Story PlanetCricket Domination

[blake]

I've already adjusted the stats, based on the random numbers - no more adjusting now, they can raise or lower themselves naturally.

If you think you might've been unlucky or your player isn't performing, you have the option of retiring and creating a new player to be drafted into the side - however, don't try and guess numbers close to the middle because I will be using a new technique to decide.

22 April, 2009

County Championship Divison 2 - Round 1
Middlesex County CC vs PlanetCricket CC

Lineup:
1. Blake
2. Jake McDonald
3. Troy Lerana
4. Gary
5. Callum Gray
6. Brendan Gutteridge
7. Amiya (wk)
8. Hooper (c)
9. Covvy
10. Brendon Hedger
11. Biggy Hoff

12. Madhur Verma

Team News: PlanetCricket have gone with three all-rounders for their county championship divison 2 match against Middlesex in a move that may spell trouble for them.

They will bat very deep, with all-rounder Covvy making his debut for the club at 9 after missing out in the one-day game. He will be keen to prove himself with the ball - and perhaps with the bat with a late cameo innings.

Gary returns to the side to bat in the fourth position after he was dropped in a shock move before the first One Day, despite being one of the favourites to play. The coach, however, has reinstated his confidence in Gary for the longer form of the game and hopes he will be able to perform.

Missing out this match are Bilal Butt and Madhur Verma, despite a good bowling performance from Verma last game. The coach spoke that if he was more active around trainings he could get more of a run - however, despite his match figures, he just doesn't seem to be warranting a spot in the first-class team.

Hooper has been named captain of this match and will become the first ever captain to lead PlanetCricket after they went in without a captain last game, with stand in captain Blake taking the toss only before finishing his duties.

Despite PlanetCricket's convincing win over Lancashire, Middlesex are strong favourites for the match.

 

[Gary123]

Nice to see my name there.
Thanks,COACH.
Hope we can put up a good performance here.
I really like the scorecards and all the news stuff.
KIU blake.

 

[Biggy]

Demoted after my inspirational unbeaten 5? Better focus on my bowling.

Let's see what Gary's got in his debut.

 

[MaD]

I have been kicked from the line up? Took 3 wickets, had a nice economy
Oh well better luck next time to me I guess:crying

 

[Covvy]

Good to see you best player coming into the side. LOL I'm batting down at 9, oh well

 

[blake]

We are here at Lord's today as we prepare to see Middlesex take on PlanetCricket. The PlanetCricket boys picked up a good victory against Lancashire in their first ever match in the one-day league, however now it was time to test it in the first-class championship.

The pitch looked superb for batting - the pacemen and spinners wouldn't be finding anything, however the conditions were cloudy overhead so it looked like there would be a touch of swing. Middlesex won the toss though, and they were more than happy to bat first.

Biggy Hoff and Covvy were going to share the new ball - but Hoff got his first taste of the longer form of the game after Strauss whipped a shorter ball away to the boundary from just the second delivery of the game.

Middlesex were batting well - they had a strong opening pair in Andrew Strauss and Eoin Morgan, and it showed with Covvy and Hoff struggling to find anything at all.

Match Summary
10.0 Overs
Middlesex: 0/43
A Strauss 18* (35)
E Morgan 21* (25)
B Hoff 0/15 (5.0)
Covvy 0/24 (5.0)

After one more wicketless over from each of them, skipper Hooper decided it was time for a change and brought himself into the attack alongside medium pacer Gary, neglecting the other legspinner in Brendon Hedger. After a few wicketless overs finally the skipper himself got the breakthrough - dismissing one of the best batsmen in England in Strauss. It was the first delivery of his third over - a beautiful delivery which turned away from Strauss who edged one to slip, where Blake took a comfortable catch.

A Strauss c Blake b Hooper 34 (60)
Hooper 3.1-0-13-1

18.1 Overs
Middlesex: 1/70
E Morgan 32* (49)
Hooper 1/13 (3.1)
Gary 0/9 (3.0)

With the fall of Strauss, now PlanetCricket had their tails up and were looking lively in the field - and it paid off. Blake was again required at first slip, and he made no mistake, taking a good low catch at first slip as the second Middlesex wicket fell - this time it was the other opener Eoin Morgan who was dismissed. It was Gary who had taken the wicket - he was finding a bit of outswing and it worked well as Morgan edged one to slip.

E Morgan c Blake b Gary 34 (58)
Gary 4.1-1-15-1

21.1 Overs
Middlesex: 2/82
N Dexter 10* (9)
Hooper 1/19 (5)
Gary 1/15 (4.1)

So, it was the bowling changeup that had worked now for PlanetCricket - and credit had to be given to Hooper for that idea. Now the match was fairly square - but PlanetCricket had all the momentum. There were still 58 minutes remaining before lunch - and PlanetCricket would love to snare a few before then - whilst Middlesex would want to push to a solid score.

However - their innings was quickly slipping away after Dexter fell the very next over courtesy of Hooper. The leg-spinner, who was in tremendous form, picked up his second wicket as Dexter drew the edge from a back foot drive, which was well taken by Amiya at the stumps. Middlesex had lost another wicket for no runs and now they were well and truly on the back foot.

N Dexter c Amiya b Hooper 10 (12)
Hooper 5.3-0-19-2

22.3 Overs
Middlesex: 3/82
N Compton 0* (5)
Hooper 2/19 (5.3)
Gary 1/15 (5.0)

With Dexter gone, now it was up to Compton and Nash to build the innings for Middlesex - they needed to compose themselves and get Middlesex back in the match with a good partnership. However - that was hardly the case as just four overs later, a red hot PlanetCricket team claimed their fourth wicket in seven overs after Nash prodded one straight back to Gary who relished the caught and bowled.

Gary was on fire - what a selection he had proved to be, and now he had his second - and what had happened to Middlesex? They were 0/70 and looking fine, but suddenly the partnership of Hooper and Gary had made a massive hole in their innings - they had lost 4/21 and now the score was 4/91.

D Nash c & b Gary 2 (11)
Gary 7-2-23-2

26 Overs
Middlesex: 4/91
N Compton 7* (15)
Hooper 2/20 (7.0)
Gary 2/23 (7.0)

With Middlesex under huge pressure, they had decided to send in Ben Scott - the experienced gloveman hoping to hold their innings together before lunch. He was a superb keeper yet had an impressive FC average as well which was just over 30. Gary was also tiring under the conditions and after a seven over spell he must surely have been close to taking a break.

The PlanetCricket bowlers kept the pressure on - keeping it tight. Gary and Hooper didn't take any more wickets before the change of bowling was made, to give Hedger and Hoff a few overs before lunch. Thankfully for Middlesex, they managed to hold tight with Ben Scott hitting 6* off 40 to keep them going at lunch. That session had definitely belonged to the PlanetCricket team though after Gary and Hooper bowled superbly.

Match Summary
LUNCH Day 1
38.0 Overs
Middlesex: 4/110
N Compton 18* (48)
B Scott 6* (40)
B Hoff 0/23 (8.0)
B Hedger 0/6 (4.0)

 

[hedger_14]

That is shocking. Only got to bowl 4 over's in the first session. There goes my chance for 5 wickets in this innings.

 

[blake]

Blame Hooper. Overbowling himself.

 

[hedger_14]

Yeah. Hooper. Why did you neglect me and give yourself the bowl. I'm the next Shane Warne.

 

[Biggy]

At least I've been keeping things reasonably tight up one end, skipper leading from the front.

Hooper - The Michael Munday of ICC 09.

 

[Covvy]

Meh, average start for me.

 

[Gary123]

Well,Hoops did a good job there as all of us PC boys.
Nice start for us.

 

[OffCutters]

Damn it, this is just making Hooper more and more arrogant.

 

[BKB1991]

Great Stuff guys. Nice bowling by Hooper and Gary as they have restricted Middlesex well. Hopefully for me, someone plays much worse than I did and I somehow get back into the team. .

 

[Ollie_H]

If it's still possible for me to sign up;

Player Name: Ollie Holden
Age: 23
Playing Role (batsman, bowler, etc.): Batsmen
Bowling Style (right arm fast, etc.): Aggressive
Batting Aggression (0-100): 78
Random Number (0-100): 74