Cricket: PJH One-Day Trophy (RP/results)

[Liventia]

This is a closed RP not open to signups. Please do not post here unless you are Farlandria, Apox, Patistan, Chelta, Wray, Jeckland, Gruenberg, or a moderator on official business, or have prior permission granted by me.

The Liventian One-Day Series returns to NationStates with its third instalment, following the InfoHub Pentangular and Quadrangular Series tournaments won by Liventia and Gruenberg respectively. This time, InfoHub have agreed to stand down from their sponsorship rights for one tournament.

The number of teams has increased to eight. Defending champions Gruenberg have returned, and Chelta, who are the only team other than the hosts to have been in both previous tournaments, and Apox and Wray, participants in the first and second tournaments respectively, join Liventia alongside newcomers Farlandria, Patistan, and Jeckland.

While the Global Cricket Federation does not maintain One-Day International ranks, the Liventian board recognises these games to hold ODI status. Each match will involve innings of no more than 50 overs, and each team will play each other team once (7 MDs).

During the preliminary round, four points will be awarded for a win and two for a tie. Bonus points will be in effect:
• Any team that achieves a run rate of 1.25 times that of the opposition shall be awarded one bonus point. A team's run rate will be calculated by reference to the runs scored in an innings divided by the number of overs faced.
• Any team that loses and achieves a runs scored per wicket lost average higher than the team that wins (e.g., Team A sets 270/5 but loses after Team B chases it down with 274/8) shall be awarded one bonus point.

Preliminary round standings shall be sorted in the following order: Points, number of wins, head-to-head wins, bonus points awarded, net run rate, head-to-head net run rate.

For the first time in Liventian One-Day Trophy history, the Decision Review System will be available for every match. Each team shall have one unsuccessful challenge per innings, except in umpire's call situations where teams shall keep their review if unsuccessful.

As there are no ranks, a very nominal ranking system taking into account teams' existing Test and T20 ranks will be used (for unranked Farlandria, this will be defaulted to be 75% of the lowest ranked side, Patistan). However, most of the tournament will be driven on RP bonus. There is a substantial bonus for RPing consistently well.


The group fixtures will be as follows (all dates subject to change at short notice):
Round 1 (4/12): Jeckland v Gruenberg, Wray v Chelta, Liventia v Patistan, Farlandria v Apox

Round 2 (6/12): Gruenberg v Apox, Patistan v Farlandria, Chelta v Liventia, Jeckland v Wray

Round 3 (8/12): Wray v Gruenberg, Liventia v Jeckland, Farlandria v Chelta, Apox v Patistan

Round 4 (10/12): Gruenberg v Patistan*, Chelta v Apox, Jeckland v Farlandria, Wray v Liventia

Round 5 (12/12): Liventia v Gruenberg*, Farlandria v Wray, Apox v Jeckland, Patistan v Chelta

Round 6 (13/12): Gruenberg v Chelta*, Jeckland v Patistan, Wray v Apox, Liventia v Farlandria

Round 7 (14/12): Farlandria v Gruenberg, Apox v Liventia, Patistan v Wray, Chelta v Jeckland

In the preliminary round, the first match listed will be played at the Bastion in Dover*, a spinning paradise. The second match listed will be at the Folenisa Cricket Ground, with fairly short boundaries but a seamer-friendly pitch. The third match listed will be at the Island Cricket Arena in Schimpol, a which is batsman-friendly but deteriorates with time (win toss, bat first). The fourth match listed will be at Cyclonesville Stadium, which has one very long boundary and the other boundary set to the minimum distance possible (depending on the pitch).

*Matches marked with asterisks will be played at Park Central Oval, Orean, a batting paradise with no turn and little in the pitches for any bowlers.

At the end of the preliminary round, the following will take place:
Round 8 (15/12): Two Plate quarter-finals (bottom four) at the Bastion and Cyclonesville Stadium
Round 9 (16/12): Two Trophy semi-finals (top four) at Park Central Oval (double-header), One-off Shield final (Plate QF losers) at Island Cricket Arena
Round 10 (18/12): Two Plate semi-finals (Trophy SF losers + Plate QF winners) at FCG (double-header), Trophy Final series match 1 at NCE Oval
Round 11 (19/12): One-off Plate final (Plate SF winners) at NCE Oval, One-off Bowl final (Plate SF losers) at Island Cricket Arena, Trophy Final series match 2 at Park Central Oval
Round 12 (20/12): Trophy Final series match 3 at Park Central Oval (will still be played if the series is won after two games).

NCE Oval, City Centre: Balanced between bat and ball. More spinner- than pace- friendly, but only turns late.

[Wray]

State of Play
A man. Sports. Booze.

Looking at Wray over the last few months and years, you'd think that Wray are the most settled side in the world: the batting line up is pretty much rock solid from one to six (albeit with a tiny bit of movement within that), the keeper is steady as a rock and the bowling attack is tight-knit. The team which will walk out to face Chelta in the opening match is the same that contested the final, er, final against Liventia in the GardenBank Tri-Series. Two new names come into the squad, extremley-poshed name Ashton Livingstone-Learmonth comes in to bowl some tweakers and bat and bit, whilst Ben Ramsay, who has an extraordinary action, comes in to bowl some seam-up medium fast.

Batsmen

Chris Laughlin - 29 - RHB - RM - Opening Batsman - Eastern Highlanders
Jackson Colt - 31 - RHB - SLA - Opening Batsman - Northern Eagles
Ed McCaughey - 28 - RHB - OS - Opening batsman - Central Lightning
James Boswell - 21 - RHB - RM - Top order batsman - Northern Eagles
Glenn Mitchell - 27 - RHB - LM - Top order batsman - South-East Sharks
Callum Gatty - 21 - RHB - LS - Top order batsman - Northern Eagles
Jamie Jackson - 23 - LHB - SLA - Middle order batsman - Southern District Pines
Adam Mackie - 20 - LHB - LM - Middle order batsman - Western Tigers

All-rounders

Ashton Livingstone-Learmoth - 25 - RHB - OS - All-rounder - South-East Sharks
Jason Keillher - 29 - RHB - RF - All-rounder/Lower order batsman - Northern Eagles
Ashton Macallister - 26 - RHB - RMF - All rounder/Middle order batsman - Central Lightning
Jonathan Perry - 27 - RHB - OS - All rounder/Lower order batsman - South-Western Leopards

Wicket-keepers

Matt Wallace - 23 - LHB - n/a - Wicket keeper/Middle order batsman - South-East Sharks
Hayden Sleath - 21 - LHB - n/a - Wicket keeper/Middle order batsman - South-Western Leopards

Bowlers

Jackson Storm - 28 - RHB - RF - Opening bowler - Western Tigers
Blake Matthews - 20 - LHB - LF - 1st Change bowler - Central Lightning
Christian Dawson-Lane - 20 - LHB - LMF - Opening bowler - Northern Eagles
Dean George - 23 - RHB - RFM - 1st change bowler - Southern District Pines
Shane Aguando - 23 - RHB - SLC - Front-line spinner - South-Western Leopards
Nathan Gardiner - 24 - RHB - OS - Front-line spinner - Eastern Highlanders
Ben Ramsay - 22 - RHB - RMF - 1st change bowler - Western Tigers

Wray XI to play Chelta, Folensia Cricket Ground

1. CJ Laughlin
2. JW Jackson
3. GPRJ Mitchell*
4. JWO Colt
5. JEN Boswell
6. HJ Sleath†
7. JMA Keillher
8. BRM Matthews
9. JS Storm
10. C Dawson-Lane
11. SG Aguando

Bowling: Storm, Dawson-Lane to open, Matthews & Keillher to share other seam bowling duties. Aguando to bowl 10 overs of spin. Mitchell (off-cutters) and Jackson (leg spin) to split a few overs if need be.

[Gruenberg]

Nation: The Holy Wenaist Sultanate of Gruenberg
TLA: None. Abbreviating "Gruenberg" is sacrilegious
Demonym: Gruenberger
Kit: Gruenberger pyjama kit is dark green with a purple star pattern on the front; helmets are golden

Squad: YAY Zovarifnay (c, RHB), PTS Bant (LHB, LFM), PA Deisler (LHB), BL Enchante (RHB, OB), K Gezzalqin (RHB), XTYV Gguddu (RHB, RM), EP Otterbiscuits (LHB, SLA), ALL Telliflikkiflarknon (LHB, RF), WH Tootash (RHB), PPPPPP Uglaxx (RHB, RFM), KZY Uvaevaluvae (LHB, WK), TQ Warax (RHB, RM), LEA Wuffan (LHB, LM), LCAS Yowoax (LHB, SLA), FFFFFFFF Yumbucket (RHB, RFM)

Expected batting:

1. Pitkin Deisler
2. Eightyseven Otterbiscuits
3. Ruttup Izaizakanorb
4. Benny Enchante
5. Yurkk Zovarifnay
6. Tchokoman Warax
7. Kahunk Uvaevaluvae
8. Azzawozzawoowizzbitz Telliflikkiflarknon
9. Xxuddu Gguddu
10. Lemonzesty Yowoax
11. iiPriyuff Uglaxx

Expected bowling: Gruenberg are playing four front line bowlers who should bowl out, and will rely on Warax, Otterbiscuits and possibly Enchante to make up the remaining overs.

Overview: A massive crackdown on flexion in bowling actions has left Gruenberg's traditional strength, spin, underwhelming: Bizzal Ningveil, MVP when Gruenberg won the World T20 Championship, and Sprantothan Juffwump, ODI and T20 captain, have both been banned pending remedial action. While Ningveil's action had long attracted dark mutterings from opponents, Juffwump's ban was more unexpected and has left the team in something approaching chaos. The squad thus dispatched to Liventia is thus captained by returning stand-in Yurkk Zovarifnay, who has not represented Gruenberg in international cricket for @@fluid_time_handwave@@ years, and is a bowler light, with Lemonzesty Yowoax the sole specialist spinner and no back-up in a batting heavy squad.

Style modifier (if used): Highest possible, this is a strong batting, weak bowling side.

RP permissions: Anything, including changing the team (within reason) if needed.

[Dot Ball]

(NB: Kingsley Hall's reports are with prior permission of Liventia.)


By Kingsley Hall

Good news to report on two home fronts! First, the Dot Ball Cricket Council is inching closer to joining the Global Cricket Federation after years of delay. And second (but first to me), Ava and I are celebrating seven years of wedded bliss.

With the possibility of international cricket on the horizon, I'm being packed off to Liventia for a time to cover the PJH One-Day Trophy tournament, now in its third go but with a new name for this iteration. The two previous champions are world powers Liventia and Gruenberg, and both are sending elevens to the competition. They're joined by past participants Apox, Chelta, and Wray and tournament newcomers Farlandria, Jeckland, and Patistan.

The tournament plays a fifty-over format, not as chaotic as the twenty-over matches favoured here by the DBCC Elite League and most others. But it still allows for complete matches in a single, if long, day. The level of risk-taking is less, because there is less need, but wickets become more important. Sides are only rarely bowled out in twenty overs but it happens a lot more often in fifty.

Yes, my blushing bride is with me on our own chit. And I expect that she's scouting a bit. You see, when I snogged and snagged a lovely third-year off the campus of Dickinson College I interrupted not only a humanities programme but also a promising cricket career. She's accepted the life of an international sport commenter husband with good grace. And if our strict State of Origin rules have kept her out of top-level cricket here in Dot Ball she's not complained. But she's also kept herself in good form. And now that we've been wed seven years she can become a permanent resident here--and play competitive cricket, even for Ultrabrock or a future national side if they'll have her.

And Ultrabrock have already rung her up. (She really was quite good. Is quite good. Better shut up now.)

[Farlandria]

Farlandria Announce Squad For PJH Trophy

The Farlandria Cricket Board has tonight announced the 18 man squad to compete in the upcoming PJH Trophy in Liventia. The tournament is being looked forward to as a vital stepping stone for Farlandrian cricket as it represents the nations first steps into the sports international set up. The squad will be

Batsmen

Nick Sullivan (RHB)
Trevor McEnroe (RBH)
Richie Davies (RBH)
Malcolm Rose (LHB, SLA)
Phil Farnborough (LHB)
Kyle McDonald (RHB)

All-Rounders

Michael White (LHB, LMF)
Dexter Montgomery (RHB, OS)
Luke Briggs (RHB, RM)
Harry Edinburgh (LBH, RM)

Wicket-keepers
Curtis Hutchinson (LHB)
Paul Cooper (RHB)

Bowlers
Alexander Taylor (LHB, RFM)
Jamie Baxter (LHB, RF)
Danny McGregor (RHB, OS)
Shane Watts (RHB, RMF)
Darius Gunn (RHB, RFM)
Tamas Pazlowski (RHB, SLA)

The squad will be captained by left hander Malcolm Rose and coached by 54 year old former right arm quick Denzel Morrison. It's expected that Paul Cooper will be the first choice gloveman, the right hander widely being judged to offer a safer pair of hands than Hutchinson, as well bringing a calmness to late innings batting that can often desert players. However Hutchinson's powerful, occasionally frantic top order hitting may be able to unsettle opposition bowlers and be enough to earn him the nod.

Skipper Rose is naturally a key part of the Farlandrian batting unit, but it's 19 year old Kyle McDonald who may attract the most scrutiny. The youngster has wonderful timing and poise at the crease, and when in form is already one of the most stylish and attractive batsmen in Farlandrian cricket. However, as with any young player, questions will be asked of his temperament and how he handles the experienced and aggressive bowling attacks in this years competition. Farlandria may look to the experience of Farnborough and Sullivan to try and draw some of the heat and pressure away from their talented prospect.

Perhaps the most glaring weakness, on paper, is the shortage of high quality spin bowling in the squad. Pazlowski and McGregor both offer steadiness and reliability, but neither are big turners or have a host of variations. Dexter Montgomery is arguably the biggest spinner of a ball in the squad, but can lack the nous and consistency to be a reliable match winner. The pace battery is more encouraging, with several options and hot competition for places. Michael White's left arm offers an alternative angle of attack, allied with his natural shape back into the right hander. Baxter and Taylor represent the two quickest options; Baxter's skiddy action being able to hurry even well set batsmen and the towering 6'6 Taylor's powerful shoulders accentuating the lift he can get due to his height. Both can get the ball moving above 85 mph and test a batsman's judgement and concentration. Watts and Gunn are a notch down on the speed rankings, but rely on intelligent movement through the air and off the pitch to pick up wickets. Watts in particular is able to extract excessive lateral movement when the conditions suit him and his stock ball, a pitch up in-dipping rarely gives the batsman the opportunity for rest-bite. Gunn is gaining a reputation as a wily, tricky bowler who changes pace and angle on the crease regularly to great affect. Gunn's ability to chip in with a quick fire 20-30 runs with the bat could give him the edge in the selectors mind. Harry Edinburgh is a useful part time seam option, not as reliable as the front line but able to push the ball through on occasion and picking up on batsman under-estimating him as a 5th choice bowler. Luke Briggs is a name often spat out rather than spoken in the circles of Farlandrian cricket, his subtle movement, unexpected changes in pace and seemingly unerring accuracy causing the innocuous looking all rounder to be undoing of at least 40 or 50 batsmen every season.

[Chelta]

Chelta One-Day Trophy squad announced

Chelta returns to Liventia for its regular ODI competition, this year featuring eight sides including veteran competitors Liventia, Gruenberg, Apox and Wray, as well as new participants Farlandria, Patistan and Jeckland.

For what promises to be an action-packed tournament, the CCB selectors have chosen a tight squad, featuring the return of old talent as well as some new.

The Cheltish delegation, as always, is captained by the irrepressible Percy Waight, whose feats with the bat in both Test and limited-overs forms of the game continue to astound.

Gordon Walters and Alan Gilder are expected to reassume their role as opening duo, having carried out the task effectively in the last tournament.

The other representatives of the batting department include the up-and-coming talents of Jamie Macnair and Liam Molloy, who have both an increasingly respectable amount of international experience between them.

Rising batting star and prospective future captain Ernie Sullivan also returns, and is speculated to play a more prominent bowling role due to his increased work on his left-arm orthodox spin recently.

An addition to this year's squad is left-handed batsman Lachlan McGann, the new-found pride of Villanova CC, who is expected make his international debut for Chelta in this competition.

The fearsome pace bowling duo of Stuart Werren and Harry Donoghue return for the Trophy, while Chelta's pace attack is also supported by James Trott and Ben Callinan, as well as bowling all-rounders Rupert Madison and Steve Heseltine.

The spin department is spearheaded by the inimitable Alistair May, whose artful leg breaks have destroyed many a promising innings.

Off-spinner Hugo Murray also joins the squad this year as supplementary spin resources.

Finally, behind the stumps is 37-year old Test vice-captain Donald Goss, around whom speculations of retirement are increasingly prominent.

Chelta's first match is against Wray, always a challenging opponent, at Folensia Cricket Ground.

Chelta PJH One-Day Trophy Squad

Batsmen

Gordon Walters        - 33 - Right-hand Bat - Right-arm Medium
Alan Gilder           - 30 - Right-hand Bat - Right-arm Off Spin 
Percy Waight(c)       - 33 - Right-hand Bat - Left-arm Orthodox
Jamie Macnair         - 25 - Right-hand Bat - Right-arm Medium
Lachlan McGann        - 23 - Left-hand Bat  - Left-arm Medium
Liam Molloy           - 26 - Left-hand Bat  - Off Spin

All-Rounders

Ernie Sullivan        - 25 - Right-hand Bat - Left-arm Orthodox
Rupert Madison        - 24 - Right-hand Bat - Right-arm Fast Medium
Steve Heseltine       - 28 - Right-hand Bat - Right-arm Fast Medium

Wicket-keepers

Donald Goss           - 37 - Right-hand Bat - N/A

Bowlers

Harry Donoghue        - 32 - Left-hand Bat  - Left-arm Fast
James Trott           - 24 - Right-hand Bat - Right-arm Fast    
Stuart Werren         - 30 - Right-hand Bat - Right-arm Fast Medium 
Ben Callinan          - 27 - Right-hand Bat - Right-arm Fast Medium 
Hugo Murray           - 26 - Right-hand Bat - Off Spin 
Alistair May          - 29 - Right-hand Bat - Leg Spin

Chelta XI v Liventia:

1. GM Walters
2. AB Gilder
3. JA Macnair
4. PJM Waight*
5. ERM Sullivan
6. DG Goss†
7. RT Madison
8. HP Donoghue
9. JT Trott
10. AJ May
11. ST Werren

1. Donoghue (opening)
2. Trott (opening)
3. Werren
4. May
5. Madison
6. Sullivan

Donoghue and Werren to bowl at death.

[Liventia]

The Liventian Cricket Board of Authority has risked a fresh row with their Wray Cricket Board counterparts by naming Brendon du Pont in their One-Day Trophy side in a shock inclusion.

Du Pont, 20, was born in Dover, spent the first two years of his life in Neverend, and has parents who both hold Liventian citizenship.

But he has lived in Wray since he was two after his parents returned to the country of his father's birth due to work reasons.

If du Pont does win a Liventian cap, he would be ineligible to play for Wray unless he serves a re-qualifying period, which would have to be negotiated by the two boards.

However, it is unclear whether being capped for Liventia would stop him from playing domestic cricket in Wray as a domestic player, as rules on domestic qualification and overseas players in such tournaments vary from board to board.

Max Finney has relinquished captaincy of the one-day side to focus on his Test match duties, and has informed the CBA he no longer wishes to be considered for wicket-keeping selection in limited overs. He is therefore included solely as an opening batsman. Matthew Geach will take over the captaincy full-time to add to his T20 duties, while Ollie Kerr is promoted to vice-captain.

Garland Goudreau will be the main wicket-keeper, with du Pont in reserve. Michael Sarrin has been dropped back to the Tigers A side. Regular spinner Daniel Quinn has been rested for the upcoming Test season, in which he is expected to play a major part, leaving the bulk of the spinning duties to leg-spinning all-rounder Duncan Lewis.

There is a maiden call-up for left-arm unorthodox (Chinaman) spinner Aled Powys-Evans, the first Liventian of Welsh descent to be included in the squad. He becomes the senior squad's first Chinaman bowler since Torin Walker-Smith, who is still a major part of the Liventian set-up with the Tigers.

Powys-Evans and batsman Dylan Hennessey, who sends down occasional leg-breaks, will be the main spin bowling back-up to Lewis. Finney will also deliver the occasional over of off-spin when required.

The batting line-up has been pared down somewhat, with Walter Ashworth, John Millbank, Michael Westley and Alex Williams all dropped. Paul Jamieson retains his spot, however, and there is a recall for Arthur Cunningham.

As Liventia are hosts, the CBA have decided to name a small 15-man squad, with the ability to call players up at short notice as may be required for injury cover or otherwise.

Head coach: Tim (TJS) Geach
Bowling coach: Anthony (ASC) Rodwell
Batting coach: Dan (RDD) Blackburn
Other coaching staff: Sean (SEA) Deanston, Andrew (AL) Walley

Batsmen
Arthur (AJ) Cunningham, 28, RHB, RM
Max (MA) Finney, 27, RHB, rOS
Dylan (DA) Hennessey, 25, LHB, rLS
Paul (PW) Jamieson, 25, LHB, SLA
James (JCA) Quinn, 24, LHB, LM

Wicket-keepers
Garland (GP) Goudreau, 27, RHB
Brendon (BAR) du Pont, 20, RHB

All-rounders
Thomas (TD) Jonsson, 25, RHB, RMF
Duncan (DM) Lewis, 24, LHB, rLS
Ollie (OH) Kerr, 24, LMF (vice-captain)
Bryan (BC) Sinclair, 25, RHB, RF

Bowlers
Jonathan (JPK) Adams, 22, LHB, LF
Matt (MC) Geach, 26, LHB, RFM (captain)
Aled (AR) Powys-Evans, 21, RHB, SLC
Joe (JTE) Sanderson, 24, LHB, LMF


RP note: If you RP first and create a scorecard for your team, please do one for my team as well.

Liventia squad v Patistan: MA Finney, JCA Quinn, DA Hennessey, AJ Cunningham, OH Kerr, GP Goudreau†, DM Lewis, TD Jonsson, MC Geach*, JPK Adams, AR Powys-Evans; 12th man: PW Jamieson
Bowling: Adams and Geach to open (Geach to bowl out in first 40 overs); Lewis, Powys-Evans, Jonsson, Kerr to split middle overs; Adams and Kerr as death bowlers

[Farlandria]

Farlandrian XI to play Apox 4/12/14

1. NK Sullivan
2. RWE Davies
3. MF Rose (C)
4. K McDonald
5. MH White
6. PO Cooper (WK)
7. LG Briggs
8. DF Gunn
9. DR McGregor
10. JB Baxter
11. TIV Pazlowski

Baxter and Gunn to open the bowling, White first change, McGregor to bowl through before 40 overs, Pazlowski and Briggs to share remaining overs. Gunn and Pazlowski to bowl at the death.

[Apox]

Apox Cricket Roster

The coach: Dan Revie, Aged: 46

Name             Age  M  I No  Runs Average  HS 50/100| Overs   M   Runs Wkts Average Best 5 Wkts
James Hughes      25 14 20  0   892  44.60  384  1/2  |   0     0     0   0
Basher al Menzes  27 21 24  5   779  41.00  127* 4/1  | 198.5  23   835  31    26.94   5-40   1
Jake Walters      31 35 47  8  1553  39.82  211  4/5  |   0     0     0   0
Edgar Orbiton     20  4  5  1   146  36.50   67* 1/0  |   0     0     0   0
Dan Watt          34 33 47  8  1370  35.13  127  7/2  |   0     0     0   0
Pat Brigham       29 20 26  2   578  24.08   68* 4/0  |   0     0     0   0
Kelly Crookshaw   30 28 28  7   488  23.24   66  2/0  |  57     5   269   7    38.43   3-33   0
Giles Greaves     31 13 18  1   391  23.00   75  2/0  |   0     0     0   0
Aram Dhawa        31 37 32 11   149   7.10   15  0/0  | 836.2 163  2844  87    32.69   5-36   3
Lucia Swizzard    25 11 10  2    47   5.88   13  0/0  | 165    34   548  26    21.08   5-87   1
Sam Vernon        28 27 18  5    65   5.00    9  0/0  | 517    90  1855  88    21.08   7-28   6
Tkachuk Nomad     22  1  1  0     4   4.00    0  0/0  |   4     0    31   1    31.00   1-31   0
Claire Slater     27  0  0  0     0   0.00    0  0/0  |   0     0     0   0
Alex Crawthoot    26  0  0  0     0   0.00    0  0/0  |   0     0     0   0
Quentrim Gray     21  0  0  0     0   0.00    0  0/0  |   0     0     0   0
Fran Kane         24  0  0  0     0   0.00    0  0/0  |   0     0     0   0 
Anyi Metrophanes  20  0  0  0     0   0.00    0  0/0  |   0     0     0   0

Batting Order
1. Pat Brigham
2. James Hughes
3. Dan Watt (WK)
4. Jake Walters (c)
5. Bashar al Menzes
6. Edgar Orbiton
7. Kelly Crookshaw
8. Anyi Metrophanes
9. Alex Crawthoot
10. Aram Dhawa
11. Sam Vernon

Bowling Order
1. Sam Vernon
2. Anyi Metrophanes
3. Alex Crawthoot
4. Aram Dhawa
5. Bashar al Menzes
6. Kelly Crookshaw

[Patistan]

Patistan National Cricket Team
The Green Leafs

The Team

Pos    Name               Position       Bats         Bowling Style
1  Danish Dar             Batsman        Right       Right-Arm Fast 
2  Surgar Singhana        Batsman        left        Left-Arm Fast
3  Rashid Danish          Batsman        Right       Right-Arm Medium Fast
4  Fahad Dargir           Batsman,WK     Right        N/A
5  Jamil Khanzada         Batsman,       Right       Left-Arm Orthodox
6  Gutar Fahad          All-rounder      Right       Right-Arm Fast
7  Perry Tahir            Bowler         left        Right-arm Orthodox
8  Rangola Dashir       All-rounder      Left        Left-arm Orthodox
9  Rashid Hafeez          Bowler         Right       Right-Arm Fast
10 Shaheer Arain          Bowler         Right       Right-Arm Medium Fast
11 Hemal Lagos            Bowler         Right       Right-Arm Fast
12 Awais Zia              Batsman        Left        Left-Arm Orthodox
13 Valli Ahmed            Bowler         Right       Right-Arm Fast
14 Junaid Rasool          Batsman        Right       Right-Arm Spin
15 Akhtar Zera            Bowler         Left        Left-Arm Orthodox

() <---Represents age
Team information:
Captain - Jamil Khanzada (28)
Star Batter - Rashid Danish (23)
Most Wickets - Rangola Dashir (27)


The Patistan cricket board continued to keep the same team which participated in the latest World T20 Championship. The only additions to the team are hopefuls Awais Zia, Valli Ahmed, Junaid Rasool, Akhtar Zera. The players performed very well for there teams in the now defunct Patistan Premier League.

The PCB were very happy with the result of the World T20 Championship which saw the Patistani team going out on run rate in the group stages. The PCB now hopes that the national team can maintain there good form.

The now ex-captain Fahad Dargir resigned from captaincy due to pressure...the PCB selected Jamil Khanzada as the new captain. Jamil stated to newspapers as being "over the moon" by being selected captain.

The PCB also hopes that this tournament might actually send a Patistani cricketer abroad to play in a foreign league. Patistan's first match is against cricket giants Liventia. Even though a loss is expected the Patistani cricket team feels that it can make the match interesting

This tournament shall also help teams in the new reformed Patistani premier league to select national players for there clubs. PCB head Farooq Nujum expects alot from the players despite them being the most un-experienced side and the lowest ranked of them all.

[Liventia]

Matchday One

Jeckland 210 (48.5 overs)
Gruenberg 211/9 (43 overs)
Gruenberg won by one wicket

Wray 290 (44.3 overs)
Chelta 294/5 (41 overs)
Chelta won by five wickets

Liventia 257/9 (50 overs)
Patistan 204/5 (50 overs)
Liventia won by 53 runs; Liventia bonus point for run rate; Patistan bonus point for runs per wicket

Farlandria 191/8 (46.4 overs)
Apox 190/3 (50 overs)
Farlandria won by two wickets; Apox bonus point for runs per wicket

PJH One-Day Trophy     Pld   W  T  L  Pts 
1 Liventia               1   1  0  0    5
2 Chelta                 1   1  0  0    4
  Farlandria             1   1  0  0    4
  Gruenberg              1   1  0  0    4
5 Apox                   1   0  0  1    1
  Patistan               1   0  0  1    1
7 Jeckland               1   0  0  1    0
  Wray                   1   0  0  1    0

[Wray]

Bollocks, just missed the cut-off. Will post about Liventia's selection of BAR Du Pont tomorrow.

(Article originally written in CricketWeek magazine)

Storm in a teacup

Cricketweek's Matt Lowe meets Wray's rocket-man, Jackson Storm, at his home club.

It's a strange sight to see the 6ft 2 inch frame of Jackson Storm coming in to bowl off a four step run-up. It's even stranger to see him bowling off-breaks. The ball he bowls has plenty of air, drops onto the turf wicket and turns sharply; the small figure at the other end of the net flicks it off his hips. Storm takes back the ball and walks slowly back to his mark. This goes on for about 40 minutes.

I came to Vorder Park Cricket Club expecting to see Storm either tearing in on the main strip or having a beer in the bar, but apparently Jackson spends more time bowling spin in the nets to Junior Grade cricketers and generally helping out. This small club sits on the banks of the Saturn River in Nelson's Bay leafy residential district of Northwood. It is one of 32 clubs in Nelson's Bay, and the second to produce a test cricketer (Gipot CC being the other, with Ashton Macallister), and they compete in the Nelson's Bay Gold League, the level below the Cities and Regions League. The club has produced many C&R players, and a handful of Territory pros, but none more so than Storm.

Storm met me after his net session with the club's U16, something which he strives to do as much of when he's not away training or playing with the national side. He wears his club shirt and Wray national team tracksuit bottoms - this shows just how much he treasures this club.

"I started playing at this club when I was 7 or 8" He tells me over a beer, the past glinting in his eyes "but I wasn't very good. I played here because I couldn't really play anything else - I was hopeless at football and rugby scared me. I played tennis alright, but I didn't like it so much. My older brother Nate [who played for West Bay CC in the C&R League] played for the club so I naturally tagged along. I started bowling in the nets and just progressed from there."

We continue to talk as we cross the club's verdant pitch to the 4 slightly battered nets which sit in one corner. Two of them are occupied by U16 players. One of them calls out to Jackson, like a friend: "Hey, Jack, how're the off breaks coming?" He laughs and replies: "They're coming, mate, they're coming".

"Unlike most cricketers, I didn't change what I wanted to do. I was a pretty restless kid, so I always wanted to run around and bowl fast. So from day one I just picked up the cherry and tore in as fast as I could. At first I was pretty bad, but I was fast. All the other 10 years old were terrified of me!"

"I tore up school cricket. I bowled 15mph quicker than anyone else in my age group, at least in the city. I hear Blake Matthews could 70mph when he was 15. I broke my High School's bowling figure record by taking a rather obscene 7-9 in a Cup match. So naturally I advanced onto club level - first the Under 17s until I turned 16, then onto open level. Club level was a shock, but a welcome shock. I got carted around in my first game, and for the first time ever, I had to stop and think 'I've got to change my game to get this guy out'. I couldn't just bowl fast any more."

"Initially I was known as the young tear-away, but slowly I managed to hone my craft. My lines and lengths gradually came into line and I became better. Open level cricket was an eye-opener for me. At that time, 12 or so years ago, this club was the best in the city, and there was a quality line up, with more than one Territory pro playing (in fact, there were two: Max Kitchener, who played 25 List-A games for Southern Districts, and Christian van der Venloe, who played 16 First-Class games for Central Districts.). I suppose I didn't get the taste of proper tough cricket because our batsmen either piled on the runs and allowed us to bowl the opposition, or could chase down any total regardless of how well we bowled as a unit."

We go into the club house and Storm shows me the picture of the 2002 Season winning team. A 17 year old Storm sits with a smirk on his face next to the captain, and, in line with tradition, holds the ball which won them the title.

"In fact, we won the season two games early because results went our way, so there wasn't a wicket or run which 'won' us the title, so to speak. And we had our photo just before a rain-storm rolled in, so I just got chucked a ball. I think it came from some kid's kitbag."

"Over the next few years, our power waned somewhat - we won the title the year after that, but only after an exhilarating final match which finished in practical darkness. We needed 11 off the last over to win the title, but we wrapped it up with three balls thanks to a four and a six. I'm pretty glad, I was coming in to bat next! But afterwards, our main core of batsmen moved on and all of a sudden I was the 'experienced' player at just 20, 21 years of age."

"I played one more season with the club, but in reality it was more like half a season because I got my Territory contract after taking 6-25 in a League Game. I remember the Territory selector Robbie James saying to our captain "You've got a real talent in that kid." So one day after playing in Nelson's Bay, I travelled 400 miles upcountry to be 12th man for the Southern Districts team against Central Districts."

"My territory debut was pretty rubbish, in all honesty. We were playing on the flattest track imaginable in Gosforth and Western Districts just batted and batted. I took an early wicket, Chris Jennings caught at second slip by Willem Chapman. It was a rank shot ball but he just swished at it. But after that Simon Sterne came in and made 247*. I bowled 30 something overs and got a return of 1-107. Not bad, I suppose, for a first crack, but bloody tiring and pretty unrewarding."

"My real breakthrough game was in the 2004 season, it was my real breakthrough season. The game was against Northern Provinces at the TM Parker Bayside Stadium. Our main fast bowler, Eric Russel, was out, so the skipper, the great Mitch Riley, tossed me the new ball and just said 'have at it'. It was the best I'd ever bowled - regularly clocking in a 90mph and swinging it both ways. I wrecked the NP top-order, and finished with figures of 6-32, my First-Class best. I took three more in the second innings, and to top it off, I scored 35* off 20-odd balls as we won by an innings."

"That was probably the moment when I was set on becoming an international cricketer. I'd finished my education, somehow, and had been offered a place at the Van Aalen University in Albion to study Economics with a cricket scholarship on the side, but I called up the University after that and said "I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to decline that place". I never really thought of anything else after that."

After that match, Storm never looked back. He soon rose to be the number fast bowler in the country, finishing the 2009 season with a record 73 wickets at 21. His batting begin to solidify as well a List-A 76 against Eastern Provinces was followed up by a maiden First-Class 50 against the same opposition. His no-holds-barred attitude towards batting always leads to fireworks, as many of performances attest.

"I don't have much technique, let's put it that way. I like to go after spinners, charge down the track and biff them over long on or long off. I used to be impatient - I'd always go hard and go early, but that usually resulted in me getting out, so I had to reign myself in. With the Wray Development Squad I worked a lot on my batting, the coaches always believe in having a long batting order. I've learned to watch spinners rather than just charge them - I think my highest percentage of dismissal is stumping (It's actually caught in the outfield with 32.2%, but stumping is a close second with 28.66%). I've also worked on my batting against pace; as there's nothing a quick bowler likes more than getting rid of a quick bowler. I often bat in the nets with Glenn Mitchell, he's probably the batsman I idolise and try to follow the most.

After dominating the domestic game for the best part of five years, a 26 year old Jackson Storm walked out at the ACG in front of just under 80,000 people to contest Wray's first ever test match, against Uitbregen. His first test wicket was that of Uitbregen all-rounder Johan Smithe, edging to slip. The roar of delight showed you everything you needed to know. He added the wicket of keeper Steven Clausen, Even Pelser and Kruger den Lettar to his account to take four in his debut innings.

"Obviously the Debut Test was a special moment for all of us, and the 4 wickets I picked up where some of the best I've taken, but my personal favourite bowling innings was taking 6-50 and skittling out Liventia for 100 in front of their home crowd. The opening over was the best I've ever bowled, hands down: an inswinger, an outswinger, a bouncer, a straight one then boom; [Liventian Captain Max] Finney's wicket out of the ground. I just kept running in and pounding the pitch, and the Liventians had no answer. It was six glorious wickets. I gestured with the ball to the Liventian crowd, and got a pretty hostile reception. But I love that, I love that people don't like me."

The statement is quite odd as we return to the nets so Jackson can bowl some more offbreaks to U16 players - he says he spends two or three hours down here each day when he can. It's obvious the the kids adore him - it's rare to see someone put so much effort into raising the next generation of cricketers, especially one who has so much on his plate already.

"Look, yeah, I'm busy a lot, and I can't really spend time down here. But when I can, I love to help out. And the kids love it that I come, they like having their role model around. I play for Western Provinces now, but Nikki [His wife] and I have a flat on the Shore [Bluebell Shore, an upmarket seaside district of Nelson's Bay], so whenever I have the chance, I like to get down here."

Storm does not finish up until the last child has gone home. After that, under specially made floodlights, he cranks up the pace to some of the club players, just to keep them in shape. The team's young new star, 18 year old Aaren Carnn, of Native Descent, is much like Storm: he relished the challenge of facing players above his station. First ball Storm pings in a sharp bouncer, Carnn drops his shoulders and lets it fly through. Second ball he is comprehensively bowled - Storm, after all, is bowling full pace. Third ball he cuts and misses by several inches; he is visibly angry with himself as Storm returns to his mark. Fourth ball he takes two steps up the track and wallops the ball back towards Storm, who ducks as it careers past him. Before setting off to retrieve he turns, and shares a smile with the kid.

[Gruenberg]

Article posted on the GruenCric website.

Gruenberg navigate tense opener

The pre-tournament reviews of the PJH One Day Trophy have focussed on Gruenberg's perceived lack of spin depth, with captain Sprantothan Juffwump and star left armer Bizzal Ningveil both banned pending remedial work, and Spanglepants Croffnuppet out of favour with one day selectors after a mediocre domestic season, but Lemonzesty Yowoax did his best to allay those fears. Making use of a sharply turning crumbler at Dover, his career best 4-37 skittled Jeckland for a below par 210 all out, setting up an exciting run chase in which Tchokoman Warax played his most responsible innings to date, finishing unbeaten on 99 at the non-striker's end as iiPriyuff Uglaxx hit the winning run through midwicket in a last wicket partnership of 17 that had fingernails down to bloody stumps.

The first representative of the nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnGut hill people to represent Gruenberg in international cricket, Yowoax is seen as a more conventional left arm spinner than the current vogue of flexy mystery bowlers, and as such has survived the scrutiny on actions in the wake of the GCF's decision to start clamping down on "chucking". Gruenberg, a nation long associated with such bowlers, has been particularly hard hit, but has agreed to cooperate with authorities and will be sending a half dozen bowlers to the National Testing Centre in Moroschwegen for biometric analysis and public floggings.

Yowoax's elbow did not need vary from the straight and narrow today, though, as his guile and spin proved difficult for the Jeckland batsmen to handle, their number 6 batsman top scoring with 48 in an innings that never got going. Forsaking his frontline seamers stand-in captain Yurkk Zovarifnay, who led Gruenberg to World T20 glory behind a "20 overs of spin" strategy, here employed almost 32, including full allotments from Yowoax, Eightyseven Otterbiscuits (2-34) and Benny Enchante (2-42), with even Pitkin Deisler pitching in for a couple off a 2 yard run-up. The Jeckish batsmen could not handle the turning pitch and their innings stuttered to a falter.

But it proved no easier to bat on for Gruenberg. As the wearing surface crumbled extravagant early movement saw Jeckland's opening seamer rip through the Gruenberg top order with a spell of 4-32 before Warax and Enchante were able to cobble together a partnership, the latter looking extremely unfit and out of form, failing to middle a ball or get beyond a slow jog. A second collapse to the Jeckish death bowlers saw a certain victory slip almost out of reach. But Warax's unconventional batting - he hit 7 sixes and had over 50 dot balls in an innings of 99 off 107 - proved the just tonic, hitting the Jeckish spinners out of the attack before they could settle. Though denied a maiden ODI century, he was justified in calling Uglaxx through for a scampered run to win.

Elsewhere hosts Liventia scampered to an early lead by claiming a bonus point in their win over Patistan. Gruenberg's next match is against Wray and they are expected to play the same team despite the failure of the top order.

[Farlandria]

Farlandria win historic debut!

Apox - 190/3 (50.0 overs)

Farlandria - 191/8 (46.4 overs)

K. McDonald - 76
M. White 27
R. Davies 26

Farlandria edged themselves through to a nervy run chase today in their first ever one day international, sneaking over the line with a 2 wicket over Apox in the lowest scoring tie of the round. Despite the touch-and-go nature of the victory, the jubilation was clear for all to see the faces of the Farlandrian squad as they celebrated on the balcony - although some may have mistaken it for relief on the faces of skipper Malky Rose and coach Denzel Morrison.

While the minutiae of this match will likely be forgotten in the weeks, months and years going forward, it was in truth an odd and stuttering performance from both teams, a game decided by stand out individuals that raised more questions than it answered. Pundits who are less prone to overly sentimental appraisals of the rookies were left unsure of what to make of them, having noted the lack of penetration from the bowling attack and at times seemingly clueless and aimless batting from the middle order, but also recognising the water tight, committed fielding and watchful, stylish play from youngster Kyle McDonald.

Captain Malcolm Rose lost the toss and grimly watched as the Apox captain gleefully chose to bat. Many pundits predicted was badly missing from Farlandrian ranks pre-tournament and Apox were clearly looking to capitalise on this and make best use of the facilities early on before the pitch worsened.

However the breakthrough came early, with Jamie Baxter picking up Farlandria's first ever international wicket with the forth ball of third over in classical fashion. Having been cut away for four at the start of the over, Baxter then upped his speed, a full ball was closely watched past the off stump, the next was arrowed in directly at the top of off stump, uncertainly prodded to point for a dot ball, then a vicious yorker speared into the base of middle and leg crashed through the defenses of Apox opener Pat Brigham to knock back leg stump.

With their tails up, there was a buzz around the ground hoping for a flurry of early wickets. This buzz however, subsided as Gunn and Baxter failed to make any further inroads without conceding runs at a particularly alarming rate. After six overs each, they were replaced by Michael White and off spinner Danny McGregor. McGregor failed to find the much talked about spin, but quickly settled into a steady rhythm, changing his pace intelligently and making clever use of his close fielders. White's left arm seam bowling was also accurate from the beginning, utilising his natural shape and angle to regularly test the batsmen awareness of their off stump.

White was taken off after five overs, replaced by right arm medium pacer Luke Briggs. McGregor continued from the pavilion end, whirling away and silently studying the reaction of the batsman after every ball. It's improper for a spin bowler to try and have a verbal spare with batsmen, such hooliganism should be reserved for wicketkeepers and fast bowlers, but McGregor instead employed a vicious death stare, flowing through his action into the same statuesque pose ball after ball, hand on stubled chin as he inspected the batsmans technique and eagerness to attempt run, muttering away to himself and making mental notes of any perceived chinks in the opposition armor.

While McGregor bowled with accuracy, intelligence and composure, he was backed up superbly by his fielders through out and it was a combination of these factors that eventually told and brought the fall of the second wicket. In McGregor's 8th over, Apox wicketkeeper Dan Watt clearly grew weary of pushing and poking outside off stump, being unsure where to get forward and drive or stay back and defend, as he got down on one knee and thrashed across the line. The power with which he struck the ball suggested it was a tactic that should have been deployed much earlier, indeed no Apox batsmen hit a sweeter shot all day. The white orb was picked up wide of off stump and was sent screaming towards mid wicket for what looked all the world to be a certain flat six. However, upshot the right hand of 27 year old opening batsman Richie Davies to grab the ball out of thin air! The ferocity of the shot and the effort to get to the ball took 5'8 Davies backwards clear off his feet, before pulling his arm back into his body and bracing for impact with the ground. It was a truly brilliant bit of fielding, an early contender for catch of the tournament in the mind of this journalist. I must however dock points from Davies for the wince and cautious flexing of his fingers as he got up to celebrate with his teammates.

As an aside, it seems wise to mention that, for the individual errors in Farlandria's batting and lack of aggression with the ball, they did field absolutely wonderfully, backing up every throw, buzzing into position between overs and swooping on every loose ball as if their lives depended on it. It's commonly acknowledged that even the least skillful batsman or bowler can improve his worth to a team dramatically with committed, whole hearted work in the field and replicated throughout the team across the whole of the tournament, such excellent work could prove to make the rookies a tough nut to crack and they may spring several more upsets.

McGregor bowled the last of his overs and finished with figures of 10-0-31-1, splendid work indeed.

It was then the return of James Baxter, who bowled his last 4 overs with a relative lack of control, given what had just gone before him. However he was still tidy enough without ever threatening to add to his early wicket, and he finished up with 10-0-43-1. Briggs was also pulled off at this juncture, wrapping up his stint of forgettable right arm medium pace with 8-0-35-0. White replace Briggs to bowl two more overs of left arm seam up and Pazlowski took the place of Baxter to deploy his slow left arm. White's overs passed without further incident and he was taken off after the 42nd over with figures of 7-0-26-0.

From then on it was left to Pazlowski and the returning Darius Gunn to see out the end of what had been a gripping, tactical and superficially unremarkable innings. The final wicket of the innings came in the 47th over, bowled by Tamas Pazlowski. Having battled against the batsmans attempts to break lose and spark the run rate, Pazlowski switched to bowling around the wicket to James Hughes, pushing a quicker ball down the leg side. Hughes rushed forward and pushed across himself and getting a thick leading edge and presenting an easy catch back to the bowler, which was gratefully received.

Pazlowski and Gunn then saw out the final few overs, with Gunn bowling an expert final six balls to restrict the Apox to 190/3.

Final bowling figures

Baxter - 10-0-43-1
Gunn - 10-0-38-0
White - 7-0-26-0
McGregor - 10-0-31-1
Briggs - 8-0-35-0
Pazlowski - 5-0-17-1

Farlandria's reply was headed up by Nick Sullivan and newly discovered fielding superstar Richie Davies. They faced up to Sam Vernon and Anyi Metrophanes. The two opening batsman started brightly, rattling along to 38/0 from the first eight overs. The pair looked to be making short work of the small total, and were particularly quick between the wickets, picking up singles at will. The rapid start allowed the opening duo to settle into a relaxed mood, but this proved to be the undoing of Sullivan, who lost his wicket on 15 trying to rock back and casually flick a short pitched delivery off his hip. However this laid back attitude led to a top edge which sent the ball spiraling up into the sky for a regulation catch by Dan Watt. 38/1.

Malcolm Rose then walked out to bat, looking to keep the rate up and help eat into the required total. The captain displayed an early eagerness to make runs, plunging forward early and searching out any potential quick single. This eagerness soon seemed to drift into nervousness, as Rose played and missed at several around his off stump and nicked one into the turf, through the slip cordon for four. Rose's jitters were only worsened when the otherwise settled Richie Davies was comprehensively cleaned up, playing all around a straight delivery and leaving for 26. 45/2.

No sooner had young prodigy Kyle McDonald walked out to bat than his captain was leaving the field, dropping his head across to the off side and falling across his stumps as the ball clattered into his pad. 45/3.

Michael White then joined McDonald, both on 0 and faced with spin from both ends. McDonald looked scratchy and slightly alarmed at the rapid loss of his top order, but set about getting his eye in. Clearly the youngster was targeting to bat through the innings and started slowly. Getting his feet moving with increasing confidence and assurance, getting his head in position early, almost sniffing out an chance to get forward and drive. White too lacked a natural fluidity to his batting, but decided fortune would favor the brave, trying to counter the tight lines and lengths with paddle sweeps behind square leg and charging the bowlers at every chance. Indeed, White did seem to have the gods on his side as he stuck around, not seeing the boundaries flow as he'd like but turning the score over and picking up useful runs. White's unorthodox approach kept the batsmen changing ends regularly and didn't allow the bowlers to pin down McDonald, who by now was Farlandria's main hope of a victory.

Eventually White came unstuck, his shuffle across for the ramp over short fine leg was telegraphed and the ball fizzed in full, through his legs and into the base of middle stump. White waltzed off, seemingly pleased with his entertaining contribution of 27. He left McDonald, by now driving with confidence through all sectors of the V and starting to open up his shots square of the wicket, on 33*. 105/4 after 27.2 overs.

Paul Cooper strode out to bat. There was something of an air of confidence about this run chase now, support McDonald and knock the runs off in plenty of time. At least that was the plan. Cooper calmly batted out the rest of the over.

"McDonald on strike for the 28th over. The ball is wide and full, he guides it through the gap at extra cover and sets off for an easy two, Cooper responding to the call. Cooper dips to turn for the second run, his foot slips through the crease and he's skidding to the floor. McDonald has set off for the run and he's almost half way down and he hasn't seen Cooper. McDonald pauses, trying to turn back to the bowlers end. The throw comes in, McDonald hopelessly short of his ground! Cooper hasn't looked up, stuttering down the pitch to complete his run! The throw misses! Cooper looks and realises he needs to dive to the strikers end! The throws backed up by Orbiton, Cooper slips again! Orbiton casually throws down the stumps at the strikers end, Cooper desperately lying face down a good 3 yards short of the crease. McDonald is on his knees at the bowlers end. It's utter chaos, what on earth was going on there! Cooper run out in ludicrous fashion for a duck, the first duck in Farlandria's history, oh my, what an awful wicket that was, Apox have struck gold here"

A passage of play that will be looked back on as one of the most bizarre moments in Farlandrian cricket, no doubt. 106/5, 28.1 overs. How would McDonald respond? Could the tail hold it together and get over the line?

The immediate response was not good, Luke Briggs looking to push behind point off the back foot, hanging the bat well away from the stumps with no conviction and getting a huge inside edge, ball dropping onto the stumps. 106/6, two ducks in two balls.

Now it turned to McDonald. His partner, Darius Gunn was no rabbit and had showed a level head bowling at the death earlier.

The rebuild began slowly. McDonald looked rattled but tried to apply himself again, starting from the beginning. Plenty of overs left and a manageable amount of runs, McDonald and Gunn slowly chopped down the total. Gunn showed excellent restraint, hardly offering a shot to balls away from the stumps and punishing anything on a poor length, almost test match style batting.

McDonald soon began to open his locker and move through the gears. With his trademark off drive and an intelligent working the ball into gaps, he quickly moved to 45*. Gunn moved up to 21. 142/6.

Gunn was then caught behind, a delivery moving off the pitch away from him proving too good and finding the outside edge. Gone for 24, 145/7.

Danny McGregor survived the over.

Kyle McDonald reached a historic landmark for Farlandria, the first ever half century in international cricket, leaping forward onto an over pitched delivery and brutally scything it through cover, four all the way. 149/7. 34 overs.

With that boundary it was like a switch had been flicked. McDonald suddenly leaped into top gear. Gone was the scholarly watching the ball of the pitch, replaced with boldly striding down and swishing the ball over mid on and mid wicket. Short delivers were viewed the with contempt and aggression, usually seen in vipers before they lash forward for the kill. Similarly, McDonald hung back before unleashing venomous cut and pull shots on short bowling, cutting the attack to ribbons.

In a slow, low scoring match, the run rate suddenly rocketed as Farlandria moved to 179 from 40 overs. McDonald on 72, McGregor on 5 plus a few sloppy wides.

Tragically for all in attendance, McDonald was not able to see his team over the line. He had just one more stroke left , equally balanced between the brutal power and delicate grace that had marked the second half of his innings, to carry himself up to 76 and his team to 183/7. Then, he backed away to the leg side and aimed a cover drive, the power and timing were still there but on this occasion the placement was lacking, McDonald chipping the ball out for a simple catch. 183/8

McDonald was gone, and it was left to McGregor and Jamie Baxter to steer Farlandria home, which they did with relatively little fuss or drama. All in all, a fascinating, tactical chess like match, with some stand out positives to carry forward. Bowling was tight and professional, fielding was brave and whole hearted and Kyle McDonald signaled himself as a genuine world class prospect, ably supported by a few cameos. All other questions can be put on hold, Farlandria have stepped out against an experienced, talented international side and proved they can more than handle themselves, even in a tough spot.

[Chelta]

MD1: Chelta v Wray
Wray 290 (44.3 overs)
Chelta 294/5 (41 overs)
Chelta won by five wickets

Wray batting
Batsman           Out          Bowler        Runs  Balls
CJ Laughlin       c †Goss      b Werren        83     79
JW Jackson                     b Donoghue      36     32
GPRJ Mitchell     c †Goss      b Donoghue       4      5     
JWO Colt          c Walters    b May           16     16
JEN Boswell       not out                      96     87 
HJ Sleath†        lbw          b Trott         18     17
JMA Keillher      lbw          b Madison       12     16                        
BRM Matthews      c Waight     b Werren        12     16
JS Storm                       b Werren         0      1
C Dawson-Lane     run out (Sullivan)            3      6
SG Aguando                     b Donoghue       1      2                     
EXTRAS: 9 (1b, 3lb, 2wd, 3nb)
TOTAL: 290 (44.3)

Fall of wickets: 1/67 (Jackson 10.2), 2/79 (Mitchell 12.1), 3/113 (Colt 17.2), 4/165 (Laughlin 25.2), 
5/201 (Sleath 30.5), 6/234 (Keillher 35.5), 7/268 (Matthews 40.5), 8/268 (Storm 41.0), 9/285 (Dawson-Lane 43.4), 
10/290 (Aguando 44.3)

Chelta batting
Batsman           Out          Bowler        Runs  Balls
GM Walters        c Mitchell   b Storm         51     36
AB Gilder                      b Matthews      56     56
JA Macnair        c †Sleath    b Matthews      47     44     
PJM Waight                     b Keillher      12      9
ERM Sullivan      not out                      69     58 
DG Goss†          lbw          b Aguando       32     27
RT Madison        not out                      15     16                    
EXTRAS: 8 (2b, 2lb, 2wd, 2nb)
TOTAL: 294 (41.0)

Fall of wickets: 1/87 (Walters 12.1), 2/134 (Gilder 18.4), 3/157 (Waight 21.5), 4/190 (Macnair 26.3), 
5/255 (Goss 35.3)

[Wray]

WCB threaten walk-out over Du Pont

~CARTERSBURG, CD.

The Wray Cricket Board has issued a statement to the Liventian Cricket Board of Authority in regards to the Liventia selection of young wicket-keeper Brendon du Pont, who has lived for 18 years of his life in Wray and holds Wray citizenship. Du Pont was born in Liventia to a Liventian mother and a Wrayian father, but he moved to Wray when he was just two years old.

The statement reads as follows*:

WCB Statement, 5th December 2014

The Wray Cricket Board has hereby issued an ultimatum to the Liventian Cricket Board of Authority: If BAR du Pont should be selected by Liventia in any of the forthcoming matches that Liventia plays in the PJH One Day Trophy currently ongoing, then Wray will refuse to take the field when the two teams meet in the competition. That game is scheduled for the 4th Round, currently allocated to the 10th of December. The WCB notes that should du Pont be selected by Liventia, then he will lose his eligibility to play Top Grade Domestic cricket in Wray as a home-registered player - this will add complications for both him, the team he plays for and could jeopardise his playing in any Top Grade competition whatsoever. Should Liventia decide to go ahead in the process of selecting du Pont, then the WCB might consider further sanctions down the road, including the withholding of television money and touring rights.

The WCB emphasises that a boycott of the Liventia fixture is a last resort, and hopes it does not come to this; but we are prepared to take the measures required to keep a very talented player from being poached by a rival board.

*I'm not very good at writing official sounding documents

[Liventia]

CBA dismisses Wray threats as 'bluster'
SCHIMPOL— The National Cricketer understands that the continuing row over Liventia wicketkeeper Brendon du Pont is set to rage on, after a high-ranking source inside the Cricketing Board of Authority dismissed threats by the Wray Cricket Board as "bluster".

The 20-year-old Liventian-born Wray-based wicketkeeper has been the source of a brewing feud between the two boards for two years now after du Pont burst onto the regional cricket scene in Wray.

Ties between the number one and number three Test-ranked boards have never been poorer, despite a continued willingness of both boards to tour the other.

The matter first came to the fore when Liventia hosted Wray in a Test series during the last Test season, with Wray losing a first-class practice game and threats of financial sanctions before both boards agreed to put the matter to one side.

Liventia then toured Wray for the GardenBank Tri-Series, before Wray returned to Liventia for the sixth World Twenty20 Championship. Du Pont was called up to the Liventian squad as injury cover mid-way through the World T20, but did not make an appearance.

The WCB have threatened to boycott the game between the two sides in the ongoing PJH Trophy – scheduled for the fourth round of fixtures – should du Pont be capped by Liventia before then.

A statement issued by the WCB also threatens to withhold television money and touring rights – although what either board has to gain from two of the top three teams in the world refusing to tour each other is unclear, as it is likely that Gruenberg aside, Liventia and Wray bring the most money into world cricket.

Liventia's board is the more established of the two and it would seem unlikely that they will give in easily to the WCB, as they are more financially stable and the threat of the loss of television money in Wray is unlikely to worry them.

The board insider said: "We only have one television deal to show Liventia's Test matches in Wray, and while that is worth a fair amount of money, it is not a primary revenue stream and ultimately should the Wray board withhold the money we are contractually obliged to, we would be happy to make it a legal matter.

"A ban on tours between the two countries would do neither team any good, and would impact negatively on Wray's ranking as the lower-ranked side as they would not be able to claim points against the top ranked team in the world. It's not so much a worry for Liventia, except in terms of the ticket revenue and merchandising we would expect from a tour of a top-five side.

"We've told the coaching staff that they should be free to pick their starting squads as they see fit and not be cowed by any outside influences. If Brendon du Pont is picked, we'll cross the bridge with the Wray board when the time comes."

(OOC: Scorination today will be delayed as I'll be at work till late. Expect scorination roughly 0130 UTC on 7/12)

[Farlandria]

Farlandria XI to play Patistan

1. N Sullivan
2. R. Davies
3. M Rose (C)
4. K. McDonald
5. M. White
6. P. Cooper (WK)
7. H. Edinburgh
8. D. Gunn
9. D. McGregor
10. A Taylor
11. S. Watts

[Liventia]

Matchday Two

Gruenberg 276/7 (50 overs)
Apox 294/8 (50 overs)
Apox won by 18 runs; Gruenberg bonus point for runs per wicket

Patistan 259/5 (47.5 overs)
Farlandria 258 (48.5 overs)
Patistan won by five wickets

Chelta 268/8 (47.5 overs)
Liventia 266 (47.4 overs)
Chelta won by two wickets

Jeckland 267 (40.1 overs)
Wray 335/9 (50 overs)
Wray won by 68 runs

PJH One-Day Trophy     Pld   W  T  L  Pts 
1 Chelta                 2   2  0  0    8
2 Liventia               2   1  0  1    5
  Apox                   2   1  0  1    5
4 Patistan               2   1  0  1    5
  Gruenberg              2   1  0  1    5
6 Farlandria             2   1  0  1    4
  Wray                   2   1  0  1    4
8 Jeckland               2   0  0  2    0

[Gruenberg]

Article posted on the GruenCric website.

Death bowling fails again

Despite playing on another spinning surface seemingly designed for their spin proclivities, Gruenberg lost their second round match in the PJH Trophy, with the team's lack of penetrating, economical, or at least barely competent death bowling once more under severe scrutiny. A traditional weakness since the decline the "Sultan of Swing" Dervin Yeg, the failure of the current crop of fast bowlers to replicate the traditional Gruenberger art of reverse swing has been increasing cause for concern. Apox ended 18 run winners behind the efforts of allrounder Kelly Crookshaw (72*, 2-32).

Here, after spinners Lemonzesty Yowoax (2-45), Eightyseven Otterbiscuits (1-51) and Benny Enchante (0-3) had choked up the Apox middle order to leave them staring a below par total in the face at 153-6, the death bowlers then allowed a 115 run partnership between Crookshaw and Anyi Metrophanes (53) plundered at better than a run a ball to ramp up an imposing total of 294-8 on a testing wicket. It was much more than the team could have hoped to chase down, especially with Enchante so visibly struggling for form and fitness; whether entering the sunset of his career or simply suffering a blip, the former star has never looked less goat-enabled.

Ruttup Izaizakanorb's first substantial ODI score flattered to deceive: in truth his 62 from 86 was a painful affair replete with edges, half-chances, and desperate running, before eventually charging down to Bashar al Menzes and being smartly stumped by Dan Watt. Pitkin Deisler's 52 from 54 was a prettier affair but less than was needed from the now veteran opener, and with another middle order wobble, that left too much for Tchokoman Warax, whose good form continued with 60 off 51, but was not enough to take the team home. Kahunk Uvaevaluvae's indifferent 33 off 46, which did not feature a single boundary, did little to blunt critics who claim he is not a good enough batsman to be the ODI wicket-keeper.

With Xxuddu Gguddu's star fading after his disastrous 0-43 off 5 overs and Azzawozzawoowizzbitz Telliflikkiflarknon again expensive with 0-62 from 8, changes are now likely ahead of Gruenberg's next match. Fortunately they have ample seam bowling in reserve, and will turn to the experienced o'Po'o'To'o'So Bant and exciting Gelzien talent iiFobo Yumbucket; but, with iiPriyuff Uglaxx remaining most effective in the opening overs, they will have to hope they can find someone capable of bowling at the death before another ODI campaign withers on goat-vine.

Team for next match(es):

1. Otterbiscuits
2. Deisler
3. Izaizakanorb
4. Enchante
5. Zovarifnay*
6. Warax
7. Uvaevaluvae+
8. Bant
9. Yowoax
10. Uglaxx
11. Yumbucket

[Chelta]

MD2: Chelta v Liventia
Chelta 268/8 (47.5 overs)
Liventia 266 (47.4 overs)
Chelta won by two wickets

Chelta batting
Batsman           Out          Bowler        Runs  Balls
GM Walters        c †Goudreau  b Geach        106    102
AB Gilder         c Finney     b Adams         32     33
JA Macnair                     b Lewis         11     19     
PJM Waight        run out (Quinn)              74     87
ERM Sullivan      lbw          b Kerr          11     15 
DG Goss†          c Lewis      b Kerr           5      3
RT Madison                     b Kerr           6      6      
HP Donoghue                    b Kerr           0      3   
JT Trott          not out                      14     15  
AJ May            not out                       1      4         
EXTRAS: 8 (2b, 2lb, 2wd, 2nb)
TOTAL: 268/8 (47.5)

Fall of wickets: 1/82 (Gilder 11.0), 2/111 (Macnair 17.2), 3/188 (Walters 34.0), 4/214 (Sullivan 39.0), 
5/222 (Goss 40.1), 6/234 (Madison 42.2), 7/234 (Donoghue 42.5), 8/260 (Waight 46.2)

Liventia batting
Batsman           Out          Bowler        Runs  Balls
MA Finney         c †Goss      b Donoghue      26     27
JCA Quinn                      b Donoghue      12     13
DA Hennessey      c Waight     b Werren        32     37     
AJ Cunningham     lbw          b Werren         4      5
OH Kerr           not out                     110    107 
GP Goudreau†                   b Trott         57     63
DM Lewis          lbw          b Trott          0      2                        
TD Jonsson        c †Goss      b Donoghue      11     18
MC Geach                       b Werren         6      9
JPK Adams         c Sullivan   b Donoghue       0      3
AR Powys-Evans    c †Goss      b Werren         0      2                     
EXTRAS: 8 (1b, 3lb, 2wd, 2nb)
TOTAL: 266 (47.4)

Fall of wickets: 1/25 (Quinn 4.3), 2/49 (Finney 8.5), 3/49 (Cunningham 10.4), 4/92 (Hennessey 16.3), 
5/208 (Goudreau 37.2), 6/208 (Lewis 37.4), 7/238 (Jonsson 43.0), 8/253 (Geach 45.4), 9/263 (Adams 46.5), 
10/266 (Powys-Evans 47.4)

---

Chelta XI v Farlandria: Unchanged

[Liventia]

Concerns raised over One-Day Trophy scheduling

FOLENISA— Questions are being asked after it was pointed out today that Gruenberg are due to play all their preliminary matches in the PJH One-Day Trophy at the Bastion in Dover.

Gruenberg are the only team who will play all their games at the same stadium, while all seven remaining teams have their games rotated around the four grounds in use for the group stage.

While the Gruenbergers are traditionally a nation with strength in spin bowling, suited to the crumbly pitches Dover produces, they have been hampered by bowling suspensions meted out to Bizzal Ningveil and Sprantothan Juffwump.

Liventia coach Tim Geach was asked during the press conference after his side's loss against Chelta whether he felt this had been done intentionally to aid the world's number two Test side.

"No, I don't think anyone could say that with confidence. Why would the CBA want to aid a competitor, one of our biggest rivals and the ones who beat us in the final last time?

"I'm sure it's just the way the fixtures have been scheduled, the way the cards have fallen, but as it stands they have nothing to gain as they're missing two of their more important spinners.

"We just have to be on our game when we go to Dover, but for now our focus is on Jeckland at the FCG."

Liventian team to face Jeckland: Unchanged


(OOC: Scorination delayed till lunch in this Aus–Ind Test…)

[Liventia]

Matchday Three

Wray 208 (47.5 overs)
Gruenberg 264/7 (50 overs)
Gruenberg won by 56 runs

Liventia 300/6 (50 overs)
Jeckland 268 (47.1 overs)
Liventia won by 32 runs

Farlandria 229/3 (50 overs)
Chelta 232/3 (46 overs)
Chelta won by seven wickets

Apox 322/9 (49 overs)
Patistan 320/9 (50 overs)
Apox won by one wicket

PJH One-Day Trophy     Pld   W  T  L  Pts 
1 Chelta                 3   3  0  0   12
2 Apox                   3   2  0  1    9
3 Gruenberg              3   2  0  1    9
  Liventia               3   2  0  1    9
5 Patistan               3   1  0  2    5
6 Farlandria             3   1  0  2    4
  Wray                   3   1  0  2    4
8 Jeckland               3   0  0  3    0

[Gruenberg]

Article posted on the GruenCric website.

Enchante leads Gruenberg to victory, applies for tax domicile status

Benny Enchante made a partial sign of recovery from his abysmal early season form with an innings that slowly built from another edgy, pokey affair of timid half-shots to a rattling crescendo of astonishing acceleration as he and Tchokoman Warax belied a spiteful Dover pitch to post 264-7 for Gruenberg. The total was far beyond the reach of Wray once Lemonzesty Yowoax got bowling, tearing through their middle order with a maiden "Michikan"*. Blake Matthews swished merrily, hitting ten boundaries in his 88, to avoid total humiliation, but the eventual margin of victory of 56 runs arguably flattered Wray as Gruenberg grow increasingly comfortable with their Dover setting.

Enchante's entered at 88-2, Eightyseven Otterbiscuits and Ruttup Izaizakanorb having built a steady start before Otterbiscuits inexplicably swiped and missed at part time spinner Jamie Jackson. Izaizakanorb went on to make 64, an improvement by 2 of his previous innings, and yet again did not completely convince. At the other end Enchante was practically catatonic, going from 2 off 20, 17 off 54, and 44 off 89 to bring up a 94 ball half century, a tame return from a man known for scoring run-a-ball double hundreds in Test cricket. But the innings was not cover. Once they had seen off the final overs of Shane Aguando, who finished with 1-54 but should have had two other wickets, denied by umpiring errors, he and Warax exploded.

Ransacking 80 off the last 5 overs, and 34 off the last 2, the two took a modest total to a formidable one. Enchante finished unbeaten on 81 from 114, while Warax whipped 30 off 26 to continue his good form before being trapped by a Christian Dawson-Lane yorker. Kahunk Uvaevaluvae and o'Po'o'To'o'So Bant both sacrificed their wickets to run-outs getting the horribly unfit Enchante back on strike, but with 14 coming in the final over they were worthwhile, and later celebrated with the sacrificing of two ceremonial chickens.

Facing a chase of 265 on a rank turner, Wray had to try to exploit Gruenberg's new-look seam attack before the spinners got on, but instead suffered a dreary start. iiPriyuff Uglaxx bent his back in a superb opening spell of 4 consecutive maidens, and after labouring scoreless for 20 deliveries Chris Laughlin nicked his 21st from iiFobo Yumbucket straight into Enchante's lap at second slip. Glenn Mitchell's punchy 33 was soon in vain as Yowoax entered the fray and, spinning the ball viciously, ripped out the heart of the Wray middle order, including bowling a rare triple wicket maiden to account for Jackson Colt, Hayden Sleath (who Lemonzesty had the temerity to mock for having a "silly name" in a send-off that will see him docked part of his match fee by the referee), and perennial Gruenberg thorn Jason Keillher for a duck.

Otterbiscuits chimed in with 2-32 to quell concerns about his place after a prolonged run slump, and of course Enchante himself could not be denied, finishing the innings off with the crucial wicket of Matthews, the only Wray batsman to show much authority. Though the number 8 played well for his 88 off 96, it was never going to be enough to chase down the total and the innings ended drizzling to a close. Enchante, with 81^, 3 good catches and 1-15, was named man of the match ahead of Yowoax (10-1-29-5) and Matthews (88, 7-0-43-0).

After the match, Enchante announced that he intended to apply for tax domicile status in Dover. Though the joke was likely a reference to the unusual situation of Gruenberg playing all their group stage games in the city while all other teams in the tournament move around, it has also been interpreted as veiled criticism of the new top tax rate, to which he is personally subject, as Gruenberg embarks on a process of rearmament that has been variously labelled as "aggressive", "expensive, and "completely insane". Enchante has always avoided political controversy in the past despite his close relationship with the High Sultana, but continued criticism of tax policy would be sharply embarrassing for the Court given his ascendant popularity routinely outstrips that of the High Sultana or the Grand Vizier in public polls.

* In Gruenberg five-fors are commonly nicknamed Michikans after Michikan Pfeiffer, the notoriously terrible Gruenberger actress who is nonetheless hot as balls.

[Liventia]

LIVENTIAN CRICKETING BOARD OF AUTHORITY
PJH ONE-DAY TROPHY OFFICIAL RELEASE

Following concerns raised in the media over the scheduling of preliminary round matches involving Gruenberg, the CBA can confirm that following discussions with groundstaff and management at the Bastion Dover Cricket Ground and the Park Central Oval in Orean, three Gruenberg matches will be shifted from Dover to Orean as follows:

Round 4, Gruenberg v Patistan
Round 5, Liventia v Gruenberg
Round 6, Gruenberg v Chelta.

The Round 7 game between Farlandria and Gruenberg will remain in Dover as the groundscrew in Orean require some time to prepare the pitches for the elimination rounds.

Tickets for the original games scheduled at the Bastion will be honoured for the rescheduled games in Dover, while further tickets will go on sale because of the Park Central Oval's larger ground capacity.

A full refund is also available to any ticket holder affected by the change in venue.