CricSim Herald: Bannerman Shield Round 2

By LO Townsend and LE Schaw

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BS R2 - SWXI vs Gamblers at Stevil Oval

The Gamblers produced a troucing in alarmingly simple fashion at the home ground of the SWXI.

<a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=317>BG Herd</a> strode in at first drop and produced a batting masterclass, flogging the bowling in every direction to produce a remarkably quick 160. The Gamblers bowlers then wiped the floor with the SWXI batting lineup twice in a row to win by an innings and 125 runs.

Herd's immense innings was complimented by Hall of Famer <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=112>BJ Gemmell</a> scoring a fluent, aggressive 70, as well as <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=160>BS Read</a> playing patiently for his 91 before he was run out painfully short of his century. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=76>L Tyson</a> was also influential in the tail, scoring an unbeaten 50* to further punish the poor SWXI bowling.

<a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=862>JM Hughes</a> took 3/99 with his flighted off-breaks and <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=472>RS Hutchinson</a> was also dangerous, albeit only taking 2/72 - his first over was memorable, taking a wicket with his last delivery.

The Stickies produced two poor showings with the bat - 249 and 170. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=171>AJ Parker</a> continued his excellent Shield form, producing two vital innings of 66 and 73, but it was not enough to save his side from an embarrassing loss in front of home fans.

<a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=50>JB Dempsey</a> turned back the clock in his first innings 90, but <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=96>BJ Taylor</a> was an irresistible force with his leg-spin. He took match figures of 8/84, including a first-innings five wicket haul. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=76>L Tyson</a> was also impressive, taking 5/111 for the match.

The Sticky Wickets have some serious thinking to do if they are to turn around this awful start to their season.

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Pumas vs Ravens

Following a win against the Cyclones that was largely due to the efforts of <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=58>SA Flack</a>, the Pumas returned to The Mountains where they played the Ravens. The Ravens had also won their match in what many considered an upset against the Allstars, but it was evident they were not prepared for what the Pumas at home could do, losing to the home side by 8 wickets.

The Ravens batted first and <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=895>SP Phlegm</a> soon wished they didn't, as he was bowled out by Flack before his side could make a single run. A third wicket partnership looked to be building up between <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=849>PM Jackson</a> and <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=376>MJ Deane</a>, but it was soon contained by the Pumas' attack. And contain the Ravens they did, as <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=178>HJ Bots</a> quickly got himself a five wicket haul, giving only 44 runs. In the end, the Ravens only managed 171 runs with a long match ahead of them.

As the Pumas approached the 171 run target set by the Ravens, largely due to starts from <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=458>S Bakkum</a> and Flack, things were looking good. However, after Flack was dismissed, <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=913>JA Chewie</a> was frustrated by the lack of support from the rest of his team. Coming in as the fifth batsman, he made 58 runs not out, which ended up being more than everyone else who batted after that. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=372>MP Chung</a> was efficient with his bowling and dismissed four Pumas for only 30 runs. Despite not doing as well as they had hoped, the 239 runs made the Pumas were enough to get them the first innings points.

The third innings was very much a similar story to the first. Phlegm made 50 runs this time around, but nothing beyond that and the rest of the Ravens slowly crumbled under the spinning attack spearheaded by <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=314>AD Hunt</a> who took 5 for 55. With the Ravens only scoring another 179 runs, the Pumas needed only 112 runs to win the game. They did lose two wickets in doing so, but <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=343>RK Fittaman</a> and Flack easily ensured no more would be lost as they cruised to an 8 wicket victory, taking another 10 points.

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Vipers vs Crusaders

In what was, perhaps surprisingly, the closest of the four matches this week, the Crusaders travelled to Snake Pit. A battle between two teams that easily defeated their respective opponents in the first round, few believed the Crusaders had what it took to even phase the Vipers, but it came close in the end with the Vipers winning by 52 runs.

The home side batted first and while the top order started out with some runs, their innings was pushed on by <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=421>J Torres</a>, who made 110 runs not out. A somewhat disappointing performance from the favourites, who just couldn't give Torres the support he needed to put the first innings points out of reach. Wilson took five wickets to help the Crusaders cause and the Vipers ended the innings with 348 runs.

Feeling confident at home, the Vipers' bowlers were not expecting the gutsy performances from <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=381>E Ames</a> and <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=89>P Retzel</a> who made an impressive opening partnership. The pair were eventually caught out for 78 and 84 runs, respectively, but not before the partnership reached 165 runs. This put the Crusaders in a great position to take the first innings points, an opportunity they seized with <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=966>CL Warrington</a> adding another 73 runs not out, giving the Crusaders 382 runs and the two points.

Disappointed from losing two points, the Vipers were adamant they would not lose the match. It showed with a great ton from <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=191>T Delonge</a> and another 91 runs from <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=78>R Gee</a>. Eleventh man <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=339>BOY Blunder</a> supported <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=167>DN Boland</a>'s 51 run not out with 29 of his own to give the Vipers a total of 427 runs and some breathing space looking into the final innings.

Needing 393 runs to win, the Crusaders needed to step up their game even more than before. A century from <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=896>JJD Heads</a> and fifties from <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=266>TA Miokovic</a> and Warrington put the Crusaders in a position where they could easily take the victory. But after the fifth wicket was taken at 283 runs, things started looking down as the Vipers bowlers reminded the competition why they held the three top bowlers rankings spots, taking the last five wickets for just 58 runs. With only 341 runs in the fourth innings, the Crusaders were 52 runs short, disappointed they could not convert their chances.

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BS R2 - Allstars vs Stingrays

The Stingrays travelled to the Gunnstar Rectangle where they were greeted by a magnificent double century by <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=41>BJT Manera</a> in the first innings of their round two clash. The Allstars opener resisted the 'Rays attack for 396 balls, remaining not out for 207 runs.

<a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=433>SJ Cambridge</a> and <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=304>AJ James</a> were able to dislodge five Allstars batsmen cheaply, but Manera was an immovable object, guiding the innings to a total of 417.

The Stingrays batted poorly once again in what has been an extremely worrying start to the season. While <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=379>DG Dafter</a> plodded towards his 58, every other batsman in the top and middle orders wasted a start, apart from <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=905>IT Lee</a> whose first ball duck was the sign of a man awfully low on confidence. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=418>HT Davis</a> picked up 3/60 including the prize wicket of <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=437>SM Morgan</a>, who is yet to make a half-century this year, but the real damage was done by Victorian <a href=http://www.thegameofcricket.net/site/players.php?id=145>BA Storer</a>, who took 3/34 off 11 overs.

With the game slipping away from them, the Stingrays were unable to find the match-winning bowling performance they needed to swing the match back in their favour. After carrying his bat in the first innings, Manera was out first ball to an away swinging <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=304>AJ James</a> delivery, but <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=943>LV Himann</a> and <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=91>DW Lewis</a> scored 72 and 96 at the top of the order to steady the ship. Their partnership was worth 183, taking the game almost out of reach.

The second new ball saw James furiously hooping the ball around, destroying the Allstars lower order and picking up an impressive 6/68, but it was far too late. The Stingrays batting wilted once again, bowled out for 243 despite half-centuries to the patient pair of Dafter and Lee.

The Allstars took a 274 run victory thanks to some clean work from their pace attack.

Bannerman Shield Team of the Round

1. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=41>BJT Manera</a>* (207*, 0)

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- Manera carried his bat in his first innings double century, a rare feat.

2. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=379>DG Dafter</a> (58, 52)

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- Consistency is the key to Dafter's selection, his twin fifties just earning him selection over Lewis, who produced a 96.

3. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=317>BG Herd</a> (160)

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- Flailed the SWXI bowling attack all day in one of the standout performances of the round.

4. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=421>J Torres</a> (110*, 5)

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- One of CricSim's biggest stars put his $1m bat deal to good use, hitting his first century of his S12 campaign.

5. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=191>T Delonge</a> (48, 107)

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- Two impressive innings in the middle of the order.

6. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=896>JJD Heads</a> (33, 111, 1/65, 2/75)

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- A century and wickets for the Crusaders all-rounder, proving himself once again as a brilliant player.

7. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=50>JB Dempsey</a>+ (90, 3)

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- The Hall of Fame member produced a characteristic innings of 90 as his team struggled around him.

8. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=96>BJ Taylor</a> (5/51, 3/33)

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- Most likely the bowling performance of the round, Taylor's drift and turn was almost unplayable at times.

9. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=365>DA Eggman</a> 2/72, 5/93)

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- The Vipers spearhead only restarted training recently, but it doesn't take a champion long to find match form.

10. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=314>AD Hunt</a> (2/51, 5/55)

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- Certainly one of CricSim's best spinners, Hunt was superb in both innings, taking yet another five wicket haul.

11. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=304>AJ James</a> (1/94, 6/68)

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- Although a little late to the party, James was devastating in the second innings.