Match,Tour & Competition Experiences

[blockerdave]

Eng Worst XI v Dame Edna's XI

England got off to a better start int he second innings, Lathwell & Stephenson putting on 50 for the first wicket.

But Whitney was soon celebrating:

Stephenson dismissed for 28 with the score on 67

Lathwell and Maynard shared a nice stand themselves, Lathwell bringing up his 50 with the score at 91/1

Lathwell would only add one more before going caught behind by Rixon off Bichel, and the same combination pounced to send Maynard off for 36 - 131/4 with Ward having gone cheaply in the meantime.

Adams was playing well again, once more dominating a stand with Irani who went for 13 with the score 171/5. Adams and Blakey were together again in a decent partnership when Adams brought up his second 50 of the match.

Blakey was run out for 24, Blackwell and McCague couldn't hang around and Adams was running out of partners with England 241-8.

Adams departed 9th man down for a fine 73.

England were 247/9 - a lead of 250 with a day and a bit to go: not out of the woods by any means if their opponents chose to attack the score.

However, last pair Illot and Benjamin blunted the attack, and got through to the close of play unscathed with the lead now over 270.

Captain Maynard chose to bat on in the morning, taking a safety first option. This allowed Joey Benjamin to bring up a 50, an event so amazing the photographers forgot to snap him raising his bat! Luckily the wagon wheel technicians were not asleep at the er... wagon wheel.

The declaration came with the score on 317, leaving Dame Edna's XI a target of 320 or 80 overs to survive.

England toiled away, but the top and middle order was solid, with little happening, the highlight being Irani's dismissal of Chappell bowled through the gate for 12.

Wood and Hookes shared a patient 50 stand to take them closer to safety

but Hookes was bowled by a beauty from Benjamin, slanted across the left hander before seaming back and knocking the bails out.

Shortly after Wood went through to his 50, looking immovable.

The batting side never really looked like they were going for the target so it was very surprising when Law went for tight single. Lathwell's throw was good and the decision was sent upstairs:

OUT!!
Law was gone for 5, Dame Edna's XI were 157/5, a new ball was due in less than 10 overs and there were nearly 30 overs left in the day. Was this going to get exciting???

No.

Wood and new batsman Rixon never looked like getting out, or attempting the more than 6 an over required for victory.

Wood did bring up his hundred

But the match petered out into a tame draw.

Wood's patient, match-saving ton gets him the man of the match.

England will be pleased with the way they recovered from a difficult position to avoid defeat, but in truth were aided by their opposition's unambitious first innings approach which meant they didn't face a large first innings deficit. They will be concerned by the lack of penetration shown by the bowlers.

----------------
p.s. he hasn't posted for a while so I don't know if he still frequents the forum but a HUGE thanks to @quincy159 for the gorgeous mods. England Worst were wearing his MCC kit, England 90s sponsors and emblem, and Dame Edna's XI were wearing his WSC79/80 kit & coke sponsor. They all look amazing in game and add so much. Also using some of his bats, my bats, and bats by others who I forget now. UI logos by @MattW

 

[blockerdave]

The England Worst Xi are a bunch of regrettable players from the 80s, 90s, & 2000s. Working on this theme of players we'd like to forget, their 2nd tour match is against a team Australia would like to forget - the South African Rebel Tourists, led by cry baby Kim Hughes.

A few changes for the England side, letting other players stake a claim for the first test side.

Australia Rebels win the toss and bat. England are celebrating soon with Shipperd dismissed with the score on 27.

That's the last celebrating England do for a while, as Dyson and Haysman take control.

England find Haysman's edge

But it sails through the gap in the slips

And the batting dominance continues.

But Ali finally makes a breakthrough to dismiss Haysman

And captain Hughes doesn't hang around long

The 75 over innings closure comes with only 3 wickets down, but a slow scoring rate means it's 178/3

Like England, the Aussie Rebels are soon celebrating an early wicket, Lathwell on his way for 6

But the Aussie celebrations become a regular thing

A procession of England batsmen coming and going quickly back

But some lower order resistance help England up to within 13 of the Rebel's score, all out for 164 in exactly 40 overs.

Still in the game, despite a poor first innings, England need early wickets, and get it with Shipperd out first ball of the 2nd over.

England break the 2nd wicket partnership much earlier this time

And a second led to a third - both of the mainstays of the 1st innings back in the hutch

Taylor and Hughes shared a 50 partnership

But neither could play the big innings necessary to force a commanding lead, being the next two to go

A suicidal runout from Yallop gave England their 6th wicket, the first time on the tour they've taken more than 5 in an innings

And next ball Hogan fell for a Golden Duck. The rebels were 7 down and only 161 ahead.

Rixon, who had frustrated England's attempts to force victory in the first match, again resisted, adding valuable runs with McGuire.
England resorted to an unorthodox field and banging the ball in short. Rixon finally edged an attempted cut to the vacant offside, but by now the lead was over 200.

With several overs of short bowling behind him, Ali surprised McGuire with a yorker and removed his off stump.

The last pair of Rackemann and Hogg took the score over 200 and the lead to 231 before Ali removed Hogg to grab his 5th wicket.
England are left with 66 overs to score 232, or survive.

Lathwell got England off to a brisk start, but Gallian was struggling and fell for just 8 with the score 34/1, Australia sensing an opening into what's been a brittle middle-order heavily reliant on Chris Adams.

Maynard couldn't play the Captain's innings, out for 5

And when Lathwell went for 42 with the score now 61/3, England were in trouble.

Habib and Adams steadied the ship

But sadly neither could see the job through to the end

There were still 52 to get with Hamilton and Hegg at the wicket.
Fortunately, they got England there with no drama, a 4 from Hegg bringing up the winning runs

A solid five wicket win gives England their first win of the tour, and puts them in good frame for the start of the test series, up next.

 

[blockerdave]

The first 4-ball Ashes Test: 1993 Aus host England Worst at Bradman Oval

England win the toss and Maynard chooses to bat first.

Australia make an early breakthrough, Stephenson out for 9

Maynard and Lathwell rebuild, but Lathwell's departure for 26 prompts a bit of a min-collapse

And even in-form batsman Chris Adams can't stop the Aussies celebrating, bowled Warne for just 4 with the score now 77/4

A mini-revival with Maynard and Irani takes the score over 100, but Maynard can't play the Captain's innings he was promising to do, falling next, swiftly followed by Blakey.

Irani finds crucial support from Blackwell, and goes through to a vital 50.

Irani moved on to the attack, and the score was moving towards 200, when he tried one to many big shots and was cleaned up by McDermott

Saj Mahmood helped Ian Blackwell head England toward a competitive score, but fell just before the close.

Early next day, Blackwell fell and the Aussies were so happy at getting England's last remaining batter that Taylor and Steve Waugh planned a little kiss,

But Border put a stop to any of that

Last pair McCague and Ali didn't fold, adding another 34 to finish 273 all out.

England were soon celebrating themselves, Slater on his way for 1.

And Australia's top order proves surprisingly brittle

44/4 and in real trouble, with the Waugh brothers together.

244/4, the Waugh brothers still together, and not really in trouble any more.
England finally got the breakthrough.

And though Steve Waugh joined his brother in reaching a ton

But with the other end opened up, England mopped up the tail without so much damage.

Australia dismissed for 301, a lead of 28. A very even game at the half-way stage.

England's top order proved as brittle as the Australians'.

Only Habib showed any resilience, but had made only 26, and the score was only on 68, when he was eighth man out!

Ali and Mahmood hit out, and took the score over 100, but England were all out for 103, with Australia needing just 76 to win.

Australia's top order saw it off with no drama, only losing Slater on the way to a comprehensive 9-wicket win.

England go 1-0 down with 4 to play.

 

[Cloud Starkman]

Just had one of my greatest wins in a test match playing as Australia I am replicating the 1981/1982 test series vs the West Indies who up untill this point had alot of trouble beating it was the second test WI leading series 1-0 WI won the toss and batted first making all out for 379 with D HAYNES making 118 and Greenidge and Richards both making 50 B YARDLEY was the best of the Aussie bowlers with 6/92. Australia started there innings but could only manage 185 after just avoiding the follow on WI struggled in their 2Nd innings being all out for 168 with D Lillee destroying the WI batsman with 6/55 With a chase of 363 and two days of cricket to play I thought it was goingto be a big win for the WI. At lunch on the 4th day Australia were 6/96 and were in alot of trouble.After the lunch break A border and b YARDLEY put there heads down to make a 155 run partnership before Border was caught at 2nd slip for 101 in came Lillee and with YARDLEY made a 53 run partnership before being caught for 80 leaving Australia on 8/298 Thomson was next in as the nerves built Australia slowly increased their score to 331 when Lillee fell for 46 with Australia needing 32 to win WI needing one wicket with Thomson and Alderman at the crease I played it safe with no risky shots and finally made the required run to win by 1 wicket. It was one ofthe best test matches I have played. I played on PS 4 and on pro difficulty.

 

[sohail]

sounds like a epic test match you had mate, are you using reduced skills for this or normal get best teams?

 

[Cloud Starkman]

sounds like a epic test match you had mate, are you using reduced skills for this or normal get best teams?

I am using a 80S West Indies team and all time best Australian team but using players from the 80s have kept skill at what they where when downloaded but have increased the players attributes

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

So created 4 custom teams Orlando Bulls, Chicago Panthers, NYC Dragons & LA Vikings. Playing something called as USPL with top 20 USA players are divided into those 4 teams. Each team squad consists of 15 players. 5 from USA and few West Indians, Canadians and all other international countries except India for obvious reasons.

I played my first match The Orlando Bulls vs Chicago Panthers. Here are the screenshots



That end blitz from Pollard made me think I will definitely lose, but luckly J Lawson bowled a brilliant last over. Steven Taylor played an exceptional knock of 79 runs and looks a promising star for the tournament ahead

PS - E.Hutchinson bowled 5 overs in a T20 match which is a bug
PS - I am playing US Premier League with custom teams and players that were available to me.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

So played the second game of the tournament. NYC Dragons taking on the LA Vikings at New Jersey





Once again I had a thriller. Was playing as NYC Dragons and Finch was out first ball. LA Vikings are more balanced side in this tournament with Bravo Dilshan Morgan Behardien in the middle order and Malinga Tanvir in the bowling.

We had Finchie Sammy Rahim and Akmal. We posted a competitive 173 after struggling at 64 after 10 overs. We had quite a few local bowling talents and we were confident of Sammy and Benn's skills. In the end Dilshan and Morgan who were settled just quite dint take the Viking's over the line. Good game once again. The tournament sees NYC and Bulls both on 2 points.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Played two more matches. Round two of USPL. New York taking on Orlando & Chicago taking on Los Angeles.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Played a casual 5 over match between New Zealand and South Africa to test the Fearsome Tweak patch I was playing as New Zealand and won the toss and elected to bowl first wanting to chase down the total. South Africa posted a decent 46 runs at the loss of 1 wicket. They regularly scored 8-9 runs an over where the pitch was grassy and New Zealand fast bowlers were swinging the ball with plenty of misses to the keeper.

New Zealand started the chase poorly with McCullum getting out in the first over itself playing a rash shot. Williamson looked good before he was bowled by Phangiso. Guptill was batting slow but was moving along and Ross Taylor hit a first ball 6 as 16 were required in the last over. In the end New Zealand fell short by 3 runs in what was a thriller of a match.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Playing Bangladesh Tour of Zimbabwe for Five-5.

1st Match (Literally got hammered by Bangladesh )

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Match - India vs New Zealand
Match Type - Revamped Test (50 overs a day with 1 hour 8 minute each session & 5 days)

India playing New Zealand in a revamped test format at Basin Reserve. Virat Kohli the Indian Test Captain called tails and it landed heads. New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first in what looked like overcast conditions and green pitch. Looked like perfect decision.

Murli Vijay and KL Rahul opened for India.




It looks like India is in trouble as their top order woes continue in test format against a moving ball. There were 4 dropped catches if those were caught early on India would have been in trouble earlier. It all depends on Virat Kohli once again and Rohit Sharma who hasnt done anything great for India in the longer format. Will they be able to save India? We will see soon.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Match - India vs New Zealand
Match Type - Revamped Test (50 overs a day with 1 hour 8 minute each session & 5 days)

India playing New Zealand in a revamped test format at Basin Reserve. Virat Kohli the Indian Test Captain called tails and it landed heads. New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first in what looked like overcast conditions and green pitch. Looked like perfect decision.

After a really poor start India continued after a small 20 minute break. Mcclenaghan was bowling superbly and Rohit was gone straight out in the first over itself. India have struggled a lot against seam bowling and then there was Mark Craig. Offlate India have also struggled against mediocre to great spin bowling.



India end session two on 128 runs for 9 wickets and once again apart from Vijay who scored 25, Kohli saves 2% of India's face. The seaming wicket has definitely taken India a lot behind & Craig has supported the seam bowlers perfectly.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

@blockerdave - What do you think about this revamped test format? Do you think results can be produced? 250 overs test match with 50 overs a day.

 

[blockerdave]

@blockerdave - What do you think about this revamped test format? Do you think results can be produced? 250 overs test match with 50 overs a day.

Hi, it sounds ok i think. assuming 6-ball overs, you're still talking 1500 balls in the test match, which is plenty.

i've been playing 70 4-ball overs per day which works out at 1400 balls in the test match, and i've been getting results.