Story The Challenge - A Battrick Story

[ZoraxDoom]

Blind Society win toss!
Elect to field.​

The Blind Society have won the toss, with Lewis Carey correctly calling heads, and have elected to field.
"The pitch is green, it is overcast and cold, seems like good weather to have a bowl first. And even if we lose, it will give the guys vital time in the middle bowling first and let our bowlers get some practice against top quality opposition in."

There were no suprises in the lineup, with both teams at full strength.
Follow the match here

Jess Battlers have selected Chandrasiri, Mott, Karel, Webber, Kealey, Tumisang, Donaldson, Cash, Ranaweera, Spector, Duncan.

The Blind Society have picked Gomez, Haishen, Holmshaw, Mavuso, Stearman, Bonner, Brookes, Floors, Carey, Elvins, Cambridge.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Jes Battler's post 339!​

Mott blazes 141 as Battlers flay TBS!​

Jes Battlers have posted a mammoth 339/3 batting first from their allocated 50 overs. Opening batsman Junior Morr scored a brilliant 141 off just 136 balls as The Blind Society bowlers got hit all over.
On a cold day, TBS elected to bowl first, citing good bowling conditions. However, the pitch proved deceptive as there was very little movement on offer, allowing the Jes Battler's batsmen to score freely. Fellow opener Marvan Chandrasiri hit a quick 55 off 51 balls while number three Karel creamed a brilliant 87 off 75 deliveries. The pick was the bowling was Justin Elvins who took 1/68. Floors and Bonner were the other two wicket takers as no bowler was spared.
Skipper Lewis Carey had this to say:
"Well, maybe it wasn't the best choice to bowl first, but this was a good learning experience for the boys. And we also managed to keep them below 350, which was something we were aiming for against a batting lineup of this quality. Although the fact we just managed 3 wickets was quite dissapointing, we felt we didn't bowl that badly and maybe on another day with some more luck we may have had 5 or 6 wickets. But now all we can do is try our best in the runchase and hopefully manage to score in excess of 200 and bat the 50 overs."

Join us in a short while as the chase gets underway.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Blind Society skittled for 80!
Stearman shines in 259 run loss!​

The Blind Society were dismissed for a measly 80 runs in their attempt to chase down 340 to win at the Jes Battler's CG. Lee Spector took 3/16 and Desmond Duncan 3/13 as The Blind Society innings lasted just 18.3 overs. Stearman was the only batsman who looked the part, as he scored a brisk unbeaten 38 off 31 with 4 fours and a six. Only two other men managed to find the fence, Kenny Mavuso driving one through cover for four and Aaron Floors clubbing one right out of the ground just before being dismissed.
Earlier in the day,TBS skipper Lewis Carey won the toss and elected to bowl first. Junior Mott took full advantage of the decision to amass 141 runs as Jes Battler's scored a massive 339/3, aided with quick fifties from skipper Chandrasiri and Karel. The captain himself was the most economical bowler, giving away just 56 runs, while Elvins, Floors and Bonner took a wicket each.
When asked about his team's performance, Lewis Carey had this to say:
"We didn't bat too well out there. The boys are capable of so much more, but the bowlers just kept hitting good areas and trouble them throught the innings. But runs were there to be made, as Bernard (Stearman) showed in his fine knock. All one had to do was apply themselves, but unfortunately, we couldn't.
Crushing losses like these are ofcourse, demoralizing, but we should look for positives in this. We have learnt some lessons out there about being more consistent in the field with both bat and ball, and have realised we still have a long way to go before we are able to compete with the bigger teams. We just have to take it one match at a time and set ourselves achievable goals."

Full match details and scorecards can be found here

 

[voldemort]

Match Preview

Friendly: Sneaky Penguins vs The Blind Society @ Frosty Gardens​

There we go. Yet again, the Penguins meet the Blind, this time at our own grounds. Hopefully TBS can't handle the low tempratures. Now that I had time to review my squad, i came up with the following changes:

Out: Lisbie, Swift, Clegg
In: Hiller, Cunningham, Allott

Expected Lineup: Hiller, Davison, Hedley, Fabian, Daley, *Burger, +Pine, Cunningham, Rogan, Roe, Allott

However there is a possible change in decisions and the positions of Rogan and Davison is yet to be confirmed. If Rogan is indeed being replaced, Hodges will take up the spot. Davison is likely to be replaced by Lisbie. There is a hope of beating them, but things wont be taken seriously

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Preview.

Friendly vs. Sneaky Penguins at Frosty Gardens.

Hmm, this shall be interesting. Well, let me start by saying flat-out, we are not the favourites to win this match. Mainly because we've got more going against us coming into this match than we have positives.
The first problem we face, is team fitness. Bonner is tired, and so he is out of this match. This leaves a massive, gaping hole in the team - We now either play with 7 batsmen and 4 bowlers, or 6 batsmen and 5 bowlers. And this is considering we count Brookes as a batsman. And seeing how none of my batsmen can bowl, I have to go in with 6 batsmen and 5 bowlers. This isn't a bad thing, because Bonner's replacement -Sterling Mpho- is actually a better bowler. And since he doesn't bat, I expect him to do better than Bonner did. But this leaves a big gap in our batting lineup. Add to this that the whole team is exhausted from yesterday's playoff, and we aren't looking good.
But there are advantages. For one, Stearman has found a spot where he likes to bat! And if Fabian could score a century, there is no reason Stearman won't be able. And Brookes is no mug with the bat, hopefully he'll be able to shine with the added responsibility. Aaron Floors is an interesting player, in that he can hit the ball really hard. Using him as a pinch hitter will deepen our batting. If he pulls it off, it would be fantastic for the team. But if he fails, then we will have absolutely no one left after Brookes in the lineup who can bat and support the top order. And even though our team my be absolutely knackered, we do have more match practice and form going into this match.
While we do have some big factors against us with a tired team and losing a key player, we can still win this is our team rises up to the occassion. If 9/11 of the players perform, we can win this. But if we let someone like Fabian go on to score a big score or lose our top 3 cheaply, we will lose this. We cannot afford to make mistakes, and if we play good cricket and try hard, we can pull off an upset.

Expected XI: Gomez, Haishen, Holmshaw, Stearman, Mavuso, Floors, +Brookes, *Carey, Cambridge, Elvins, Mpho.
On standby: Bonner, Whittles, +Gooding

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Prediction Contest​

Simply answer the questions relating to today's match below, and the person with the most correct predictions will win! Submissions only accepted before the 40th over of the second innings.


Q1) Which team will win the toss?
A) Sneaky Penguins
B) The Blind Society

Q2) Who will be the leading run scorer?
A) Bernard Stearman (TBS)
B) Masimo Haishen (TBS)
C) Tom Fabian (SP)
D) Marlon Davison (SP)
E) Other

Q3) Who will be the leading wicket taker?
A) Lewis Carey (TBS)
B) Justin Elvins (TBS)
C) Thom Roe (SP)
D) Courtney Rogan (SP)
E) Other

Q4) Who will win the match?
A) The Blind Society
B) Sneaky Penguins

Good luck!

 

[Gilly Fan]

Q1) Sneaky Penguins

Q2) Masimo Haishen

Q3) Courtney Rogan

Q4) Sneaky Penguins

 

[arunj1]

1) Blind Society
2) Tom Fabian
3)Lewis Carey
4)The Blind Society

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Blind Society elect to bat!
Seamer Rogan left out, Hodges in.​

The Blind Society have won the toss and elected to bat first in today's re-match between The Blind Society and the Sneaky Penguins here at the Frosty Gardens. Lewis Carey called correctly once again and sent the Penguins in to field.
"The pitch is flat, looks good for batting, so there should be plenty of runs in it. Our plan is to put up a decent score around 280, then get the Penguins out cheaply."
The Sneaky Penguins have made a suprising last minute change in today's lineup, with fast bowler Courtney Rogan left out. 19 year old Mark Hodges takes his place. The Blind Society too have made a change, leaving out allrounder Stuart Bonner for fast bowler Sterling Mpho.

Follow the match live here.

Lineups:

Sneaky Penguins Hiller, Davison, Hedley, Fabian, +Daley, *Burger, Pine, Cunningham, Hodges, Roe, Allott.

The Blind Society Gomez, Haishen, Holmshaw, Stearman, Mavuso, Floors, +Brookes, *Carey, Cambridge, Elvins, Mpho.

 

[surendar]

Submissions only accepted before the 40th over of the second innings.

I guess you should have made that " 40th over of first innings " here is what i think of the current match,

1)The Blind Society
2) Masimo Haishen
3) Thom Roe
4) The Blind Society

Effine.. i feel you should bat first next time Good luck to both the teams in second innings.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Nope, second innings.

Naufal should be posting up a summary of the first innings pretty soon.

 

[voldemort]

TBS post 256

Haishen saves the day with his 100, Roe claims 5​

Batting first didnt seem to be perfect, as TBS post a total of 256 thanks to Haishen and Stearman. Haishen got out after making his ton. TBS started off slow, but picked the pace in the last 15 overs. Thom Roe, spun his way to claim 5 wickets in his last 5 to prevent TBS from scoring further. Carey is pretty confident that all the bowlers will defend this target of 257. Hopefully, getting Hedley and Fabian out cheaply ought to do the trick. Lets wait and see...

And if you can't see it, then have a look in here

 

[Gilly Fan]

That kinda sucks those rules. Because that means you get the first question easy. And pretty much all the other questions easy. It's unfair. It should be up until the start of the match.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

It isn't meant to be difficult, we really have no prizes to give out which merit tough questions. And the final 10 overs in BT are always suprising, Thom Roe went from 1 wicket to 5. And Haishen was looking to be outscored by Stearman, but he had a blitz in the final ten while Stearman got out.

Penguins stutter to 196 a/o!
Fabian scores 90 in 60 run loss!​

The Blind Society made it two in two as they crushed the halpless Penguins by 60 runs. Set a modest target of 257 to win on a flat pitch, the Penguins lost their top three with only 20 runs on the board. Fabian played a magnificent innings, continuing his love affair of the Blind Society bowling, but failed to get any support as wickets tumbled around him. Eventually, the pressure on him to keep the strike got to him as he got himself runout going for a sucidal single, missing out on a well-deserved century in the process.
Earlier in the day, The Blind Society posted 256 a/o in 48.5 overs, Haishen leading the way with a maiden century. Holmshaw clubbed 43 and Stearman a brilliant 68. At 197/2 entering the final ten overs, a big score was on the cards. But Roe and Davision combined superbly to restrict them to just 256 -the last 5 wickets falling for 14 runs- with Roe managing his first 5 wicket haul. Brookes was left stranded at 25 not out off 18 balls without anyone left to support him.
The Sneaky Penguins' chase got off to a bad start, as they lost Davison in the third over, clean bowled by skipper Carey. Davison had scored a fantastic 80 last time these two teams played, and that was definately a key wicket. Headly got runout the next over, and the Hiller misread Floor's swing as the Penguins slumped to 20/3, with the cream of the batting gone. Fabian launched an assault on the bowlers and continued battling, forming partnerships with skipper Burger (58) and lower-order batsman Cunnigham (55), but it was never going to be enough. The required rate continued to mount and the pressure eventually got to him, securing a fantastic victory for The Blind Society.
"I think the boys did really well." commented captain Lewis Carey after the match. "256 was probably 25-30 runs short of what we would have liked, but it was always defendable. And once Davison got out, we knew we were in with a geniune chance. Floors got the ball to swing around nicely, and deserved his three wickets. And once we had them at 106/6, we knew this game was ours. Haishen played a fabulous innings again, and Stearman was a joy to watch. Mpho bowled well on debut, and I think our fielding overall was top class, as you can see from the two runouts. We didn't come in here as favourites, but we did our best and it came off."
The Man of the Match award went to Haishen, for his 100, the highest score of the innings. The leading wicket taker was Thom Roe with his 5/38.

Full scorecard and details here.

 

[Gilly Fan]

Yeah, but it means that you'll get the toss question easily.