Story The PlanetCricket Ashes [ICC 2008]

[CG123]

Pretty good day for me.
29 off 82 batting down at 9, as well as 2 vital wickets in the same over reasonably late in the day, keeping us in it.
At the moment it should be all set for a close finish to the first test.
..........England had to import me from New Zealand..........

 

[Hooper]

I thought appointing WC as captain was a joke? Obviously not, ah well, toodles.

 

[mattfb]

We are pretty good. Not bad at all. Above decent. A level above average. So hopefully we can win with our above average team.

 

[Skater]

ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA
1st PlanetCricket Ashes Test
1st-5th July 2009

DAY 3

Day 3 of the inaugural PlanetCricket Ashes Test and Australia are 202-4. The match in the balance.

MORNING

60.1: A fantastic start to the day for England. CG123 bowls Hooper a fast and straight one, which he edges to slip and he's gone for 19.

Hooper c. Simbazz b. CG123 19 (28) 3 fours, 0 sixes

biggy09 comes to the middle.

77.1 The set overnight batsman WORLD CHAMPIONS is gone. Pakistani Army's spin took him by surprise, he reached for one and could only poke it into the hands of the close catcher Simbazz.

WORLD CHAMPIONS c. Simbazz b. Pakistani Army 85 (161) 11 fours, 0 sixes

The keeper, OffCutters, is in.

77.6: But he wasn't in for long. The ball didn't do much but he's trapped in front, no doubt about it. England are into the Australian tail now and are buzzing.

OffCutters lbw b. Pakistani Army 1 (2)

IloveGilly, 5 wicket hero from the first innings, now has a job to do with the bat.

78.4: And doesn't do it! What a morning this is turning out to be for England! A fast full toss from PaulNixon1 is hit straight to Highlander999 and Australia are in real trouble.

IloveGilly c. Highlander999 b. PaulNixon1 0 (2)

Covvy is walking into the fire now.

86.6: England look to wrap this up. Keeper and captain evertonfan takes the new ball and throws it to Burnsy1.

90.6: No breakthrough with the new ball yet, but England have certainly won this session. Australia have some thinking to do in the interval.

Lunch, Day 3
Australia 1st innings: 278-8 (91 overs)
biggy09 38*, Covvy 5*
Australia are 88 runs behind

AFTERNOON
​

100.2: My goodness me, four byes through evertonfan's legs bring up the 300 for the Ozzers.

Australia 303-8 (602 balls)

100.6: Got him! biggy09 had batted well and was closing in on a well deserved half century but he gets a peach of a delivery from CG123 and evertonfan takes it in his gloves.

biggy09 c. evertonfan b. CG123 47 (138) 4 fours, 0 sixes

Octavius offers the last resistance.

110.1: That's the end of the innings. Covvy stayed there for a while but he was beaten by pace in the end by PaulNixon1. England will bat again, leading by 44 runs.

Covvy b. PaulNixon1 26 (86) 4 fours, 0 sixes

End Of Innings
Australia 1st innings: 322 all out (110.1 overs)
Octavius 7*
England lead by 44 runs

This is turning into a really get Test match. England's openers come out of the pavilion, effectively starting on 44.

3.4: Oh dear, Simbazz fails again. He plays the wrong shot to an Octavius delivery that takes the edge and speeds to Left Hander in the slips.

Simbazz c. Left Hander b. Octavius 7 (11) 0 fours, 1 six

Will NA, centurion from the first innings, comes out for another knock a little earlier than expected.

7.5: Second last ball before tea and Will NA is out! He can't replicate his performance from the first time around and this is a really close game now.

Will NA c. Left Hander b. Octavius 9 (17) 2 fours, 0 sixes

Can Holdenator be the hero?

7.6: That's tea on day three. Australia will be ecstatic with those two wickets taken in that little period of play. The pressure is on the hosts. The evening needs to be a strong one for them or the Aussies will run away with it.

Tea, Day 3
England 2nd innings: 35-2
adyhorn 18*, Holdenator 0*
England lead by 79 runs

EVENING
​

10.6: 50 up for England, adyhorn plays a confident shot down the ground and runs a single.

England 50-2 (66 balls)

11.1: Oh dear, and adyhorn was just getting settled. A hideously mishit cover drive goes in the opposite direction completely and lands in the lap of Octavius. Lucky wicket, but they all count.

adyhorn c. Octavius b. Covvy 22 (29) 2 fours, 0 sixes

They need a score from Highlander999 now.

23.4: A beautiful on drive from Holdenator racks up 100 for England.

England 106-3 (142 balls)

24.5: Holdenator's really striking it well. He slaps a shot square of the wicket for four and that's his half century. He pumps a fist at the balcony and sticks his tounge out at WORLD CHAMPIONS.

Holdenator 50 not out (51 balls) 8 fours, 0 sixes

37.1: Highlander999, you idiot! The end of the day was in sight but he's caught on the back pad by IloveGilly, bowling around the wicket, and he's gone right at the death. Big wicket.

Highlander999 lbw b. IloveGilly 42 (86) 4 fours, 0 sixes

Now come on, Burnsy1, just see out the day!

38.6: And he does. Phew. What a match this is turning out to be. England are 209 runs ahead with 6 wickets in hand and two days to go.

Stumps, Day 3
England 2nd innings: 165-4
Holdenator 72*, Burnsy1 2*
England lead by 209 runs

See you then, on day 4 for more of this drama.

PLAY OF THE DAY

HOLDENATOR - 72* (86) 10 fours, 0 sixes

England were under pressure after losing two early wickets but Holdenator steadied the ship by doing what he does best - attacking. The match is still in the balance thanks to his innings. The true test will be if he can carry it on tomorrow.​

​

 

[Biggy]

Our first innings batting was worrying, I am not confident with a chase of 300+.

Nice knock Holdenator.

 

[surendar]

It is good to see that England folks are dominating the Aussie folks in cricket atleast here in our game forums. Seriously, well played Holdy!

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

Damn !! missed my maiden 100 English are in good position, with 200+ lead. We need to wipe them out under 300.

 

[Skater]

ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA
1st PlanetCricket Ashes Test
1st-5th July 2009

DAY 4

England start of 165-4 as the penultimate day of the first PlanetCricket Ashes Test begins.

MORNING

39.3: Oops - third ball of the day and overnight hero Holdenator is out. Not a great shot, should never have played a cover drive to that ball from IloveGilly. OffCutters takes an each catch behind the stumps.

Holdenator c. OffCutters b. IloveGilly 72 (89) 10 fours, 0 sixes

evertonfan strides to the crease, nodding at WORLD CHAMPIONS and muttering 'jog on' as he does. Need a captain's innings here.

47.5: 200 up for England. More importantly, the lead is 244.

England 200-5 (281 balls)

57.4: Burnsy1 bites the dust. Fantastic yorker from Octavius, he's really come to the party in this innings.

Burnsy1 b. Octavius 38 (57) 5 fours, 0 sixes

PaulNixon1 is in.

63.6: Massive innings this from evertonfan. He brings up his half century with a single. Pats WORLD CHAMPIONS on the back in his celebration. He needs to keep it going.

evertonfan 50 not out (81 balls) 6 fours, 0 sixes

66.5: Oh no, looks like it's up to the tail. evertonfan is rushed by a biggy09 delivery and sends an easy catch straight back to the bowler. Oh dear, skipper.

evertonfan c&b. biggy09 52 (95) 6 fours, 0 sixes

CG123 needs to try and bat until lunch.

69.6: And he does. This is an incredible match, at lunch on the fourth day England lead by 317 runs but have just 3 wickets in hand. Still don't know who is on top.

Lunch, Day 4
England 2nd innings: 273-7 (70 overs)
PaulNixon1 14*, CG123 4*
England lead by 317 runs

AFTERNOON
​

76.1: CG123 is out. A tailender's dismissal, trapped in front of the stumps by Covvy.

CG123 lbw b. Covvy 11 (28)

We are hearing that treva's injury is too bad for him to bat, so Pakistani Army has the pads on and this means this is England's final wicket.

79.4: Hahaha! You go, Pakistani Army! He creams one through the leg side for four to bring up England's 300.

England 303-8 (478 balls)

80.2: Alas, Octavius has the last laugh. Too good for Pakistani Army, he's plumb LBW.

Pakistani Army lbw b. Octavius 5 (15) 1 four, 0 sixes

With treva unable to bat, England are all out and Australia need 349 runs to win.

End Of Innings
England 2nd innings: 304 all out (80.2 overs)
PaulNixon1 33*
Australia need 349 to win

Here it is. A run chase. 349 is not out of reach for Australia, but they will have to bat well. Remember, they only got 322 in the first innings. Let's get it on!

10.3: Very solid start for Australia. They have rattled the first fifty off, and another fifty partnership between the openers hedger14 and Roofrom50.

Australia 50-0 (63 balls)

16.5: Australia have made a fantastic start to this innings. They have grabbed the advantage now. England have not bowled well. It's tea and there's worries for the home side. Australia rattling along and they are without the injured treva.

Tea, Day 4
Australia second innings: 86-0
Roofrom50 44*, hedger14 37*
Australia need 263 to win

EVENING
​

21.1: 100 up for Australia, they're running away with it so far.

Australia 100-0 (127 balls)

22.1: Roofrom50 has another fifty, his second of the match and he's given his country the best possible start to the chase.

Roofrom50 50 not out (68 balls) 5 fours, 1 six

25.2: hedger14 joins Roofrom50 with a half century. Well played.

hedger14 51 not out (76 balls) 5 fours, 0 sixes

27.3: Blimey, England needed that. Pakistani Army gets a spin and hedger14 is out leg before wicket. Is this the breakthrough they needed?

hedger14 lbw b. Pakistani Army 57 (86) 6 fours, 0 sixes

Controversial WORLD CHAMPIONS comes to the crease, on the back of his 85 in the first innings.

48.6: 200 up for Australia, just one wicket down. It would take a monumental effort to stop them now.

Australia 201-1 (294 balls)

49.6: The England team drag their heels as they come off in the gloom. treva looks forlorn with his ice pack in the dressing room. Australia have taken control of this match and there's no stopping them now.

Stumps, Day 4
Australia second innings: 204-1
Roofrom50 91*, WORLD CHAMPIONS 49*
Australia need 145 to win

See you tomorrow for what will probably be an Australian victory. Have England got anything left?

PLAY OF THE DAY

ROOFROM50 - 91* (149) 10 fours, 1 sixes

Australia faced a tough run chase and needed a good start. The ever confident Roofrom50 came out and blasted his way to a fifty, and sits pretty closing in on a century overnight. Australia can thank him for their likely victory.​

​

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

We need to bat like this way, and victory will be ours Roo's Ton will be the icing on the cake

 

[Covvy]

I'm happy with my bowling effort. I think we should really win this one.

 

[Will_NA]

You would think Ian Bell was captain with that lack of bottle.

 

[Prithvi]

Good start in the series for Australia..

They'll win for sure....

 

[IloveGilly]

A whole day to chase 145 with 9 wickets? Surely this is in the bag.

 

[Roofrom50]

We've got this in the bag Aussies, let's rock this up. Good innings by me, i must say

 

[hedger_14]

i played all right, 37 and 57 runs.