CricSim Herald: Avo Lovers Cup Round 2

By Lloyd Townsend

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Kings vs Punters

An enormous innings from both sides condemned this round two clash to a draw, but both the Kings and the Punters would be excited about the individual performances of their players.

The Punters batted first at the CribbSim Complex, getting off to a poor start, losing their first four wickets for just 88 runs. When the fifth wicket fell for 181, no-one expected what was to follow.

ALC debutant <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=1055>NR Chance</a> strode out to the middle to join <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=38>EL Volavola</a>, who was scoring at a rate of knots. The two tore the Kings attack to shreds with a relentless onslaught of attacking shots, piling on 307 runs for the partnership. Volavola finished with 213 and Chance with a remarkable 164, making him one to watch in the future.

In reply to an enormous total of 582, the Kings were bowled out for 296 after exciting and exciting all-rounder <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=51>MJ Johns</a> took five wickets. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=469>JS Shiva</a> and <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=62>BMT Con</a> scored half centuries, but the Kings lost their last five wickets for 30 runs and the Punters enforced the follow-on.

Perhaps the second failure in successive weeks jolted the Kings into action, because their second dig was far more impressive. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=469>JS Shiva</a> was heartbroken at the top of the order, dismissed for 99 after nervously prodding a ball from <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=68>JU Rocker</a> to wicketkeeper <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=193>J Read</a>, who was reliable as ever behind the stumps.

<a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=938>T Bochat</a> scored his second century in the ALC this season, making it two from two games, showing superb form with the willow. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=62>BMT Con</a> was once again influential, scoring 66. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=71>RE Hallett</a> was inspirational, toiling over after over, eventually taking 5/135 off 42.2 overs.

The match was destined for a draw and <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=301>MC Burridge</a> was fuming when stumps on day five was called, stranded on 49.

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ALC R2 - Kittens vs Test Eagles

<a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=316>PF Oz</a> and <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=963>ZAF MacDonald</a> so completely dominated the round two clash between the Kittens and the Test Eagles that the match deserves to be named after them. The Victorian pair stunned the impressive crowds, taking 19 wickets between them and leading the Kittens to an innings victory.

MacDonald took 4/49 in the first innings of the match, but the first innings was all about Oz - he looked as confident as ever when thrown the ball, but little did anyone expect a perfomance of 6/19. The Test Eagles tail was clueless, but <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=334>G Shriram</a> managed to figure out the off-spinner's loop and dip to post an unbeaten 47*.

<a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=860>CJ Downes</a> and <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=106>J Ono</a> then mercilessly plundered the opposition attack for 101 and 123 respectively, breezing past the Test Eagles' 146 themselves with a partnership of 236. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=118>RA Boy</a> also pitched in with 79 runs of his own, as well as <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=439>DA Astele</a>, who continued his notable form with the bat scoring 59. @IA Ryobovol was the only bowler to walk away with anything to show, taking 5/117.

The MacOz show continued in the second innings, with Oz this time feasting on the top and middle order. Although made to toil for over three times as long as in the first innings, Oz was again rampant, taking 5/91. MacDonald was the perfect partner, nipping the ball around for his 4/54. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=908>HBK Teja</a> and <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=369>DRP Taylor</a> provided a challenge whilst scoring their half centuries, but it was ultimately a fruitless endeavor.

In perhaps one of the more amusing moments of the round, <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=61>P Charles</a> was run out for 14 to end the game, denying the duo the chance of taking all 20 wickets between them.

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Somestars vs Fangs

In a match that took an unexpected turn, the Somestars superbly defeated the Fangs by ten wickets, surprising much of CricSim.

The Fangs were awful in their first innings despite winning the toss and electing to bat. The only batsman to make an impact was <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=992>LO Townsend</a>, scoring 57 before being caught at first slip by <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=1062>JI Clifford</a> off the bowling of <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=942>SC Somerset</a>, the latter taking 4/50 for the innings alongside <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=151>TJ Bradford</a>, who snagged 3/45 late in the picture.

<a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=43>DR Armstrong</a> then destroyed a worryingly impotent looking Fangs attack, making 232 before <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=975>DJ Veza</a> plucked a wicket out of nowhere. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=989>O du Toit</a> also helped, his 71 assisting the Somestars to a huge 536.

<a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=982>CD Ochocinco</a> was a pillar of resistance for the Fangs second time around, making a determined 159, but the only other batsmen to resist the rampant <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=151>TJ Bradford</a> were wicketkeeper <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=976>CJ Evans</a> (55) and young hopeful <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=992>LO Townsend</a> (42). Bradford produced a jaw-dropping 7/103, leaving the Somestars the comical task of scoring 4 runs to close out the game.

The extras column contributed three runs to the job and the Somestars were delighted with their second win of the season.

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Knights vs Cobras

In what turned out to be the closest match of the round, the Knights convincingly defeated the Cobras by 211 runs after some heroics with the ball from <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=95>C Kovas</a> on the back of a first-innings ton from <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=430>J Steele</a>.

Steele was in fine form, hitting 184 before being caught and bowled by <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=422>HJ Hebditch</a>, who ended up with 4/53. The Knights posted 387, with <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=958>CM Dyer</a> swinging the willow late in the innings, scoring 40 from 69 balls including a towering 6 that smashed the window of the CricSim Herald commentary box.

<a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=1067>MC James</a> was the only batsman to look comfortable for the Cobras, taking 109 runs from the Knights attack and remaining an unbeaten hero at the end of the innings, the Cobras bundled out for a mediocre 246 after losing their last 6 wickets for 43 runs.

Although <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=194>GR Smith</a> was fiery and fast in his 5/76, the Knights were able to edge into unreachable territory thanks to contributions from two familiar faces - <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=430>J Steele</a> (55) and <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=958>CM Dyer</a> (49). SJ Nova picked up four wickets on the back of his three in the first innings, but it was not enough to stop the Knights from posting a 400+ run chase.

Dyer and Kovas went to town, taking three and four wickets respectively, giving Kovas 10 for the match. No Cobra posted a score and they went down by 211 runs.