
Legends At Battle Season VIII
Round 5, Match 13
INTERWAR XI vs TWENTY20 ERA XI
at Eden Park, Kingsland, Auckland, New Zealand

Toss: Twenty20 Era XI won the toss and chose to bowl
INTERWAR XI 1st innings
HTML:
Player Status Runs Blls 4s 6s S/R
Jack Hobbs b. Anderson 175 393 34 1 44.5%
George Headley c. †Sangakkara b. Steyn 75 119 15 0 63.0%
Don Bradman* lbw b. Bond 54 91 8 1 59.3%
Wally Hammond c. de Villiers b. Johnson 5 18 1 0 27.8%
Herbert Sutcliffe c. Smith b. Kallis 15 62 2 0 24.2%
Bert Oldfield† lbw b. Johnson 11 24 2 0 45.8%
Clem Gibson lbw b. Johnson 18 54 4 0 33.3%
Jimmy Boucher lbw b. Johnson 0 3 0 0 0.0%
Hedley Verity lbw b. Johnson 13 15 2 0 86.7%
Clarrie Grimmett not out 31 32 5 1 96.9%
Bill O'Reilly c. Smith b. Anderson 4 11 1 0 36.4%
Total: 419/10 Overs: 136.1 Run Rate: 3.08 Extras: 18
Day 2 1:53 PM
-X-
INTERWAR XI Partnerships
Batsmen Runs (Balls)
J Hobbs G Headley þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ 115 (221)
J Hobbs D Bradman þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ 99 (204)
J Hobbs W Hammond þþþþ 15 (30)
J Hobbs Sutcliffe þþþþþþþþþþþþ 40 (109)
J Hobbs B Oldfield þþþþþþþ 23 (45)
J Hobbs C Gibson þþþþþþþþþþþþþ 45 (96)
J Hobbs J Boucher 0 (3)
J Hobbs H Verity þþþþþþþþþ 31 (31)
J Hobbs C Grimmett þþþþþþþþþ 31 (55)
B O'Reilly C Grimmett þþþþþþ 20 (23)
Fall of Wickets 115/1 214/2 229/3 269/4 292/5
337/6 337/7 368/8 399/9 419/10
Total: 419/10 Overs: 136.1 Run Rate: 3.08 Extras: 18
-X-
TWENTY20 ERA XI Bowling
Player Overs Mdns Runs Wkts E/R Wds NBs
Shane Bond 31.0 8 81 1 2.61 1 4
Dale Steyn 30.0 7 72 1 2.40 1 0
James Anderson 29.1 7 93 2 3.19 2 0
Mitchell Johnson 28.0 9 101 5 3.61 0 1
Jacques Kallis 16.0 1 61 1 3.81 1 1
Graeme Smith 2.0 0 4 0 2.00 0 0
EXTRAS Wides: 5 No Balls: 6 Leg Byes: 4 Byes: 3
Total: 419/10 Overs: 136.1 Run Rate: 3.08 Extras: 18
-X-

Jack Hobbs broke the hoodoo that had seen him go century-less since Season VI with an innings of 175 that lasted nearly 400 balls. That too on a pacy wicket against the likes of Shane Bond, Dale Steyn, James Anderson, Mitchell Johnson and Jacques Kallis, against whom even the incomparable Don Bradman couldn't manage more than 54. The Interwar XI were looking good with a big first innings total of 419.
TWENTY20 ERA XI 1st innings
HTML:
Player Status Runs Blls 4s 6s S/R
Graeme Smith* c. Hobbs b. Gibson 4 12 1 0 33.3%
Alastair Cook c. O'Reilly b. Verity 170 268 32 0 63.4%
Rahul Dravid c. †Oldfield b. Gibson 8 25 2 0 32.0%
Jacques Kallis c. Hammond b. O'Reilly 1 8 0 0 12.5%
Ricky Ponting lbw b. Hammond 76 124 14 1 61.3%
AB de Villiers lbw b. Hammond 1 6 0 0 16.7%
Kumar Sangakkara† b. Gibson 19 51 4 0 37.3%
Mitchell Johnson st †Oldfield b. Boucher 4 33 0 0 12.1%
Dale Steyn lbw b. Verity 1 8 0 0 12.5%
Shane Bond b. Gibson 11 33 2 0 33.3%
James Anderson not out 4 4 1 0 100.0%
Total: 317/10 Overs: 95.1 Run Rate: 3.33 Extras: 18
Day 3 2:13 PM
-X-
TWENTY20 ERA XI Partnerships
Batsmen Runs (Balls)
G Smith A Cook þþþþ 18 (26)
R Dravid A Cook þþþþ 22 (50)
J Kallis A Cook þ 2 (10)
R Ponting A Cook þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ 155 (231)
A Villiers A Cook þ 8 (21)
Sangakkara A Cook þþþþþþþþ 36 (88)
M Johnson A Cook þþþþþþþþþ 40 (56)
D Steyn A Cook þ 4 (16)
S Bond A Cook þþþþþþ 27 (66)
S Bond J Anderson þþ 5 (7)
Fall of Wickets 18/1 40/2 42/3 197/4 205/5
241/6 281/7 285/8 312/9 317/10
Total: 317/10 Overs: 95.1 Run Rate: 3.33 Extras: 18
-X-
INTERWAR XI Bowling
Player Overs Mdns Runs Wkts E/R Wds NBs
Clem Gibson 18.1 6 40 4 2.20 0 0
Wally Hammond 12.0 2 31 2 2.58 0 0
Hedley Verity 18.0 4 52 2 2.89 0 1
Bill O'Reilly 11.0 2 33 1 3.00 0 1
Clarrie Grimmett 16.0 0 86 1 5.38 0 0
Jimmy Boucher 20.0 2 65 1 3.25 1 5
EXTRAS Wides: 1 No Balls: 7 Leg Byes: 9 Byes: 1
Total: 317/10 Overs: 95.1 Run Rate: 3.33 Extras: 18
-X-

One could have noted that the Interwar XI had one too many spinners present in their XI on a pace-friendly Auckland wicket. But it didn't seem to matter with Clem Gibson picking 4 for 40, his best analysis of the season and being quite ably supported by part-time option Wally Hammond who was forced to open the bowling for his team. The Twenty20 Era XI managed 317, which could have been a lot less if not for Alastair Cook's stroke-filled 170 and Ricky Ponting's 76. Only four batsmen in their lineup reached double figures in the first innings, one of whom was a tailender. The Interwar XI finished with a healthy lead of 102.
INTERWAR XI 2nd innings
HTML:
Player Status Runs Blls 4s 6s S/R
Jack Hobbs c. Ponting b. Bond 0 2 0 0 0.0%
George Headley c & b. Johnson 21 47 4 0 44.7%
Don Bradman* c. Kallis b. Steyn 6 17 1 0 35.3%
Wally Hammond b. Johnson 97 146 16 2 66.4%
Herbert Sutcliffe b. Anderson 12 18 2 0 66.7%
Bert Oldfield† c. †Sangakkara b. Steyn 10 42 1 0 23.8%
Clem Gibson not out 58 128 10 0 45.3%
Jimmy Boucher lbw b. Bond 32 57 7 0 56.1%
Hedley Verity c. †Sangakkara b. Johnson 0 5 0 0 0.0%
Clarrie Grimmett b. Anderson 25 47 4 1 53.2%
Bill O'Reilly c. Ponting b. Steyn 14 20 3 0 70.0%
Total: 293/10 Overs: 87.4 Run Rate: 3.34 Extras: 18
Day 4 2:04 PM
-X-
INTERWAR XI Partnerships
Batsmen Runs (Balls)
J Hobbs G Headley 0 (2)
D Bradman G Headley þþþþþ 12 (24)
W Hammond G Headley þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ 46 (81)
W Hammond Sutcliffe þþþþþþþþþþþþþþ 32 (48)
W Hammond B Oldfield þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ 49 (77)
W Hammond C Gibson þþþþþþþþþþþ 26 (63)
J Boucher C Gibson þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ 58 (100)
H Verity C Gibson þþþ 9 (16)
C Grimmett C Gibson þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ 40 (81)
B O'Reilly C Gibson þþþþþþþþþ 21 (34)
Fall of Wickets 0/1 12/2 58/3 90/4 139/5
165/6 223/7 232/8 272/9 293/10
Total: 293/10 Overs: 87.4 Run Rate: 3.34 Extras: 18
-X-
TWENTY20 ERA XI Bowling
Player Overs Mdns Runs Wkts E/R Wds NBs
Shane Bond 20.0 5 54 2 2.70 0 0
Dale Steyn 16.4 4 55 3 3.30 0 0
James Anderson 19.0 4 71 2 3.74 1 1
Mitchell Johnson 23.0 4 68 3 2.96 0 4
Jacques Kallis 9.0 0 35 0 3.89 2 0
EXTRAS Wides: 3 No Balls: 5 Leg Byes: 6 Byes: 4
Total: 293/10 Overs: 87.4 Run Rate: 3.34 Extras: 18
-X-

The Twenty20 Era XI's pace quintet fared a lot better this time around. Shane Bond accounted for the first innings centurion Jack Hobbs in the very first over of the Interwar XI's innings, while Dale Steyn later took out Don Bradman for just 6. Mitchell Johnson picked 3 for 68 to add to his first innings five-fer, finishing the match just two short of the much desirable set of ten for the game. Nonetheless, the Interwar XI had done enough to set their opponents a very formidable target of 396 with nearly 5 sessions left to play in the match. The most sensible thing to do in such a situation would be to bat out for a draw, but it would see them finish just 1 point below the Interwar XI in the Season VIII standings and thus fall short of qualifying for the final. Nothing less than a miraculous victory will do for the Twenty20 Era XI from here if they are to qualify for the Season VIII final.

Wally Hammond, who played perhaps his best innings in a rather troubled season with the bat was a tad unfortunate to miss out of triple figures.
TWENTY20 ERA XI 2nd innings (Target: 396)
HTML:
Player Status Runs Blls 4s 6s S/R
Graeme Smith* st †Oldfield b. O'Reilly 9 40 1 0 22.5%
Alastair Cook b. O'Reilly 46 105 10 0 43.8%
Rahul Dravid c. Bradman b. O'Reilly 13 53 2 0 24.5%
Jacques Kallis b. O'Reilly 23 82 4 0 28.0%
Ricky Ponting lbw b. Hammond 46 97 10 0 47.4%
AB de Villiers c. †Oldfield b. Gibson 0 2 0 0 0.0%
Kumar Sangakkara† not out 100 199 19 1 50.3%
Mitchell Johnson c. †Oldfield b. Grimmett 1 7 0 0 14.3%
Dale Steyn c. Hobbs b. Verity 32 109 6 0 29.4%
Shane Bond not out 27 76 4 0 35.5%
James Anderson
Total: 309/8 Overs: 128.0 Run Rate: 2.41 Extras: 12
Day 5 5:01 PM
-X-
TWENTY20 ERA XI Partnerships
Batsmen Runs (Balls)
G Smith A Cook þþþþþþþþþþþ 28 (74)
R Dravid A Cook þþþþþþþþþþþþþ 32 (101)
J Kallis A Cook þþþþþþþ 18 (44)
J Kallis R Ponting þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ 47 (122)
A Villiers R Ponting þ 1 (3)
Sangakkara R Ponting þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ 40 (77)
Sangakkara M Johnson þ 1 (7)
Sangakkara D Steyn þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ 82 (195)
Sangakkara S Bond þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ 60 (145)
Fall of Wickets 28/1 60/2 78/3 125/4 126/5
166/6 167/7 249/8
Total: 309/8 Overs: 128.0 Run Rate: 2.41 Extras: 12
-X-
INTERWAR XI Bowling
Player Overs Mdns Runs Wkts E/R Wds NBs
Clem Gibson 24.0 7 47 1 1.96 1 1
Wally Hammond 19.0 5 62 1 3.26 0 1
Bill O'Reilly 24.0 14 40 4 1.67 1 0
Jimmy Boucher 16.0 3 53 0 3.31 0 0
Hedley Verity 26.0 10 38 1 1.46 0 2
Clarrie Grimmett 19.0 5 66 1 3.47 0 3
EXTRAS Wides: 2 No Balls: 7 Leg Byes: 3 Byes: 0
Total: 309/8 Overs: 128.0 Run Rate: 2.41 Extras: 12
-X-

All hopes of a miraculous victory were dashed with the Twenty20 Era XI having been reduced to 167/7 and later 249/8, which left them little option but to bat for a draw instead. Luckily they had Kumar Sangakkara, he of the sizeable Test batting average of 57.40 coming in as low as No 7 in a lineup filled with batting greats. Sangakkara, with only tailenders Dale Steyn and Shane Bond for company, helped his team draw stalemate with the Interwar XI. There was still something to cheer about amidst the gloom, as he had managed to bring up a century shortly before the close of play on Day 5. So ends the Twenty20 Era XI's Season VIII campaign as a result of finishing just one point (66) short of the Interwar XI (67) at the end of this match. Nonetheless, a tremendous innings under a huge amount of pressure from an often under-rated but truly great player. The Interwar XI's chances of qualifying for the final will now depend on the results of the two matches remaining in the final round. A victory for the Professional XI who are basically guaranteed a final berth over the Early Test XI, and Golden Age XI over the Post-war XI should ideally be enough to see them through.

And so, a match that was initially touted as a battle between Don Bradman and Ricky Ponting, two of Australia's greatest ever batsmen, ended with two legendary English opening batsmen in Jack Hobbs and Alastair Cook gaining all the spotlight instead.
HTML:
Interwar XI 419 & 293
Twenty20 Era XI 317 & 309/8
Match drawn
Man of the match: Alastair Cook (Twenty20 Era XI)
Points
HTML:
Interwar XI - 11 (Draw - 5, Batting - 3, Bowling - 3)
Twenty20 Era XI - 9 (Draw - 5, Batting - 3, Bowling - 1)
@Kumbis @Naman Thakur