakistanis out of difficulty at 73/4 on the first day.
Gradually increasing their aggression, the bowlers were at their total mercy before Abbas declared in order to hopefully give his top order time to make amends in the second innings.
R.S.Hans was the pick of the bowlers with his left arm spin, claiming 3 early wickets to have Pakistan in trouble, then having Wasim Raja dropped twice off his bowling.
Pakistan will have 24 overs at Central Zone before lunch, and would be hoping their pace bowlers can find some assistance with the new ball.

Pakistan 274/4 declared (96 overs)

Mohsin Khan.....................b Hans.....................................20 (42 balls) 1 four
Mudassar Nazar.................c P.Sharma b Gopal....................26 (99 balls)
Salim Malik......................c Vedraj b Hans..........................7 (25 balls)
Javed Miandad..................c Rao b Hans..............................0 (2 balls)
Zaheer Abbas (c)......................not out.............................107* (223 balls) 6 fours
Wasim Raja..............................not out.............................100* (177 balls) 9 fours
Wasim Bari (wk)
Tahir Naqqash
Mohammad Nazir
Iqbal Qasim
Azeem Hafeez
Extras: 14 (2b, 7w, 5nb)
TOTAL: 274/4 declared (96 overs)
Fall: 28,44,43,73

............................................O...M...R...W
A.G.Mathur (LM).....................12 - 3 - 24 - 0
P.Banerjee (RFM)....................12 - 0 - 42 - 0 (4w)
Gopal Sharma (OB).................27 - 2 - 60 - 1 (4nb)
R.S.Hans (SLA).......................27 - 1 - 89 - 3 (3w, nb)
V.Dutt (OB)............................13 - 2 - 40 - 0
P.Sharma (OB)........................ 5 - 1 - 15 - 0

 

[Slowcoach]

Central Zone v Pakistanis at Nagpur, 3 Day Match 1983/4

Central Zone made a slow start to their reply, losing two wickets in the shortened 24 over session before lunch.
Tahir Naqqash struck first, bowling Sanjeeva Rao straight through the gate for a duck with a ball that moved off the pitch considerably.
Central Zone 7/1 (3 overs).
Tahir was impressive, conceding just 5 runs in his opening 5 over spell, bowling a good length and gaining movement off the pitch with the new ball.
S.S.Khandkar made a start, before becoming uncertain against spin and falling lbw to Iqbal Qasim.
Central Zone was now in some trouble at 35/2 off 14.1 overs.
Chaturvedi and Burrows made sure Central Zone made it to the break with no further loss.
Zaheer tried all his bowlers in an effort to find the breakthrough, with Tahir being the pick.
Central Zone have a weak middle and lower order, and the Pakistanis would be hoping to run through them if they can make it through the top order in good time.

Central Zone 65/2 (24 overs)

S.S.Khandkar......................lbw Iqbal Qasim.................................21 (49 balls) 2 fours
Sanjeeva Rao......................b Tahir Naqqash..................................0 (8 balls)
S.Chaturvedi................................not out....................................22* (54 balls) 2 fours
A.Burrows...................................not out.....................................21* (33 balls) 1 four
Extras: 1 (1w)
TOTAL: 65/2 (24 overs)
Fall: 7,35

...............................................O...M...R...W
Tahir Naqqash (RFM)...................5 - 1 - 5 - 1
Azeem Hafeez (LFM)...................5 - 0 - 21 - 0
Iqbal Qasim (SLA)......................7 - 1 - 19 - 1 (w)
Mohammad Nazir (OB)................3 - 1 - 10 - 0
Mudassar Nazar (RM)..................2 - 0 - 4 - 0
Wasim Raja (LBG).......................2 - 0 - 6 - 0



Tahir Naqqash broke through in an impressive new ball spell.

 

[Slowcoach]

Central Zone v Pakistanis at Nagpur, 3 Day Match, 1983/4

The Pakistani bowlers could make no impression in the 2nd session on Day 2 as Central Zone mounted a strong reply.
S.Chaturvedi and A.Burrows had taken their unbroken 3rd wicket partnership to 131* when Tea was taken.
Chaturvedi was the first Central Zone batsman to reach 50, off 106 balls with 4 fours.
Burrows followed shortly before Tea, reaching his 50 off 103 balls with 4 fours..
Iqbal Qasim and Tahir Naqqash bowled tidily, but the other bowlers lacked discipline in a disappointing performance.

Central Zone 166/2 (54 overs)

S.S.Khandkar.....................lbw Iqbal Qasim...................................21 (49 balls) 2 fours
Sanjeeva Rao.....................b Tahir Naqqash....................................0 (8 balls)
S.Chaturvedi...............................not out......................................79* (156 balls) 6 fours
A.Burrows..................................not out......................................60* (111 balls) 6 fours
Extras: 6 (w 2, nb 1, lb 3)
TOTAL: 166/2 (54 overs)
Fall of Wickets: 7,35

.............................................O...M...R...W
Tahir Naqqash (RFM).................9 - 1 - 15 - 1
Azeem Hafeez (LFM).................7 - 0 - 33 - 0
Iqbal Qasim (SLA)...................18 - 2 - 46 - 1 (w)
Mohammad Nazir (OB).............11 - 2 - 39 - 0
Mudassar Nazar (RM)................6 - 0 - 17 - 0 (w,nb)
Wasim Raja (LBG)....................3 - 0 - 13 - 0



The pitch at Nagpur remained good for batting.

 

[Slowcoach]

Central Zone v Pakistanis, at Nagpur, 3 Day Match, 1983/4

Central Zone batted on deep into the last session before declaring 5 overs before Stumps as Burrows reached his century.
Burrows reached his hundred off 177 balls with 10 fours in a fine display of concentration on a now wearing pitch.
Earlier Wasim Raja had found some turn to bowl Chaturvedi after he and Burrows had put on 146 for the 3rd wicket.
The 3rd wicket fell with the score on 181 off 59.2 overs.
This sparked a mini collapse where 4 wickets in all tumbled for 22 as the pitch began to take spin.
Tahir pinned P.Sharma lbw with a good ball, before Wasim Raja dismissed Gopal Sharma the same way.
Mathur followed caught at bat pad by Salim Malik of Iqbal Qasim.
This left the score at 203/6 and Burrows in some danger of missing a chance at a hundred.
Keeper Vedraj steadied things and made sure of seeing Burrows to his century.
With the pitch now taking turn, Pakistan will have an interesting morning on the final day against the home team's spinners.

Central Zone 242/6 declared (79 overs)

S.S.Khandkar.....................lbw Iqbal Qasim.......................................21 (49 balls) 1 four
Sanjeeva Rao.....................b Tahir Naqqash........................................0 (8 balls)
S.Chaturvedi......................b Wasim Raja..........................................87 (174 balls) 7 fours
A.Burrows................................not out...........................................101* (177 balls) 10 fours
P.Sharma (c)......................lbw Tahir Naqqash.....................................2 (12 balls)
Gopal Sharma....................lbw Wasim Raja........................................1 (5 balls)
A.G.Mathur.........................c Salim Malik b Iqbal Qasim.......................9 (16 balls) 1 four
P.Vedraj (wk)............................not out............................................14* (31 balls)
R.S.Hans
V.Dutt
P.Banerjee
Extras: 7 (w2, nb2, lb 3)
TOTAL: 242/6 declared (79 overs)
Fall of Wickets: 7,35,181,186,187,203

.....................................................O...M...R...W
Tahir Naqqash (RFM)........................13 - 1 - 25 - 2 (nb)
Azeem Hafeez (LFM).........................7 - 0 - 33 - 0
Iqbal Qasim (SLA)...........................24 - 2 - 60 - 2 (w)
Mohammad Nazir (OB).....................16 - 3 - 59 - 0
Mudassar Nazar (RM)........................6 - 0 - 17 - 0 (w, nb)
Wasim Raja (LBG)...........................13 - 0 - 49 - 2

 

[Slowcoach]

Central Zone v Pakistanis at Nagpur, 3 Day Match, 1983/4

Pakistan survived 5 overs til Stumps without loss for the addition of 6 runs, before Hot and Sunny conditions again greeted them on Day 3.
The pitch is now occasionally assisting the spinners, but throughout the match has been too flat for a realistic chance of a result.
Mohsin and Mudassar added 113 untroubled runs in the morning session on Day 3 as the Central Zone spinners struggled with their lengths.
Mohsin found his timing early, reaching his 50 off 86 balls with 7 fours, and at Lunch was eyeing a century, unbeaten on 75*.

Pakistanis 119/0 (35 overs)

Mohsin Khan..............................not out...................................75* (114 balls) 8 fours
Mudassar Nazar..........................not out...................................39* (96 balls) 4 fours
Extras: 5 (w3,nb2)
TOTAL: 119/0 (35 overs)

.....................................................O...M...R...W
A.G.Mathur (LM)...............................5 - 1 - 11 - 0 (w)
P.Banerjee (RFM)..............................5 - 1 - 10 - 0
Gopal Sharma (OB)..........................10 - 1 - 32 - 0
R.S.Hans (SLA).................................7 - 0 - 36 - 0 (w,nb)
V.Dutt (OB)......................................6 - 1 - 24 - 0
P.Sharma (OB)..................................2 - 0 - 7 - 0



Mohsin Khan timed the ball nicely on his way to an unbeaten 75*.

 

[Slowcoach]

Central Zone v Pakistanis at Nagpur, 3 Day Match, 1983/4

The pitch deteriorated after Lunch, favouring all bowlers, but Pakistan extended their lead to 208 for only the loss of Mudassar.
In an encouraging display ahead of the Test series Mudassar brought up his 50 off 108 balls with 7 fours, before being bowled by Hans.
Mohsin brought up his century off 154 balls with 10 fours, prompting the declaration, with Central Zone being set a target 208 off 46 overs on a worn pitch.

Pakistan 176/1 declared (48.2 overs)

Mohsin Khan..........................not out.................................101* (154 balls) 10 fours
Mudassar Nazar............b Hans.............................................61 (126 balls) 7 fours
Salim Malik...........................not out....................................4* (8 balls) 1 four
Javed Miandad
Zaheer Abbas (c)
Wasim Raja
Wasim Bari (wk)
Tahir Naqqash
Mohammad Nazir
Iqbal Qasim
Azeem Hafeez
Extras: 10 (w5,nb3,lb2)
TOTAL: 176/1 declared (48.2 overs)
Fall of Wickets: 163

............................................O...M...R...W
A.G.Mathur (LM)......................7 - 1 - 18 - 0 (nb,w)
P.Banerjee (RFM).....................7 - 1 - 22 - 0
Gopal Sharma (OB).................15 - 3 - 47 - 0 (w)
R.S.Hans (SLA)....................11.2 - 0 - 57 - 1 (2w,nb)
V.Dutt (OB).............................6 - 1 - 24 - 0 (w,nb)
P.Sharma (OB).........................2 - 0 - 7 - 0

 

[Slowcoach]

Central Zone v Pakistanis at Nagpur, 3 Day Match, 1983/4

Central Zone survived a scare to draw their match with the Pakistanis through some gritty batting late on the 3rd Day.
The openers attempted to chase down the target of 209 in 46 overs, but the loss of wickets caused them to shut up shop and play for the draw.
Iqbal Qasim sparked a collapse of 15/5 with his left arm spin, but could not prise out the 6th wicket pair who survived the last 21 overs.
Central Zones efforts were aided when Iqbal Qasim was banned for running on the pitch after a second official warning.
The pitch became a real minefield and assisted all bowlers for the final two sessions of the match, after earlier offering them nothing on a frustrating first couple of days.

Central Zone 57/5 (46 overs)

SS.Khandkar........................c Wasim Raja b Mudassar Nazar.............10 (27 balls) 1 four
Sanjeeva Rao.......................c Wasim Bari b Iqbal Qasim..................23 (49 balls) 2 fours
S.Chaturvedi........................c Wasim Bari b Iqbal Qasim...................7 (33 balls)
A.Burrows............................c Azeem Hafeez b Iqbal Qasim..............0 (5 balls)
P.Sharma (c).....................................not out..................................5* (88 balls)
Gopal Sharma.......................c Salim Malik b Iqbal Qasim..................1 (6 balls)
A.G.Mathur.......................................not out...................................6* (68 balls)
P.Vedraj (wk)
R.S.Hans
K.Dutt
P.Banerjee
Extras: 5 (w3, nb1, lb1)
TOTAL: 57/5 (46 overs)
Fall: 30,38,38,43,45

................................................O...M...R...W
Tahir Naqqash (RFM)....................8 - 2 - 10 - 0
Azeem Hafeez (LFM)....................5 - 0 - 22 - 0
Mudassar Nazar (RM)...................5 - 2 - 4 - 1
Iqbal Qasim (SLA)....................14.3 - 6 - 13 - 4
Mohammad Nazir (OB)................10 - 8 - 3 - 0
Wasim Raja (LBG)......................3.3 - 1 - 2 - 0

Match Drawn



Iqbal Qasim was banned from bowling for running on the pitch after taking 4-13 from 14.3 overs.

 

[Slowcoach]

Made a few errors in my game because it was the first full game I've played but I'm pretty happy with the result, I think I rated the Pakistanis a bit harshly by using their away stats but it was fun.
For the home team I made estimates based on first class averages and performances against touring teams and in full international games.

 

[Till Valhalla]

Some awesome batting by Sharma (Ji kay ladke) and Mathur (Saab).

 

[Slowcoach]

Going to play a Test Match between the current Indian and Pakistani teams using the official player rating cards that came with game.

India v Pakistan, 1st Test, Kolkata, 2016

India won the toss and elected to bat first on a clay coloured strip.
The pitch was dry and very dusty. It should play fairly evenly though the bounce may be rather low. Late in the match the pitch may assist the spinners.
The weather was sunny, with some cloud about, and a small chance of showers throughout the day.
After 3 overs a heavy shower interrupted play for 41 minutes with India 9 without loss.
When play resumed the Indian opening batsmen saw off the Pakistani new ball bowlers, with Dhawan in particular playing well off the back foot.
Pakistani legspinner Yasir Shah then struck in his first over, bowling Dhawan between bat and pad with a ball that turned a long way off the pitch for 20.
India 44/1 off 11.4 overs, Vijay 25* (50 balls)
Vijay and Pujara then played quietly til Lunch against the spinners without further loss.
Yasir Shah received a caution for running on the pitch, though no official warning at this stage.

Lunch Day 1

India 60/1 (20 overs)

M.Vijay.............................not out.....................33* (72 balls)
S.Dhawan...............b Yasir Shah.........................20 (30 balls) 4 fours
C.Pujara............................not out......................6* (18 balls)
Extras 2 (nb1,b1)
TOTAL: 60/1 (20 overs)
Fall: 44

.....................................O...M...R...W
Wahab Riaz......................5 - 1 - 19 - 0
Rahat Ali..........................5 - 1 - 18 - 0 (nb)
Zulfiqar Babar...................5 - 1 - 10 - 0
Yasir Shah........................5 - 0 - 13 - 1



Yasir Shah claimed the first wicket, bowling Dhawan between bat and pad for 20.

 

[Slowcoach]

India v Pakistan, 1st Test, Kolkata, 2016

India lost a wicket shortly after Lunch when Pujara was caught and bowled by Yasir Shah off a well flighted delivery for 10.
India 66/2 (21.3 overs).
Vijay progressed well, bringing up his 50 off 100 balls with 2 fours.
Kohli took a while to settle, but at drinks he was unbeaten on 9.

Drinks, Session 2, Day 1

India 111/2 (35 overs)

M.Vijay...............................not out..........................68*(114 balls) 2 fours
S.Dhawan................b Yasir Shah..............................20 (30 balls) 4 fours
C.Pujara..................c and b Yasir Shah......................10 (25 balls) 1 four
V.Kohli................................not out...........................9* (35 balls) 1 four
Extras 3 (nb1,w1,b1)
TOTAL: 111/2 (35 overs)
Fall: 44,66

........................................O...M...R...W
Wahab Riaz.........................7 - 1 - 26 - 0
Rahat Ali.............................6 - 2 - 18 - 0 (nb)
Zulfiqar Babar.....................10 - 1 - 33 - 0
Yasir Shah..........................12 - 1 - 33 - 2 (w)



Murali Vijay batted well and at drinks was unbeaten on 68*.