Dune's Tigers take on the World.

[DuneTiger]

Yes I know... another storyline, but not really, just gonna be where I post the story behind my matches with my own team made of players I enjoy watching/just for the memes.

Our first tour will take us to IRELAND.

3 ODI's followed by a single Test Match!

This is the squad that will be taking to the field in Ireland

Squad for upcoming tour to Ireland 16/07/2023

Australia
Peter Handscomb
Marcus Stoinis
Usman Khawaja
Todd Murphy
Jason Behrendorff
D’Arcy Short
Nathan Ellis
Matt Renshaw

Afghanistan

N/A

Bangladesh

Mushfiqur Rahim

England

Jonny Bairstow
Sam Curran

India

N/A

Ireland (inelligible)

New Zealand

Neil Wagner
Mitchell Santner

Pakistan

Haris Rauf
Wahab Riaz

South Africa

Aiden Markram
Kagiso Rabada

Sri Lanka

Wanindu Hasaranga

West Indies

Jermaine Blackwood
Rahkeem Cornwall
Joshua Da Silva

Zimbabwe

Sikandar Raza



Give some ideas of who should join the squad in the future and where the team should travel next!

 

[DuneTiger]

XI's are in for the first ODI between Ireland and Dune's Tigers

Ireland

1. Andrew Balbirnie (c)
2. Paul Stirling
3. Andy McBrine
4. Harry Tector
5. Lorcan Tucker (WK)
6. Curtis Campher
7. George Dockrell
8. Simi Singh
9. Mark Adair
10. Barry McCarthy
11. Josh Little

Dune's Tigers

1. Aiden Markram
2. Jonny Bairstow
3. Usman Khawaja (c)
4. Peter Handscomb (WK)
5. Sikandar Raza
6. Marcus Stoinis
7. Sam Curran
8. Wanindu Hasaranga
9. Nathan Ellis
10. Kagiso Rabada
11. Jason Behrendorff

The toss has been won by Usman Khawaja and they will BOWL first on a soft green wicket.

 

[DuneTiger]

Captain Khawaja steers Tigers home in low scoring shootout
​

After ripping through Irelands batting lineup due fantastic bowling performances from Behrendorff (3/32) and Sam Curran (3/20), it looked like the Tigers would easily take a 1-0 lead in the series. However a Josh Little (4/40) inspired bowling performance for Ireland would see them take the Tigers to 6/71, still 48 runs short of the target.

However the immovable Khawaja (34) and the wiry Wanindu Hasaranga (22) would steady the ship and with a mini cameo from Nathan Ellis (10) would eventually chase the target 7 wickets down.

The 2nd ODI will be played in the English capital at Lords as Ireland look to tie the series.

Dune's Tigers 7/120 (28.2) def Ireland 10/119 (32.2)

 

[DuneTiger]

Stunning Stirling sees Ireland level the series 1-1
​

Looking to bounce back after the disappointing collapse in the first ODI, Andrew Balbirnie would have no hesitation winning the toss and batting on what looked like a batting paradise at Lord's. Neither side would make a change to their teams from the first match.

Balbirnie and Sterling would brutally take on the new ball and have a quickfire opening stand of 117, before Balbirnie would finally fall to the leg spin of Hasaranga. From then on there would be a steady fall of wickets throughout the innings, however Paul Stirling would be the mainstay of the innings hitting a blistering 136 (108) and leading Ireland to a 7/336.

The Tigers innings started poorly with Aiden Markram falling 2nd ball of the innings, and a constant flow of wickets would see the Tigers tumble to 8/187. Marcus Stoinis would try to bring the Tigers back into the contest, partnering with Kagiso Rabada for a 75 run stand, however when Stoinis finally fell for a brutal 88 (68), Ireland would follow up with the wicket of Rabada and equalise the series with a 74 run win at Lord's.

 

[DuneTiger]

Mass Changes for both Ireland and the Tigers for series deciding match!
​

Dune's Tigers have swung 5 changes for the final match of the series, whilst Ireland have swung the axe on McCarthy and Dockrell.

Gareth Delany and Craig Young come into the team for Ireland.

The 5 players dropped/rested for the final ODI are Sam Curran, Aiden Markram, Jason Behrendorff, Kagiso Rabada and Sikandar Raza.
D'Arcy Short will replace Aiden Markram at the top of the order, whilst Matt Renshaw comes in for Sikandar Raza and is named to bat at 4, with Handscomb sliding to 5.
Haris Rauf, Wahab Riaz and Mitchell Santner will their chance on the tour to lead the attack with Nathan Ellis and Wanindu Hasaranga maintaining their place.

Ireland

1. Andrew Balbirnie (c)
2. Paul Stirling
3. Andy McBrine
4. Harry Tector
5. Lorcan Tucker (wk)
6. Curtis Campher
7. Gareth Delany
8. Simi Singh
9. Mark Adair
10. Craig Young
11. Josh Little

Dune's Tigers

1. D'Arcy Short
2. Jonny Bairstow
3. Usman Khawaja (c)
4. Matt Renshaw
5. Peter Handscomb (wk)
6. Marcus Stoinis
7. Mitchell Santner
8. Wanindu Hasaranga
9. Nathan Ellis
10. Wahab Riaz
11. Haris Rauf

 

[DuneTiger]

Mammoth Total for Tigers too much as they claim series 2-1
​

An Usman Khawaja led batting onslaught from the Tigers was too much for Ireland as they go down in the 3rd ODI by 88 runs.

Despite no centuries being hit by the Tigers they would finish with 376 as their total despite Ireland bowling them out in the 49th over of the innings. Bairstow got the Tigers off to a flier with 54(31) before skipper Usman Khawaja and Matt Renshaw took hold of the innings with a quick 122 run partnership. Marcus Stoinis and Wanindu Hasaranga would be explosive in the last 10 overs, however once the partnership was broken, Ireland fought back well and turned what looked like a 400+ score into only 376 all out.

Unfortunately for the Irish when they came to crease it was a combination of good bowling and poor running that would see them collapse to 6/141 and completely be out of the game. A nice innings from Curtis Campher and the recalled Gareth Delany would see the hosts make a score of some note, however it would simply not be enough as they would fall short by 88 runs.

The next match will be the sole test match of this tour between the Tigers and Ireland.

 

[DuneTiger]

Test XI's announced for Test Match at Stormont

​

Ireland
1. James McCollum
2. Murray Commins
3. Andrew Balbirnie (c)
4. Harry Tector
5. Paul Stirling
6. Lorcan Tucker (wk)
7. Curtis Campher
8. Andy McBrine
9. Mark Adair
10. Craig Young
11. Graham Hume

Dune's Tigers
1. Usman Khawaja (c)
2. Matt Renshaw
3. Aiden Markram
4. Peter Handscomb
5. Jermaine Blackwood
6. Jonny Bairstow
7. Mushfiqur Rahim (wk)
8. Sam Curran
9. Kagiso Rabada
10. Todd Murphy
11. Haris Rauf

 

[pillowprocter]

Tigers could have clean swept the ODI series if they learnt to bat 50 overs

 

[DuneTiger]

Tigers could have clean swept the ODI series if they learnt to bat 50 overs

Agreed, certainly something to work on for future ODI series.

 

[DuneTiger]

Statistics for ODI Series vs Ireland, July 2023​

Batting Statistics





Bowling Statistics

 

[pillowprocter]

Wow Rauf really struggled

 

[Till Valhalla]

Wow Rauf really struggled

Wouldn't even make the India A side.

 

[DuneTiger]

Campher scores 50, but Tigers in front after 1st innings.
​

A brilliant all round bowling effort from the Tigers has seen the Irish dismissed early on day 2 for only 270. Sam Curran and Todd Murphy led the way with 3 wickets apiece whilst a lower order partnership between Campher (59) and McBrine (33) gave the Irish a total that could be troubling if they bowl well. The pitch has shown that if you hit the right areas there's plenty there for the bowlers, however 270 definitely looks below par.

 

[pillowprocter]

Wow they really grinded it out

 

[DuneTiger]

Wow they really grinded it out

Was quite frustrating, thought I was gonna roll them for under 200 for sure.