GCF ODI World Trophy III [RP/Roster/Results]

[Ko-oren]

Cricket - Season 15

Regions' Trophy (4-day cricket) Preview

Greencaster: Alois Lyness (25) - L med/L Opener, Desmond Crawford (28) - R fast/R Opener, Silas Hazelflower (24) - R med/R Batsman, Mike Mothdrow (23) - L med/L Batsman, William Duskcliffe (22) - R med/R Batsman, Lucius Letchford (27) - L orth/L Batsman, Gilbert Wheelwright (35) - R med/R Wicketkeeper, Augustus Smith (26) - R fast/R Pace Bowler, Mitchell Enright (24) - R leg/R Spin Bowler, Lewis Tilcott (27) - L unorth/L Spin Bowler, Solomon Chesterman (31) - R off/R Spin Bowler

Greencaster are a powerful team, much like the previous few years. There's danger around every corner: from Lyness opening, to Hazelflower and Mothdrow as recently emerging batsmen, the expertise of veteran C/WK Wheelwright, and the services of Enright and Tilcott. There's a small reliance on spin bowling, which will do them good at home, in the West, and in the Mawr, but will be less helpful in the north or east. There's no real all-rounder in this squad and the inclusion of Letchford feels like a weakness - as the obvious question is 'can four bowlers carry this team'? Or even 'can a single pacer carry this team?' and while there's talent on the bench that will come into the rotation later, it still feels precarious. That said, with the individual talent of the aforementioned six, it's hard to see Greencaster finish not in the top 2. There's a decent balance between left and right - certainly better than other First Class teams.

Leeshire: Denis Treloar (26) - L orth/L Opener, Grover Treadway (33) - R med/R Opener, Genorak Dherengun (22) - L fast/L Batsman, Everett White (34) - R med/R Batsman, Arnold Douglas (25) - R off/R All-rounder, Francis Barklas (19) - L orth/L All-rounder, Peyton Keating (33) - R med/R Wicketkeeper, William Thrall (27) - R fast/R Pace Bowler, Enoch Teakton (24) - R fast/R Pace Bowler, Martin Etherington (37) - R leg/R Spin Bowler, Newton Courtenay (33) - R fast/R Pace Bowler

Leeshire are a team in transition, with the older Treadway, White, Keating, Etherington, and Courtenay, as well as the very young Dherengun and Barklas. The long term question is whether they still have the talent needed to finish top 3 in, say, five years from now, but the short-term results should be good. The top and middle order rivals that of a 'best of the other five regions' XI, but the bowling feels a little light short of Courtenay. Barklas still has a lot to prove, but the time for learning is now. In a few short years, this region will be his to carry, presumably. The pacy bowling attack is well supported by Barklas and Douglas, which prevents a lot of potential damage with the questionable Thrall, Teakton, and Etherington.

Willowbourne: Lander Chiplinn (20) - L med/L Opener, Ezekiel Stevenson (37) - R leg/R Opener, Martine (f) Raafden (22) - R off/R Batsman, Isaac Quelch (24) - R fast/R Batsman, Douglas Trevorrow (28) - R leg/R All-rounder, Jacob Lafaille (25) - R fast/R Batsman, Piraunzol Maunostinthen (25) - R fast/R All-rounder, Azhek Parentendahndhen (23) - L med/L Wicketkeeper, Aglovale Gerrenhale (20) - R fast/R Pace Bowler, Rutherford Lincoln (34) - R leg/R Spin Bowler, Twyford Merton (20) - R fast/R Pace Bowler

A good team with talent at every position - just not a world class-level player in the XI. Outside of Lincoln, the young team has a lot to learn and a long First Class season will do just that. Raafden is such a joy to watch, the way she developed from, well, not even a minor region in Intermare, to an instinctive batswoman. Let that be a lesson: more and more regions find out that to stay ahead, they have to scout in the non-cricket regions of Ko-oren. There's more talent there than you think. Willowbourne, the most northeastern of the regions, has learned that early, also finding Lafaille and Parentendahndhen from Cote Austral and the KCT, respectively. The pressure is not on the team yet, but the idea is that they'll rival the unattainable Greencaster before long. Maunostinthen and Merton could be the early weak spots, making them a little stronger batting than bowling.

East Surbourneshire: Stanley Langhorne (32) - R med/R Opener, Ezekiel Lyveworth (19) - R med/R Opener, Oswald Stillingfleet (22) - L orth/L Batsman, Patrick Willis (31) - R med/R Batsman, Aaron Maitland (23) - L fast/L All-rounder, Masheck Scargate (22) - L orth/L Wicketkeeper, Lucius Becksmith (20) - L fast/L All-rounder, Elijah Lever (28) - R fast/R Pace Bowler, Norman Chapman (27) - R leg/R Spin Bowler, Lachlan Harvey (34) - R fast/R Pace Bowler, Zacharias Fox (31) - L fast/L Pace Bowler

Long has East SRB been plagued by diminishing player numbers, but that trend is reversing. No longer is East SRB a region people move away from. There's a bit more money now, and the talent immediately comes back to them. It's still a team that's in drastic need of some positions, but Lyveworth and Maitland are a good start. Harvey and Fox have carried the team together with Langhorne for so long - will they get a reward for that at some point? There's also a strange amount of lefties, and remember that East SRB is a batting heaven - they can do all the unconvential things to find an edge.

Mawryshire: Ffanyrhog yGefftarion (25) - L fast/L Opener, Distawd yMiflen (21) - R leg/R Opener, Conor yAraidd (25) - L orth/L Batsman, Llowcan yRheighewn (34) - R med/R Batsman, Afton yBymadoc (23) - R med/R Batsman, Chognam yBewlchawd (24) - R leg/R Wicketkeeper, Cwin yRwceinaig (18) - L med/L All-rounder, Nia (f) yEdenw (24) - R fast/R Pace Bowler, Borllog yLellmedd (27) - R off/R Spin Bowler, Lesomhof yPipaem (23) - L fast/L Pace Bowler, Caprws ySarthylhar (30) - L orth/L Spin Bowler

A team in disarray, Mawryshire have the unique conditions to make it difficult for any visiting region, but they fail to capitalise. Another buildup of another new young core, leaving yRheighewn and ySarthylhar in place, should be the next golden age for the region. ySarthylhar's inclusion is somewhat controversial, and to an extent so is yPipaem's, but their skill set and handedness are needed to leave the team with as many options as possible. They'd ideally get one more spinner in (probably at the expense of yPipaem) but that's how dire they view their situation right now - with more players coming into the rotation as the season goes on, of course. yBewlchawd is exactly at the age to take over national WK duties when Wheelwright and Meredith finally retire, yRwceinaig is one of several under 20 all-rounders to reinvigorate the role in the national team as well (we used to work with a lot of all-rounders, until we suddenly entered an era of specialists). yLellmedd is the cornerstone, representing his region in several formats for the national team.

West Surbourneshire: Reginald Twaddle (28) - R fast/R Opener, James Rutfirth (19) - R off/R Opener, Helmer Barbary (28) - R med/R Batsman, Dallas Welsh (34) - R med/R Batsman, Levi Pardey (27) - R fast/R Batsman, Theophilus Armfellow (20) - R med/R Batsman, Bennie Connell (26) - R fast/R All-rounder, Horace Crasbeck (21) - R med/R Wicketkeeper, Herschel Marsden (36) - R fast/R Pace Bowler, Alva (f) Belwick (21) - R leg/R Spin Bowler, Walter Dencherry (23) - R fast/R Pace Bowler

"Herschel Marsden deserves better," is the cricket old-timer's standard saying, and that's unlikely to change. Potentially the best player to ever play for Ko-oren, and a fantastic captain to boot, has always represented a light West SRB side. And that's a team that also has Twaddle - they're just a little light elsewhere. Dencherry and Armfellow are also on the cusp of something great - and what we've been yelling about West SRB, goes again: next year is their year. Not helping them (maybe) is selecting three full time bowlers and using Connell more or less full time, with all other batsmen chipping in.

[Krytenia]

A Mawryshire Masterclass
Angus Haggerston reports from Penstead

It may be too soon to say that the dark days are over for the Stars, but it's looking more likely that the light at the end of the tunnel is indeed the sun rather than an approaching train. The early defeats in the group stage seem a mile away as Krytenia stamped their credentials for the tournament in emphatic fashion with both bat and ball against a Milchama side that simply found themselves outplayed by a better side.

Hayden March won the toss, and with the sea breeze and overhanging clouds promising some movement with the ball, elected to put their opponents into bat first. What seemed like a sound decision, however, didn't quite play out that way. Howard Tatton, looking to make up for his comical dismissal against Delaclava, was in fine fettle, stroking the ball merrily around the pitch and creating headaches for the Milchama opening bowlers. At the other end, Andrew Taylor also purred along nicely as the opening pair looked to build a solid foundation.

A change of plans was clearly needed for Milchama, and March duly obliged by going for spin and swing. Davy Carpenter found some reverse swing to staunch the bleeding somewhat, but it was Kesem Prentice's signature brand of leg spin that made the breakthrough. Taylor looked to thump Prentice for six, but mistimed the shot, and when the ball impacted with his pads, the East Mercia batter knew he was gone and walked immediately.

This brought in the always dangerous Ed Fenn. He and Tatton quickly set about laying waste to the opposition bowling. Prentice's first ball to Fenn was crashed through the covers for four, and it set the tone for the next few overs. Tatton, too, was still in fine fettle, a beautiful pull shot off Carpenter bringing up a deserved fifty; unfortunately, that was to be it for the opener, as he holed one to Mahbet in the gully a couple of balls later. There was a little bit of frustration from Tatton at the way things ended, but it was an innings that reminded everyone of his abilities with the bat.

Besides, there's quality a long way down in the Krytenian batting line-up. Milchama's bowlers were given little time to pause as Damon Stenson set about carrying on where Tatton left off. The newcomer has slotted into the team well, and whacking a Carpenter delivery straight back over his head and into the crowd early in his innings only helped to consolidate that fact. He and Fenn ticked the scoreboard over nicely, with both looking to follow Tatton in gaining a half century.

Neither man would manage it. Fenn delivered a thick edge to captain March on forty-four, whilst Stenson was unlucky to be beaten by a top-drawer delivery from Lieb Levrovich one short of his fifty. The off-spinner had a bad day in the office in terms of conceding runs, but collecting both of those important wickets would have undoubtedly sweetened the medicine somewhat.

For Krytenia, this was less of a crisis and more of a "next man up". Diego Aquino has been in fine form at this tournament, and Wes Kosta has been no slouch either. Any hope of respite for Milchama was quickly scotched, as the Stars batters continued the relentless onslaught with the bat. Admittedly, Aquino had a let-off on just seven when Daniel Ross couldn't quite get his hands round an outside edge from the Avidian, but that scare aside, it was plain sailing up until the point where he lost the team their fifth wicket. Aquino made the call for a run off a short hit, but Greg Cochran was alive to the situation, collecting the ball and immediately shying it at the striker's end stumps. Wes Kosta dived for the crease, and the third umpire was required, but when the replays revealed that the wicketkeeper was short of his ground, Kosta had no choice but to walk. Aquino, to his credit, immediately offered an apology to his fallen comrade.

Lynton Saxon came in for what would end up being a cameo appearance, offering a few nice shots before offering a dolly to Jerome Carney, whilst Udall proved a useful foil to the swashbuckling Aquino as he became the second Krytenia of the day to notch up the half-ton. As with Tatton, though, Aquino failed to make it further, flashing one into the waiting hands of Tanya Pehrson at backward point. It was left to Udall and Mason Bond to keep things simple and close out the Krytenian innings, setting a tricky total of 321 for their opponents to try and reach.

Having guided the conclusion of the Krytenian innings, Gavin Udall and Mason Bond set upon doing their best to disrupt Milchama's. Daniel Ross and Greg Cochran struggled to develop a rhythm as the Krytenian quickies delivered tight bowling and clever variation, and it came as no surprise when the first wicket fell. Ross tried to attack a shorter ball from Bond, only for the ball to clip his clove and carry through to a grateful Wes Kosta. Udall, meanwhile, got in on the action the following over, clean bowling Cochran with a 96mph missile.

The onus then fell upon the captain and Jerome Carney to steady the ship, and in this they succeeded. Runs came, albeit not at the rate they would have liked during the opening powerplay, but as the pair gained in confidence, that rate began to creep up, especially when the Stars switched to Odell Lovatovic and Brigham Hill bowling at the Milchamans. Slowly, but surely, the innings was dragged back on track as both batters passed thirty. March would be denied a half century, though, by a sneaky flipper from Hill, and Carney, too, wouldn't last much longer, unfortunate to succumb to a full-stretch diving catch from Andrew Taylor.

With the teeth of the batting line-up back in the pavilion, Milchama's struggles began to become apparent, and Krytenia moved in for the kill. Davy Carpenter managed a pedestrian seventeen before edging to the keeper, whilst Yash Komar similarly waded through treacle before Lovatovic swung one through the gate. Lieb Levrovich was the last real threat to the innings, and when he failed to deal with a Udall yorker, the game was over as a contest. There was still time for Udall to take a third wicket, drawing a thin edge from Kesem Prentice to Kosta, and for Bond to rearrange Efes Mahbet's stumps, but Tanya Pehrson and Bonnie Woods at least saved Milchama the indignity of losing all ten of their wickets in what ended up as a ninety-two run defeat to the Stars.

Combined with the day's other results, most notably Kimi-Suomi's eyebrow-raising win over Kriegersien, it leaves Group A delicately poised. The top five are all on six points, with the Stars sitting pretty in second spot. The only side ahead of them is the aformentioned Kimi-Suomi, who Krytenia face next. Victory would all but secure Krytenia's place in the second round; here's to hoping their opponents end up a little less "bwoah" and a little more "perkele".

KRYTENIA v DELACLAVA (ODIWT3, GSMD5)
@ Ocean Crest Oval, Penstead, Ko-oren

MILCHAMA won the toss and elected to field

KRYTENIA innings, 320/7 (50)

HM Tatton      c Mahbet b Carpenter       52
ARD Taylor     lbw b Prentice             32
EL Fenn        c March b Levrovich        44
DN Stenson     lbw b Levrovich            49
DAR Aquino     c Pehrson b Woods          51
WS Kosta       run out (Cochran)          28
LR Saxon       c Carney b Woods           19
GM Udall       not out                    26
MFP Bond       not out                     8
OP Lovatovic    
BY Hill         
Extras         2nb, 4w, 3b, 2lb           11

BOWLER          OV  RN  WK  ECON
T Pehrson       10  58   0  5.80
B Woods         10  55   2  5.50
D Carpenter     10  66   1  6.60
K Prentice      10  69   1  6.90
L Levrovich     10  72   2  7.20



MILCHAMA innings, 228/9 (50)

D Ross         c Kosta b Bond             15
G Cochran      b Udall                    18
H March        lbw b Hill                 46
J Carney       c Taylor b Lovatovic       41
D Carpenter    c Kosta b Saxon            17
Y Komar        b Lovatovic                27
L Levrovich    lbw b Udall                20
E Mahbet       b Bond                     14
K Prentice     c Kosta b Udall             2
T Pehrson      not out                    10
B Woods        not out                     8
Extras         2nb, 3w, 3b, 2lb           10

BOWLER          OV  RN  WK  ECON
GM Udall        10  46   3  4.60
MFP Bond        10  33   2  3.30
LR Saxon        10  43   1  4.30
OP Lovatovic    10  48   2  4.80
BY Hill         10  58   1  5.80


KRYTENIA won by 92 runs

[TJUN-ia]

Gruenberg 180/5 (35 overs)
TJUN-ia 179/6 (50 overs)
Gruenberg win by 5 wickets

Yeah. Things aren't really going well right now, both in Essidise and Goolsea. The Bowlin' Jags of TJUN-ia had lost handily to #2 The Sarian in a way that was expected and Virat Indushapa knew that in that contest, there was practically nothing they could do. The Sarian are a very good team and their game was just too good to handle in this regard. They were #2 for a reason and that game showed that while we have improved as an overall team, we still have a long way to go in terms of our development.

This game against #5 Gruenberg would not turn out better either. They won the toss and elected to bowl first on this pitch from hell, sending us into bat first. As you would expect, that didn't go well at all as the opposing bowling attack just used the spin to their advantage and crushed us whole. Rohit Rajpore managed our best figures of 47 but the story here would be poor Logan McGarra, who ended up hurt and would have to leave the field for a little while to recover from the pain...which helped produce the pain for the team overall. This inning just wasn't fun. At all. 179/6, Quouodan Skejjibox on 3-43, and our life became pain. They went to bat and what did you expect? Chthchibvuel Thchthaarheq ended up on 75* and despite the best efforts of Esteban Soto on 3-44, 179 was always going to be a tough total to defend and with that, Gruenberg reached the target in 35 overs for an easy 5-wicket win.

Two top 5 nations, two convincing defeats - not good at all. Can unranked 1-3-1 Samrif be our savior? Who knows, but one thing is for certain - right now, Kimi-Suomi leads their group and TJUN-ia is in 4th. Who saw that one coming? GO BOWLIN' JAGS!

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SCHEDULE (Group D, Brookstation)
MD1: vs Godchouzetsu (UR) - Goolsea Riverside Ground, Goolsea W by 2 Wickets (1st)
MD2: vs Sarzonia (UR) - Spike Spiegel Stadium, Essidise W by 1 Wicket (1st)
MD3: vs StrayaRoos (UR) - Goolsea Riverside Ground, Goolsea W by 3 Wickets (1st)
MD4: vs The Sarian (2) - Spike Spiegel Stadium, Essidise L by 137 runs (2nd)
MD5: vs Gruenberg (5) - Goolsea Riverside Ground, Goolsea L by 5 wickets (4th)
MD6: vs Samrif (UR) - Spike Spiegel Stadium, Essidise
MD7: vs Lisander (19) - Goolsea Riverside Ground, Goolsea

[Kimi-Suomi]

Hei, ja tervetuloa Kriketti-ajatuksia! This is the show where we try to highlight cricket in Kimi-Suomi to a nation that may not be exactly familiar with the sport, while also highlighting how our Karhut does in GCF competitions. Last time out, the fellow debutant known as Goram managed to take us down by 28 runs in a result that certainly felt sobering to many in the sport. Lorcán Ua Tuathail knew that this team would have teething problems when he took his job but he also pointed out that complaining about losing is a good problem to have for a debuting team. And with that in mind, it's time for lesson #5.

THE ART OF BATTING/LYÖNTÖTAIDE
Of course, the only way you are going to earn those magical runs is through the bat and while it may sound simple enough, there are certainly a few things many batsmen and batswomen have to consider when going out onto the field with the wood. Here are a few of them:
Nicking The Ball/Nikkiminen Pallo - As a batter, any contact your bat makes with the ball matters, even the most minute of touches. If your bat even grazes the ball and it ends up being caught without bouncing, your done without a second thought.
Defending The Wicket/Wicketin Puolustaminen - The second most important job you have out there, other than scoring runs, is defending your wicket from being used against you. One false could mean either you get bowled straight through, where the bails are taken out with the pitch, or you get LBWed (as previously mentioned in lesson 3).
Run Scoring/Suorita Pisteytys (0,1,2,3) - With every ball you take, a decision will have to be made on whether or not to try and score a run or two. The batter on strike has to communicate with their fellow batter on how many runs they go for and when to stop - else either of you leaves the wickets exposed and gets run out.
Run Scoring/Suorita Pisteytys (Boundaries/Rajoja) - As previously mentioned in lesson 4, the main aim for the batter is to score as many runs as possible and reaching the boundary is a surefire way of building up the score. A standard boundary, where the ball bounces at least once before reaching the rope, scores 4 runs while a Maximum, where the ball goes over the rope without bouncing, gets you the highest score possible (without no balls) of 6.

As you can see, batting is certainly a lot more complicated than it can initially seem and all batters have to take them into account with every ball they face. That would certainly be seen in this game against Kriegiersien, the "Agents of Chaos" who apparently always love to produce something no matter the sport or the context. They won the toss and elected to bat first, sending out Colonel Samanthal von Schneider and Major Evelyn Pennywise to bat for a team filled with...wicket-keepers? How does that work? Well...actually, not that bad. The pitch here at Bwdellafon Parc in Mawrystwyth was certainly more suited to the bowlers and that certainly played into how we played here. Major Jane Palin managed the best score of 51 but that was certainly a highlight in these bowler-dominated 37 overs. Lasse Pöysti managed a brilliant and surprisingly symmetrical 4-44 and with that, the aim was simple...223ao, 224 to win.

And so, out came Albert Aaltonen and Wäinö Tykkä to try and chase things down and they would also have to deal with the bowling paradise known as Mawrystwyth. This one would be very close indeed as the pace we set in chasing ended up being eerily similar to that of our opponents before. Jukka Paarma managed 54 before being knocked off and the bowling threat continued as Captain Paulina Posh managed 3-34 and this was certainly looking tight as all hell. By the 36 over, we were 218/9 - 6 runs short, but with only 1 wicket left to defend. Åke Lindman and Saima Eskola were the last two standing and they would certainly put up a brilliant stand as the last ones out there, Lindman finding a single and Eskola a maximum to end this tight affair. The target was 223. We got 224 with 1 wicket to spare and in 1 less ball than our opponents. Talk about a tight one.

By some miracle, NRR gets us back to the top of our group in a 5-way tie that will have to be decided one way or another. Up next is the toughest test yet and the toughest test imaginable as we take on 2nd placed #1 Krytenia at the Southbright Ground in Ansonville. Having Kimi-Suomi vs Kryteninen as your 1st vs 2nd contest this late in the group stage certainly wasn't in the script, but that's how the cards have been laid out. Some will argue that the best strategy is just to get as close as possible, but a question remains...if we can beat #15 by 29, but lose to #10 by 9...what can we do against maailman paras? NOSTA KUIN KARHUT!

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SCHEDULE/AJOITTAA (Group A - Ko-oren)
MD1: vs Delaclava (UR) - Summerkind Oval, Willowbourne W by 125 runs/V 125 juoksulla (1st)
MD2: vs Liventinen [Liventia] (10) - Dawsend Oval, Idyllwild L by 9 runs/T 9 juoksulla (2nd)
MD3: vs Laukkumaa [Baggieland] (15) - Accord Oval, Oceanside W by 29 runs/V 29 juoksulla (2nd)
MD4: vs Goram (UR) - Goledon Oval, Bruncester L by 28 runs/T 28 juoksulla (3rd)
MD5: vs Kriegiersien (24) - Bwdellafon Parc, Mawrystwyth W by 1 wicket/V 1 wicketillä (1st)
MD6: vs Kryteninen [Krytenia] (1) - Southbight Ground, Ansonville
MD7: vs Milchama (UR) - Ocean Crest Oval, Penstead

[Rundel]

The Annasholm Sentinel

After the impressive performance against Sylestone, Rundel's expectations were tempered by defeat to Corridor of Uncertainty, who needed only 41.3 overs to chase down Rundel's 259 runs. The partnership of captain Nathaniel William Miller and Jayanath Chaminda Thilakarathne Priyanath Silva eventually wore down Snita Massoin and Rundel's bowlers, for 71 runs between them and 262 for the Uncertain side.

In their innings, the Rundel batsmen favored a cautious approach, waiting for opportune deliveries but not translating that into many boundaries. "It was great to see Gurg[a Faraday] get a chance to step up," said Patskie Tallung. "In retrospect maybe I was a bit too worried about protecting our wickets, we'd just come off the Sylestone game where despite Hurnamb's brilliant day we were almost all out. But hindsight and all that, not only did I not have that knowledge then, there's only so much you can control even when you try to take the circumstances into account. As much as it's your lot's job to rationalize things a lot of it is where the ball bounces on any given day."

With two matches remaining, Rundel will first face high-flying Eastfield Lodge, followed by fellow debutants Quebec and Shingoryeo. The two nations' Twenty20 sides met in the XIV Championship, and while the Quebecois roster here doesn't have as much carryover as Rundel's, there will be several more familiar faces. Only one thing is clear: the outcome of Group C remains very much uncertain.

[Sylestone]

SYLESTONE WIN!



Matchday Five:
Sylestone vs Brookstation @ Venus Gardens, Scroton, Brookstation

SCROTON, BROOKSTATION - Let me give you a situation I’m sure many of you have been in before. You’re out in the Sylestonean wilderness - whether it be the deep, dark rainforest, or the endless grasslands and savanna, or even the unforgiving heat of the sandy desert. You’re trying to start a fire but just after you get yourself prepared, one of those famous tropical squalls bears down upon you like a tiger’s maw. Grittily, you try on, but to no avail. The falling drops of water do not linger - their only purpose is to barrel straight down and dissipate before their friends join them on the muddy earth.

Then, all of a sudden, a spark. It’s not much, but it’s something. Something against a seemingly unbeatable foe. But here, our vision cuts abruptly, leaving your imagination to decide what happens to this spark. Does it wink out of existence, or does it cause further sparks and slowly but surely, build a fire?

This is the question facing the Sylestonean cricket team at the moment. They began the tournament just fine - slaughtering newcomers from West Barack and East Obama in an exhibition match in Ko-oren before confidently defeating Quebec and Shingoryeo by four wickets. Since then, though? Disastrous. Completely, utterly disastrous. First-up was a 63-run loss to Darmen at Ogre Street, before returning to the Venus Gardens and losing to local rivals Cyborg Holland. Back at Ogre Street, the Hawthorns were faced with another hammering - this one at the hands of Rundel - to send them propelling towards rock bottom and almost out of contention for reaching the final sixteen.

But what about that spark amongst a sea of bleakness?

We’ll get to that now.

Returning yet again to Scroton’s Venus Gardens - the only Brook venue Sylestone had won a game at - the Hawthorns were faced with a vicious host side determined to play their role in eliminating a tournament favourite before they truly got started. But at the toss, Sylestone finally had something go their way. Winning the toss for the first time since West Barack and East Obama, 30-year-old Sylestonean skipper Luke Tiati did not hesitate in putting his side in for the first dig, while making a single change from the XI that faced Rundel at Ogre Street - resting Josh Vilesti and replacing him with 18-year-old leg-spinner Kate Sonnel. Her role in the game would come later in the evening - for now it would be up to the batters to give her and her fellow bowlers a total to defend for the first time since that practice match.

Luke Tiati and Simon Monteane kicked the innings off to the presumptuous boos of the crowd, eager to see their team home and keep themselves in the race for top four in Group C. They picked up Monteane early, too, sending the opener packing for just two - making his aggregate only ten runs in two games in the tournament - but his dismissal only brought fellow incumbent left-hander Daniel Fomleya to join Tiati. By the time the vice-captain was run out by Ricki Makavilitogia for 46, the experienced duo had amassed 80 runs between them, setting their side up for a strong total.

Three overs later, Tiati went where no other Sylestonean had ever been before - reaching the 43 runs required for him to break the 2000-run barrier in the ODI format. Despite the Brook-dominant crowd, the feat was still applauded, especially considering the pace it came at - 40 innings at the mouth-watering average of 55.56 runs per dismissal. With a good 5-10 years remaining in his international career and considering his current form, there was no reason why he could not reach the 5000-run barrier before his retirement.

But there’s no point getting ahead of ourselves. The feat may have been seriously impressive, but there was still a game to win and a tournament to re-enter. And while Tiati also reached a 63-ball fifty soon after, by the 30th over of the innings, both he and his partner Lachlan Cocrine were back in the sheds, Sylestone in a little bit of trouble at 4-150 and relying on a misfiring middle-order to finish off the job.

Despite a slow start, Liam Afosha and Samuel Asaskia were able to pick up the pace, combining for an integral stand worth 86 runs in 82 balls and kicking off the death overs in style. Afosha’s wicket to Neville Douglas-Winter may have proved to be decisive, but Asaskia was still at the crease and batting like a whirlwind. Although lower-order batters Ashton Stealom and Norbert Pistecial did not last long at the other end, the 26-year-old all-rounder did not stop racking up runs, finishing unbeaten on 78 from 65 balls. His knock played an important part of a late blitz, where 88 runs were scored for the loss of three wickets in the final ten overs. The final score, 7-297, was well-above par considering the conduciveness of the track - especially to Stephen Shade’s off-spin - questioning the Brook tactic of only utilising the single tweaker in their lineup. Still, most of the bowling fortunes went to Douglas-Winter and fellow medium-pacer Andre Delaunois, the pair picking up four wickets between them.

Chasing 298 for victory, Norbert Pistecial proceeded to uproot the chase from the very first ball of the innings. The release was perfect - seam directly up, no wobble and from there, the history is history. Biting the surface on a good length and around middle- and leg-stump, the seam of the ball moved it back towards off-stump, whisking past Bob Doublesday’s bat and cannoning into the off bail, sending it flying.

Brookstation were 1-0.

And they would never come back.

Nick Miller scratched around for his three and despite a stylish 44 from Theo Sinclair, by the halfway mark the score was no more than 77. With nearly nine runs an over needed with only middle-order, lower-order and tail-end remaining, Brook supporters found themselves funnelling out of the Venus Gardens, faster and faster as wickets continued to fall. Even worse - Brookstation didn’t appear to be in any hurry to get all out, biding their time as the Sylestonean bowlers took total control of the match. For a little while, they even appeared likely to bat out the full fifty overs, but two wickets in the penultimate over to Samuel Asaskia denied that, the seamer finishing with figures of 2-28 - a return that, along with his unbeaten 78, was enough to net him player of the match. Around him, each and every one of Sylestone’s other bowlers took at least one wicket. Kate Sonnel, playing just her third ODI for her country, was particularly impressive with 3-52, while Norbert Pistecial also picked up two wickets. Liam Afosha, Broughton Hall and Samuel Scron all had to be satisfied with one, but none of them will be complaining too much.

The margin of victory was 121 runs; Brookstation having been bowled out for 176 in 48.4 overs. By the time Asaskia finally tore through young Jimmy Montgomery’s defence with a precise yorker, all but the most avid Brook fans remained in the crowd, alongside the entire Sylestonean contingent. Loud and clear they sung their songs, referring to each of their eleven idols on the field along the way. Finally, after a tumultuous journey, the Hawthorns were beginning to regain the support of their followers.

But at 2-0-3 and with only two games remaining, there was still a whole lot of work to be done. While the Venus Gardens was turning into a second home for the Hawthorns despite a close loss to Cyborg Holland, the Ogre Street Cricket Ground was their worst nightmare. Alas, that was where they would be facing 26th-ranked and third-placed Uncertainty in another must-win match in three days' time.

A win, and a good one at that, may even propel Sylestone into the top four of Group C. But in order to do that, they must overcome their bogey status at the ground - something that all Uncertainties (yes, Uncertainties, not uncertainties) on the day will not hesitate to remind them of.

Can they do it and turn that spark into a booming fire?

---

Sylestone Batting
Batter                                               R   B  4s  6s   SR
L Tiati (c) (+)     c Miller b Shade                71  87   7   1   81.61
S Monteane          c Brankovic (+) b Delaunois      2   5   0   0   40
D Fomleya           run out (Makavilitogia)         46  49   5   0   93.88
L Cocrine           c Brankovic (+) b Delaunois     24  32   2   0   75
L Afosha            c Shade b Douglas-Winter        38  43   2   1   88.37
S Asaskia           not out                         78  65   6   4  120
A Stealom           lbw b Douglas-Winter             4   5   0   0   80
N Pistecial         b Makavilitoga                   7   6   1   0  116.67
B Hall              not out                         14  10   2   0  140
       EXTRAS       (3 lb, 8 wd, 2 nb)              13
        TOTAL       for 7 wickets                  297   (50 ov; 5.94 RPO)
Did not bat:      S Scron, K Sonnel

FOW: 1-9 (S Monteane, 2.2 overs); 2-89 (D Fomleya, 16.6 overs); 3-145 (L Cocrine, 28.2 overs); 
     4-148 (L Tiati (c) (+), 29.1 overs); 5-234 (L Afosha, 42.5 overs); 6-248 (A Stealom, 44.5 overs); 
     7-271 (N Pistecial, 47.3 overs)

Brookstation Bowling
Bowler                 Ov   M   R  W   Econ  Ext
A Delaunois             8   0  53  2   6.63  (1 wd)
R Makavilitogia        10   0  75  1    7.5  (2 nb, 6 wd)
S Shade                10   1  42  1    4.2  
N Douglas-Winter        9   0  47  2   5.22  
J Montgomery            9   0  62  0   6.89  (1 wd)
R Kishibe (c)           4   0  15  0   3.75  

Brookstation Batting   (Target: 298)
Batter                                               R   B  4s  6s   SR
B Doublesday        b Pistecial                      0   1   0   0    
N Miller            c Fomleya b Scron                3  17   0   0   17.65
T Sinclair          lbw b Afosha                    44  68   5   0   64.71
R Kishibe (c)       c Tiati (+) b Sonnel            17  35   1   0   48.57
D Brankovic (+)     c Stealom b Sonnel              39  52   4   0   75
S Shade             c Tiati (+) b Hall              23  30   3   0   76.67
W Thijs             b Sonnel                        16  19   2   0   84.21
A Delaunois         c Tiati (+) b Pistecial         13  25   0   1   52
R Makavilitogia     not out                         13  34   1   0   38.24
N Douglas-Winter    c Sonnel b Asaskia               5   9   0   0   55.56
J Montgomery        b Asaskia                        0   2   0   0    
       EXTRAS       (3 wd)                           3
        TOTAL       all out                        176   (48.4 ov; 3.62 RPO)
                  

FOW: 1-0 (B Doublesday, 0.1 overs); 2-17 (N Miller, 5.6 overs); 3-54 (R Kishibe (c), 18.5 overs); 
     4-69 (T Sinclair, 23.2 overs); 5-113 (S Shade, 32.4 overs); 6-138 (D Brankovic (+), 37.6 overs); 
     7-143 (W Thijs, 39.1 overs); 8-165 (A Delaunois, 44.4 overs); 9-176 (N Douglas-Winter, 48.2 overs); 
     10-176 (J Montgomery, 48.4 overs)

Sylestone Bowling
Bowler                 Ov   M   R  W   Econ  Ext
N Pistecial             8   1  27  2   3.38  
S Scron                 8   2  19  1   2.38  
S Asaskia             7.4   1  28  2   3.65  
B Hall                  9   1  34  1   3.78  
K Sonnel               10   0  52  3    5.2  
L Afosha                6   0  16  1   2.67  

Venue: Venus Gardens, Scroton, Brookstation
Match number: Match 73
Toss: Sylestone won the toss and elected to bat
Season/Tournament: GCF ODI World Trophy III
Matchdays: Matchday Five
Player of the Match: Samuel Asaskia (SYL)
Debut: Andre Delaunois (BRO)
Umpires: unknown
TV Umpire: unknown
Reserve Umpire: unknown
Match Referee: unknown
Match Result: Sylestone win by 121 runs

---

MD6 XI vs Uncertainty @ Ogre Street Cricket Ground, Ogre Street, Brookstation

1. Luke Tiati (c) (+)
2. Caitlyn Elliott
3. Daniel Fomleya
4. Lachlan Cocrine
5. Samuel Asaskia
6. Liam Afosha
7. Ashton Stealom
8. Norbert Pistecial
9. Samuel Scron
10. Joshua Vilesti
11. Kate Sonnel

[Baggieland]

[Milchama]

New Sparta Report-News-Times-Post-Wisden-Wisdom-Almanac-Picayune-Guardian-Herald-Echo-Telegraph-Review

Sports Section

Warriors in Spot of Bother

A two game losing streak has put the Milchama Warriors cricket side in a spot of bother as Milchama has gone from top of the table in Group A after 3 games to 3rd place after 5. Of course one of the losses, to top ranked side Krytenia, was unsurprising though the 90 some run loss definitely stung, the loss to Kriegiersien is a lot worse as our boys should be beating military men. Especially because so many practice matches happen in Milchama against similar military or police sides (it turns out a country literally named war has a large army, who saw that coming, well everybody really). So today we're going to analyze "what's going wrong."

In order to do that we have to start with what went right in the first few games. The biggest thing was the bowling. Besides the nice 327 run performance against Liventia, the batters have been fine. Sure the Warriors chased Baggieland down in only 31 and a half overs but the more important thing was that the bowlers restricted the Throstles to a well below par 191. The pitch was at least a 275 run pitch and Milchama at 194/5 in the 32nd over proves it, that's a perfectly fine score to get to a 275 or so, maybe a little bit more, but nothing crazy. Meanwhile, both times the Warriors batted first they won by convincing margins based on great bowling including having Liventia at 52/4 at one point. That's some great bowling.

So what happened in the most recent games? Well Krytenia had 2 half centuries and had 2 other batter reach 40. Moreover, the scoring rate rarely got below 6.5 an over at any point in the Stars innings. Even players like Saxon and Udall were scoring at basically a run a ball. It came down to decent Milchamian fielding to stop any Krytenian from getting a huge score but even then if everybody is 30 (32) it's still a huge score coming down the pipe. Against Kriegiersien the Warriors took a very swingy and uneven pitch and did not do enough with it. This is especially worrying since swing bowling should be our strength as Milchama is a test nation first and foremost and understanding how to move the ball is the key to test bowling.

However, this is probably being a little harsh on the bowlers here. A 266 was definitely chaseable on that pitch but the batters could not do it. Cochran out for a duck, Carney out for 5, Marsh, the only batter of the top 4 to get into the 30s. These are terrible results and the batting did not recover against Krytenia. Again Cochran and Ross were out cheaply and while this time Marsh and Carney could stabilize the innings, that's not enough to win a game against a team like Krytenia. That's especially true when neither of them can stay in long enough to get a big score. The biggest issue is that we don't have a batter who can classically bat at about a run a ball in the ODI game. Carney is too stocky and moves too quickly and Marsh bats too much like a test batter. These things are generally fine, especially in the most important format of the game, but in a format like ODIs the Warriors desperately need somebody who can step up and play the stabilizer role while not depressing the scoring rate.

The other big thing has to be looking at the openers. Ross's high score this tournament is 22 and outside of Cochran's admittedly great innings against Baggieland his second best score is 35. It's been up to Marsh and Carney way too much this tournament to do something and especially in the last 2 games. The openers need to fire in order for the Warriors batting to be credible most of the time. Komar and Carpenter are fine but generally a step below the openers and Levrovich is a bowling all rounder. Heck, I think he should really just be considered a bowler at this point and giving him the all-rounder tag is just helping his ego.

Give Malliteen a crack at the top of the order, give Melst a shot as well. I don't really know but something needs to change and quickly if Milchama wants to make outrounds. I know the rule is that nobody is as bad as they look during a losing streak but this is not a long season but a quick tournament and we need the in form players playing now besides their talent. I do think Ross is better than this recent form but we only have 2 more games right now and we don't have time for him to find form, we need runs now.

This team is not really in a shambles but has the chance to be real soon and that's a result that needs to be avoided. The only way to do that is for changes to be made and not to just have a settled XI because "that's how things are done." I hope that the manager thinks about it and changes up the lineup. In the meantime let's hope for the best but expect the worst.

Come on You Warriors! Let's Go Milchama!

OOC: The Milchamian line up will be unchanged next game because the manager is a troll.

[Ko-oren]

Cricket - Season 15

Kigirimakh-Yndwrnod One Day Trophy Preview

Greencaster: Simeon Penn (28) - L unorth/L Opener, Nestor Igglesden (34) - L orth/L Opener, Blaine Risewell (27) - R fast/R Batsman, Reginald Trevelskill (19) - R off/R Batsman, Aaron Brownesworth (18) - R med/R All-rounder, Fergus Ormflower (23) - R med/R Wicketkeeper, Gilbert Wheelwright (35) - R med/R Wicketkeeper, Augustus Smith (26) - R fast/R Pace Bowler, Mitchell Enright (24) - R leg/R Spin Bowler, Julian White (23) - L unorth/L Spin Bowler, William Wraiths (19) - R off/R Spin Bowler

Much like the First Class team, Greencaster is currently in a leage of its own. The List-A squad is much younger, though, with teenagers Brownesworth, Trevelskill, and Wraiths likely to get plenty of time and reps. Paired with Igglesden and Wheelwright, as well as national teamers Penn, Risewell, Smith, and Enright, all opponents can hope to do is knock down the youngsters and put up with the rest. There's a slight imbalance with the number of spinners - Greencaster will need to rely on its pacers a little further down the pecking order. Ormflower is listed as a wicketkeeper, but he'll be appearing as a batsman primarily. That's another problem they have: the batting is not as deep as they would have liked in limited overs. So all in all, there are gaps in the Greencastrian formation, but it'll be fairly easy for them to paint over those.

West Surbourneshire: Reginald Twaddle (28) - R fast/R Opener, Lyojall Firembee (24) - L fast/L Opener, Ronald Taylor (25) - L med/L All-rounder, Levi Pardey (27) - R fast/R Batsman, Dallas Welsh (34) - R med/R Batsman, Ferdinand Carson (26) - L med/L Batsman, Walbook Wanering (26) - R off/L All-rounder, Horace Crasbeck (21) - R med/R Wicketkeeper, Philander Magcay (23) - R fast/R Pace Bowler, Thad Stanway (27) - R leg/R Spin Bowler, Boyd Jack (24) - R fast/R Pace Bowler

While the West Surbourneshire First Class team has looked down for a while, the limited overs version is much better. Relying on Twaddle, and the duo of Magcay and Stanway, the core is strong, with Crasbeck a new recruit as wicketkeeper. The names might not all be recognisable, but they're all close to getting national team callups - especially the excellent top four of the batting order. West SRB has gone all-out on batting, and the all-rounder Wanering as well as those not listed will have to come through to help them bowling.

Mawryshire: Llalpon yDiffwen (25) - R fast/R Opener, Ffanyrhog yGefftarion (25) - L fast/L Opener, Brahim Callon (19) - R med/R Batsman, Cofan ySalw (23) - R med/R Batsman, Casid yTawriegir (20) - L unorth/L All-rounder, Millhef yChirnall (23) - L fast/L All-rounder, Elysedd yBymadoc (23) - R leg/R Spin Bowler, Birgit (f) yGwrtheireninion (21) - R med/R Wicketkeeper, Nia (f) yEdenw (24) - R fast/R Pace Bowler, Borllog yLellmedd (27) - R off/R Spin Bowler, Caprws ySarthylhar (30) - L orth/L Spin Bowler

The List-A competition usually has one strong team and one weak team, and the rest are very close together. We've had seasons were three or four teams won five and lost five, and Mawryshire is a team that will likely get stuck in the middle this year - like the two teams over them and the team under them. A solid lineup with one or two problems - the mold for all teams in the middle of the predictions - continues. ySalw is a revelation, yLellmedd might be the best spinner in the competition, and yDiffwen probably deserves more attention nationally. Beyond that, it's Callon, yTawriegir, and yGwrtheireninion as new team members. The one day competition has noticeably improved in mere years - a few years ago, this team would probably have been the best in the business.

Willowbourne: Lander Chiplinn (20) - L med/L Opener, Ezekiel Stevenson (37) - R leg/R Opener, Martine (f) Raafden (22) - R off/R Batsman, Isaac Quelch (24) - R fast/R Batsman, Darren Plyloy (23) - /R Wicketkeeper, Finley Meredith (31) - R leg/R Wicketkeeper, Baptiste Sagan (19) - L unorth/L All-rounder, Twyford Merton (20) - R fast/R Pace Bowler, Cyril Mellors (25) - R leg/R Spin Bowler, Aglovale Gerrenhale (20) - R fast/R Pace Bowler, Howard Foxwich (22) - L orth/L Spin Bowler

Despite the services of Stevenson, Raafden, and Quelch, they're not as strong a batting presence as you'd think. That said, with Merton, Mellors, and the rest of the bunch, the bowling attack might be stronger than any team with the exception of Greencaster and maybe Mawryshire. Plyloy appears as a batsman - he's still a better batsman, probably, than the other names on the list of Willowburnians. The young team will look a lot better in a few years and a little more development for Chiplinn, Sagan, and Gerrenhale - Raafden and Merton are also young, but they're already one of the bigger names nationally. Sure, they'll develop, but in their current capacity they're more than contributing.

Leeshire: Benton Leaby (24) - R fast/R Opener, Grover Treadway (33) - R med/R Opener, Everett White (34) - R med/R Batsman, Romu Pelletier (23) - R off/R Batsman, Francis Barklas (19) - L orth/L All-rounder, Morgan Meighan (28) - R fast/R All-rounder, Peyton Keating (33) - R med/R Wicketkeeper, Algernon Silkquand (18) - R fast/R Pace Bowler, Aurélien Galipeau (19) - R off/R Spin Bowler, Bert Chapman (24) - L med/L Pace Bowler, Bill Burnbrough (19) - L orth/L Spin Bowler

Hard to say what Leeshire should focus on. A team of names we recognise from past national teams, mostly. Barklas and Leaby are exciting talents but they can't prop up a team that can't decide what it is. Silkquand and Galipeau are listed as starting members of the team, which says quite a bit about the depth of this team - it's barely there. With the extra List-A matches on the calendar, more regions are deciding to focus on one format over the other, and Leeshire is very much a FC region.

East Surbourneshire: Stanley Langhorne (32) - R med/R Opener, Benajah Potter (26) - R fast/R Opener, Ezra Locke (32) - R fast/R Batsman, Neville Ormane (23) - R off/R Batsman, Gideon Goodall (22) - R leg/R All-rounder, Theophilus Darknoll (32) - L unorth/L All-rounder, Adelmoed (f) Wolslager (22) - L fast/L Wicketkeeper, Lachlan Harvey (34) - R fast/R Pace Bowler, Iona (f) Finisterbrook (18) - L fast/L Pace Bowler, Leopold Kidd (24) - R leg/R Spin Bowler, Solomon Chesterman (31) - R off/R Spin Bowler

Rough years continue for East SRB, much like the First Class team. Small upsides like Langhorne (32!), Goodall (22), and Finisterbrook (18!) are there, but on the whole we're looking at a pretty old selection.

[West Barack and East Obama]

Head Coach William Obama-Hempstead was almost finished with his seventh book of the trip, 'What They DON'T Teach You at Harvey Obamatown Sports School'. "Ah hah... so that's what the ball's made of!" he exclaimed. He looked at his watch. The game was about to start, but he didn't care. He had already given up, and was just reading it for entertainment now. Who knew that cricket guidebooks could be so exhilarating?

He walked over to put down the book, and picked up his next one, 'Cricket, What's It All About Anyway?'. Just then, he saw Dr. Manafort Obama walk slowly into the room.

"Manafort, have you done it?" Obama-Hempstead inquired.

"Oh yeah, I have." Obama winked, holding up a packet of 'experimental cholera additives'.

"If you had indeed done it, can you tell me WHY the Bollonich starting lineup is the EXACT SAME as the ones that destroyed Gortolekua two days ago!??" roared Obama-Hempstead as he grabbed the packet from Obama's hands and threw it at the wall.

"You probably shouldn't touch... um, anyways, what? How do you know that? There's literally no information at all on the Bollonich players. They're all one great big myst-" stuttered Obama, before he was cut off.

"NO INFORMATION?? All you needed to do was to use those brain cells of yours and check the damn starting lineups for the Bollonich-Gortolekua game! They're public! Even I knew that! You're [expletive deleted] useless you stupid [expletive deleted]!" Obama-Hempstead yelled in response.

"Huh... oh yeah. Anyways, come on. I'm the reason we beat Gnejs! They suffered hard without their key players!" replied Obama as he sweated profusely. "My oh my, isn't it getting hot in these changing rooms? Shouldn't we go outside and enjoy the fresh Ko-orenite air? Hahaha!"

"A fat lot of good that win is going to get us if we can't beat Bollonich today, you moron. Easy for you to say, it's my head that's going in that noose if we embarrass ourselves today, not yours!" retorted Obama-Hempstead in frustration.

"Look, Bollonich have been awful this tournament. That win against the Gortoleki was a fluke, trust me. I swear on my granny's grave." replied Obama. "Anyways, someone definitely ate the lasagna, as the tray was completely empty when I returned. Someone was hungry!"

"Oh wow, I sure hope it isn't our captain again this time, you fool!" chided Obama-Hempstead, before being interrupted by an announcement over the PA system.

"...And now, we shall have a minute of silence for Harry Obama II, also known as "the biggest cricket fan in West Barack and East Obama". The eighty year old was well loved by the team's players, and was given special access to the changing rooms for his birthday. The cause of death at this time is not yet disclosed, and the police are..."

"Crap."

[The Plough Islands]

PLOUGH ISLANDS CRICKET ASSOCIATION
XI FOR WORLD TROPHY VS.  W.B & E.O

        PLAYER           BAT   BOW
#14 ANL Weaver           RHB      
#10 AC  Leggett          RHB   RLB
#15 SLC Weaver           RHB   RLB
#13 ADM Tyrie            RHB   RLB
#1  KCT Laing (c)        RHB   RMD
#6  AM  Donovan          RHB      
#8  AJ  Hendricks        RHB   RLB
#5  TM  Bleasdale (w)    RHB      
#2  DV  Andreyev         RHB   RFM
#16 SH  Wilson           RHB   ROB
#11 NA  Salisbury        LHB   SLA

[Gnejs]

The Port Kejm Sentinel

---

Shedding

Sports deprived fans flock to Union UNO Championship
By: Anniken Tensoldat

It’s a peculiar season. The clay court circuit - which was held late this year - is over, and the grass court action is still some time away. In terms of football, we’re still waiting for the Copa Rushmori on the international scene, whereas both League 1 and 2 have gone on their summer breaks.

In short, Union sports fans are experiencing a drought of sorts, and they’re looking everywhere to fill that gap. A fair few of them, it would seem, have found their fix on the domestic shedding-game circuit, where the national Union UNO Championship is about to commence at the Waterfront Convention Centre in Port Kejm. A somewhat obscure little brother to the more traditional Crazy Eights competition for a long time, the UNO-momentum has been building steadily for the last few years. While the conclusion of various events on the shedding-game circuit have often been mildly popular events at best - usually languishing in the shadows of the NSTT grass season opening - this year sees them thrust into focus. Evil tongues say it’s mainly due to a lack of interesting alternatives, and while that might be a part of it, there’s also been an undeniable surge in interest for shedding of late.

The game is played according the traditional rules set in the regional qualifiers - where the goal is to first achieve 500 points, counted by the cards still held by opponents after the round winner has shedded all their cards - whereas the Championship is played in a bastardized Dirty Stack elimination with a Seven-O add-on, where every table play one single round and the first one to discard walks away the winner and progresses directly. It’s a controversial pick, but the UNO Championship Board has defended it, pointing towards the extra element of suspense and possibilities for exciting upsets.

There are a total of 32 players competing in eight opening tables, and eight single round winners move on to a two table semifinal event. The first full-shedders on each semifinal table progress directly to the final table, whereas the runners-up and third place from both semifinals meet in a Wild Bunch game without stacking and a Jump-in add-on, with up to three “Free Agent” cards carrying the “+10 cards action” The first discarder and the runner-up join the final table for a chance at the coveted Championship title of Numero UNO.

The convention centre and its bar section are expecting record numbers of attendees, and it promises to be a lively night. Several of the most prominent names will be playing, like Frankie “+4” Andersson, Stella “Skipper” Abel and Garry “The Geist” Brandt, but a few lesser known, but very entertaining, regional players are also in the mix and could prove interesting competitors.

The Union UNO Championship is played on Friday the 8th of July, at the Waterfront Convention Centre. There’s a modest entry fee, and the ale prices are usually most competitive.

Our other top sport stories

Tabeira International preview: Sibylla Naess finally breaking through?

The Summer of Georg: Big interview with NSTT Nr. 1 Georg Heraklit

GCF ODI Trophy: Union team’s surprising success continues.

[Brookstation]

MATCHDAY 6-KO-OREN HALF

GROUP A
Delaclava 256/6 (38 overs)
Milchama 253 (43 overs)

Kimi-Suomi 278/8 (50 overs)
Krytenia 282/9 (31.2 overs)

Liventia 307/9 (50 overs)
Kriegiersien  306/8 (50 overs)

Baggieland 207/5 (40.2 overs)
Goram 205 (46.5 overs)

TEAM	     Pld       W	L	D      Pts       NRR
Krytenia      6	       4	2	0	8       1,044
Liventia      6	       4	2	0       8 	0,018
Kimi-Suomi    6	       3	3	0       6	0,293
Milchama      6	       3	3	0       6	-0,042
Delaclava     6	       3	3	0       6	-0,187
Kriegiersien  6	       3	3	0       6 	-0,467
Goram	      6        2	4	0	4       -0,234
Baggieland    6        2	4	0       4 	-0,379

GROUP B
Indusse 317/5 (50 overs)
Gnejs 354/2 (50 overs)

Bollonich 251/8 (50 overs)
Sajnur 303/3 (50 overs)

The Plough Islands 259/9 (31.2 overs)
West Barack and East Obama 256/5 (50 overs)

Ko-oren 202 (41.2 overs)
Gortolekua 298/4 (50 overs)

TEAM	                    Pld        W	L	D      Pts  	 NRR
The Plough Islands	     6         5	1	0      10        1,155
Ko-oren	                     6         4	2	0       8	 0,748
Gnejs	                     6         4	2	0	8        0,225
Sajnur	                     6         3	3	0       6  	 0,016
Gortolekua	             6         3	3	0       6 	-0,211
Bollonich	             6         2	4	0       4   	-0,513
West Barack and East Obama   6	       2	4	0	4       -0,829
Indusse	                     6         1	5	0       2      	-0,516

[Brookstation]

Since Sylestone made a scorecard before me, my rp is centred around that scorecard only to avoid any disparity. I have also posted the scorecard against Quebec, something that I couldn't post last day.

"Brookstation Batting
Batter                                               R   B  4s  6s   SR
B Doublesday          c Finch b de Vries             6  20   0   0   30
A Mari                c Tatti b McCarrom            21  27   1   0   77.78
T Sinclair            not out                       68 109   4   2   62.39
R Kishibe             b Chinyenze                   34  66   3   0   51.52
D Brankovic           lbw b Chinyenze               39  48   1   1   81.25
V Ghosh               not out                       16  31   1   0   51.61
        EXTRAS        (3 lb, 6 wd, 1 nb)            10
         TOTAL        for 4 wickets                194   (50 ov; 3.88 RPO)
Did not bat:        S Shade, H Robbie, R Makavilitogia, ND Winter, J Montgomery

Quebec and Shingoryeo Bowling
Bowler                   Ov   M   R  W   Econ  Ext
H de Vries               10   2  38  1    3.8  (2 lb)
D O'Neill                10   0  42  0    4.2  (2 wd, 1 nb)
B Dae-Doo                10   1  38  0    3.8  (2 wd, 1 lb)
C Odette-Chinyenze       10   0  43  2    4.3  (2 wd)
H McCarron               10   1  33  1    3.3  

Quebec and Shingoryeo Batting   (Target: 195)
Batter                                               R   B  4s  6s   SR
H Kayondo-Kirkley     b Shade                       63  89   5   2   70.79
J Woodley             c Kishibe b Robbie            43  44   3   0   97.73
W Hosaka              c Doublesday b Montgomery     34  56   3   0   60.71
D Asperup             c Brankovic b Montgomery      33  20   4   2  165
H McCarron            run out (Ghosh)                7  10   0   0   70
G Finch               not out                       10  14   1   0   71.43
H Tatti               not out                        0   1   0   0    
        EXTRAS        (1 lb, 4 wd, 2 nb)             7
         TOTAL        for 5 wickets                197   (38.4 ov; 5.09 RPO)
Did not bat:        B Dae-Doo, H de Vries, C Odette-Chinyenze, D O'Neill

Brookstation Bowling
Bowler                   Ov   M   R  W   Econ  Ext
J Montgomery             10   2  52  1    5.2  (1 lb, 1 nb)
ND Winter                 9   0  48  2   5.33  (1 wd)
R Makavilitogia           8   1  41  1   5.13  (1 wd)
H Robbie                6.4   0  32  1    4.8  (1 lb, 1 nb , 2wd)
S Shade                   5   0  24  0    4.8  

Venue: Ogre Street, Dreamland, Brookstation
Match number: Match 57
Toss: Quebec and Shingoryeo won the toss and elected to field
Season/Tournament: GCF ODI World Trophy III
Matchdays: Matchday Four
Player of the Match: Hector de Vries (QUE)
Series result: 
Debut: 
Umpires: unknown
TV Umpire: unknown
Reserve Umpire: unknown
Match Referee: unknown
Match Result: Quebec and Shingoryeo win by 5 wickets and 68 balls remaining"

A collective Sylestonean effort restricts Brookstation to their lowest total in a ODI
by Jean Wade

After already losing two matches at home, Brookstation could not help but complete their long awaited hat-trick of losses. Following a victory over Eastfield Lodge, who are currently leading the group, Brookstation's first disappointment came at the hands of Rundel, an emerging nation that shocked the world by defeating Sylestone. Brookstation didn't have much to complain about the match against Rundel and coach Hartshorn duly appreciated the efforts of the new nation. However, a second successive loss to Quebec and Shingoryeo was not something that any Brook had expected. Nevertheless any spark of hope that might have originated among the Brooks was overshadowed by the giants Sylestone, who demolished the Brook team in what would be one of Brookstation's most humiliating defeat.

Losing his third toss in a row as well, Kishibe and his men were forced to field in the dry Scroton conditions. Hailing from Scroton myself, Ogre Street has always been one of my favourite grounds and it never failed to surprise me. Tiati and Monteane opened the batting for Sylestone and the duo could prove to be a major problem for Brookstation if they managed to stay in the crease. However, test captain Delaunois picked up his first ODI wicket in his first over after bowling an inswinging full length delivery which touched the edge of Monteane's bat before landing in the hands of Brankovic. This wicket however accelerated Brookstation's problems as the next man to step into the crease was Daniel Fomleya who along with captain Luke Tiati would set up a brilliant partnership that would aggrevate Sylestone's score. The two batsmen played a slow but beautiful innings. Tiati slowed at times but Fomleya played consistently, missing his half century by only 4 runs when Makavilitogia's brilliant direct throw knocked the wickets down when Fomleya was returning for a double.

Lachlan Cocrine would prove to be a capable partner for Tiati and with Cocrine's support, Tiati continued with his innings and achieved the record of surpassing 2000 runs in the ODI format in Brook soil. The duo would add a further 56 runs to the scoreboard before Delaunois finally managed to send Cocrine out by picking up his second wicket. The very next over saw a massive disappointment when Luke Tiati was forced to leave the crease after getting caught at close range by Miller. The two consecutive dismissals would bring in a new wave of trouble for Brookstation and the partnership set up by Liam Afosha and Samuel Askasia would steamroll over the Brook side. The duo started slow but over the overs, accelerated. Samuel Askasia's wonderful 65 ball 78, which included 6 fours and 4 sixes would dismantle the Brook bowling and the unstoppable Askasia would finish his innings not out and set a target of 298 for Brookstation.

It was undoubtedly a big target, but chasing it down wasn't impossible either. But Pistecial's very first slow yorker that would touch Doublesday's bat before hitting the wicket would deal Brookstation a huge blow and shatter Brookstation's opening lineup. Sinclair's arrival didn't help the team in any way and the two would struggle to play the swing and fast deliveries of Sylestonean bowlers. Miller's innings was especially disappointing as he struggled to score before finally raising the ball high which landed in Fomleya's hands. Sinclair and Kishibe continued at a slow pace and slowly but eventually the entire Brook domino collapsed at the hands of Sylestone. In terms of economy, Scron did a brilliant job for Sylestone and his spins were usually not playable. Kate Sonnel other hand managed to pick up three wickets which included the crucial wickets of Kishibe and Brankovic. To sum it up, it was a display of poor cricket from Brookstation yet again and is things continue at this rate, the future of Brook cricket might not be bright.

A series of low scoring matches disappointed the fans heavily and fans throughout Brookstation are spreading hate comments on social media terming Brook players to be playing "a test match" rather than a One day. Brookstation's hat-trick of loses is definitely not how we intended the tournament to be and now our only hope remains in our final two games against Darmen and Uncertainty respectively. This is our only chance to make a comeback and with a collective effort from Blake Hartshorn and his men, we might actually be able to turn the tables.

[Ko-oren]

MATCHDAY 6-BROOKSTATION HALF

GROUP C
Brookstation 263/5 (37 overs)
Darmen 259/8 (50 overs)

Cyborg Holland 269/8 (50 overs)
Quebec and Shingoryeo 270/9 (42.4 overs)

Rundel 216/5 (32.3 overs)
Eastfield Lodge 215/2 (50 overs)

Sylestone 289 (43.2 overs)
Corridor of Uncertainty 242/7 (50 overs)

* Group C                  W  L  D   NRR
 1 Rundel                  4  2  0  0,42
 2 Eastfield Lodge         4  2  0  0,273
 3 Darmen                  4  2  0  0,132
 4 Corridor of Uncertainty 3  3  0  0,446
 5 Sylestone               3  3  0  0,297
 6 Brookstation            3  3  0  -0,204
 7 Quebec and Shingoryeo   2  4  0  -0,472
 8 Cyborg Holland          1  5  0  -0,935

1) points (2 for a win, 1 for a draw), 2) wins, 3) NRR, 4) H2H.

GROUP D
TJUN-ia 236/7 (39.3 overs)
Samrif 232/9 (50 overs)

Godchouzetsu 147 (27 overs)
The Sarian 149/2 (24.4 overs)

StrayaRoos 329/2 (50 overs)
Sarzonia 274/7 (50 overs)

Gruenberg 240/8 (29.5 overs)
Lisander 237/8 (50 overs)

* Group D       W  L  D   NRR
 1 Gruenberg    6  0  0  1,498
 2 The Sarian   4  2  0  1,024
 3 TJUN-ia      4  2  0  0,351
 4 Sarzonia     3  3  0  0,461
 5 StrayaRoos   3  3  0  -0,193
 6 Lisander     2  3  1  -0,176
 7 Samrif       1  4  1  -1,029
 8 Godchouzetsu 0  6  0  -2,155

1) points (2 for a win, 1 for a draw), 2) wins, 3) NRR, 4) H2H.

[Kriegiersien]

“And hop…”

“Colonel, you missed again.”

“That doesn’t matter, it is about the endgame one has to think of.”

“That was the end. Liventia has won, they are celebrating.”

“And next they will come and shake hands. And we will be gracious in defeat. And then the endgame begins against Baggieland.”

“We have to talk about the tactics, Colonel, we are playing with 10 Wicket-keeper and confusing…”

“Defense is of most importance in battle…”

“This isn’t a battle. It is a sports game!”

The Colonel frowns.

“Lieutnant Marcella Longbottom. Your subordination leaves a lot to desire. Your sporting achievements may have been great but you don’t understand the spirit of the sport.”

“And you don’t understand the sport at all. We could be first in the table if we wouldn’t play like clueless buffoons…”

“You will stop here soldier. I have ignored your level of incompetence to fall in line and lack of discipline. I know of your treason, that you fraternized with one of the soldiers from Milchama…”

Longbottom looks confused.
“Soldiers? You mean one of their players? We just met and talked…”

“Silence!”
The Colonel shakes hands with the players of Liventia who are coming over.
“We will discuss your punishment later.”

[Gruenberg]

In celebration of a specially ugly scoreline, a specially ugly scorecard...

(Provisional) match details as posted on the GruenCric website.

Lisander 237-8 (50 overs)
                                                    R    B   4/6
Batter #1  c Chuffles+ b Tttttttttwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeelllllllllppppppppp  14  (36)  1/-
Batter #2          lbw b Tttttttttwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeelllllllllppppppppp  14  (23)  1/-
Batter #3          c & b Tumcoweiss                25  (24)  2/1
Batter #4          c & b Tumcoweiss                 1   (3)  -/-
Batter #5  run out (Tttttttttwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeelllllllllppppppppp)       7   (4)  1/-
Batter #6          c & b Tttttttttwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeelllllllllppppppppp  27  (44)  1/-
Batter #7          lbw b Renkauer                  18  (32)  -/-
Batter #8  NOT OUT                                 82  (76)  6/2
Batter #9          c & b Tyrkkekkekklukkekklukekk  31  (47)  -/1
Batter #10 NOT OUT                                 10  (13)  -/1
EXTRAS (1b, 1lb, 4wb, 2nb)                          8

FoW: 1: 29 (Batter #2, 8.4 overs); 2: 32 (Batter #1, 10.3 overs); 3: 35 (Batter #4, 11.5 overs); 4: 44 (Batter #5, 13.1 overs); 5: 66 (Batter #3, 15.4 overs); 6: 105 (Batter #7, 25.4 overs); 7: 127 (Batter #6, 31.6 overs); 8: 213 (Batter #9, 45.3 overs)

                           O    M    R    W
Renkauer                   7.3  0   42    1
Syzygyswallower           10    2   34    0
Tttttttttwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeelllllllllppppppppp 10    0   57    3
Tumcoweiss                10    0   44    2
Tyrkkekkekklukkekklukekk  10    1   36    1
Thchthaarheq               2.3  0   22    0

Gruenberg 240-8 (29.5 overs)
                                                                  R    B   4/6
NQX Honk                     c wicket-keeper+ b Bowler #1         7  (10)  1/-
ZVEU Hengtridan Jr.                       lbw b Bowler #3        42  (37)  6/1
BGF Rirfin                   c mid-off        b Bowler #2        17   (6)  2/1
!                            c short fine leg b Bowler #1        31  (14)  5/1
RFMCCLOG Thchthaarheq        c bat-pad        b Bowler #4        20  (31)  2/-
PWSTL Tttttttttwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeelllllllllppppppppp st wicket-keeper+ b Bowler #3   0   (1)  -/-
HAYW Tumcoweiss*             NOT OUT                             73  (56)  6/3
JNT Tyrkkekkekklukkekklukekk run out (wicket-keeper+/Bowler #4)   0   (1)  -/-
VW Chuffles+                              lbw b Bowler #2        20  (20)  2/-
TIMTAM Renkauer              NOT OUT                              2   (4)  -/-
Did not bat: NEM Syzygyswallower
EXTRAS (12lb, 15wb, 1nb)                                         28

FoW: 1: 29 (Honk, 4.2 overs); 2: 46 (Rirfin, 5.3 overs); 3: 102 (!, 10.3 overs); 4: 104 (Hengtridan Jr., 11.2 overs); 5: 107 (Tttttttttwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeelllllllllppppppppp, 11.4 overs); 6: 186 (Thchthaarheq, 21.2 overs); 7: 186 (Tyrkkekkekklukkekklukekk, 21.3 overs); 8: 228 (Chuffles, 27.5 overs)

          O    M    R    W
Bowler #1   6    0   48    2
Bowler #2   6    0   52    2
Bowler #3   6.5  0   53    2
Bowler #4   4    0   23    1
Bowler #5   6    0   42    0
Bowler #6   1    0   10    0

Lisander innings
Powerplay: 31-1 (Batter #1 14, Batter #3 2)
Rain stopped play: Lisander 31-1, 10 overs (Batter #1 14, Batter #3 2)
ZVEU Hengtridan Jr. became wicket-keeper at 15.5 overs
Rain stopped play: Lisander 133-7, 33 overs (Batter #8 20, Batter #9 2)
Rain stopped play: Lisander 161-7, 38 overs (Batter #8 34, Batter #9 15)
8th wicket: 50 in 53 balls (Batter #8 29, Batter #9 19)
TIMTAM Renkauer removed from the attack for bowling 2 beamers (Lisander 178-7, 40.3 overs)
Batter #8: 50 in 54 balls, 5x4 (Lisander 188-7)

Gruenberg innings
Rain stopped play: Gruenberg 79-2, 8 overs (Hengtridan Jr. 28, ! 21)
Powerplay: Gruenberg 94-2 (Hengtridan Jr. 41, ! 23)
6th wicket: 50 in 34 balls (Tumcoweiss 26, Thchthaarheq 10)
HAYW Tumcoweiss: 50 in 33 balls, 5x4 1x6 (Gruenberg 199-7)

Match result: Gruenberg win by 2 wickets
Match award: HAYW Tumcoweiss

[Baggieland]

[Sylestone]

Although this tournament occurs before the fifth season of the Crash n’ Smash (already scorinated and roleplayed in my domestic newswire), this particular article is written ahead of the sixth Crash n’ Smash.

Crash n’ Smash restructure: What’s happening and what it means

Every Sylestonean cricket fan can tell you about the two restructures the Crash n’ Smash has undergone, following each of the opening two seasons of the tournament. The first was the most major one and involved two changes - introducing a knockout system after the league phase and abolishing the second division, reducing the number of franchises from sixteen to eight. The second restructure - between the second and third season of the tournament - involved changing the knockout format once again. For the third Crash n’ Smash, the regular semifinals-final format was changed to a more complex, but fairer, system that gave top teams a second chance.

That change, as well as the introduction of international players to the league, sent Crash n’ Smash ratings and interest skyrocketing and not only across Sylestone. As Esportivan players were given priority in editions four and five, interest around the region piqued. Alongside other local T20 leagues such as the Tumbran T20 Trophy and the OrangeSky® T20 Challenge in Damukuni, as well as the formation of the EspoT20, this process has only been accelerated as cricket has slowly begun to become one of the region’s main sports.

But we’re way off on a tangent that required another whole article. What everyone wants to know is what this “restructure” is going to be.

First, though, let’s get to the way.

While the third Crash n’ Smash was a booming success across all fronts, the fourth and fifth editions were less so. Although both could also be considered overall successes, the league was heading in a gradual decline, even despite its rank as third in the multiverse. Anonymous reports from players indicated that many believed the season was a few games too long and ate into personal time with families and from television ratings across the multiverse, people at home seemed to lose interest towards the back end of the season. If these problems were to exacerbate, then perhaps, some of Sylestone’s - and the multiverse’s - finest stars may walk out of the league and slowly but surely, corporations and Cricket Sylestone would begin to lose money.

So what was their solution to this issue?

The Crash n’ Smash is going to have two new teams.

For the very first time since the inaugural instalment of the tournament, the tournament will have more than eight franchises, with the cities of Katham and Freeman fighting off rivals from Kirton, Emacuton, Conton and even Excelsior (southern Chamberley) and Balinmone (western Avondale) for a team. Owned by Jabal Akhdar corporation AOPIC and StrayaRoos’ Jol Corporation respectively, the clubs have been named the Freeman Chargers and Katham Crusaders.

As basic maths has indicated, this gives us ten teams. However, in order to decrease the length of the season, teams will only play a single round-robin, plus an extra “rivalry match” against a specified team. From 56 games, this will only remove six matches from the schedule, but Cricket Sylestone is set to announce that if this is not enough of a shortening for players and viewers, the rivalry match concept will be scrapped. Still, players will now only be playing ten games in a regular season before knockouts instead of fourteen - a decrease that should satisfy those players with concerns, although we will have to wait and see how effective it is.

In terms of the rivalry matches, the Avondale Knights have been matched up with their cross-state rivals, the Cleorough Devils. Another cross-state rivalry is the Suffolk one - between the Pesfield Wasps and Scorching Hot Dodle. Defending champions Chamberley Giants will play against a team that are effectively their cross-town rivals, the Katham Crusaders. In the South Sylestone derby, the Betham Dogs will take on the Halpenley Lightning twice more than they will any other team, leaving us with the Dunkirk Rovers and Freeman Chargers. I guess they’re not too far apart.

With all ten franchises only playing five home games in a season - plus finals - there has been major change made relating to how home grounds are allocated. Instead of having set matchdays for games at secondary and tertiary stadiums, each team gets to choose the games they play where. Furthermore, the tertiary stadium option is only optional this season, although each team must have a secondary stadium that hosts at least one match. However, the primary stadium for each franchise must still host at least three games - including the rivalry match.

As the formation of the Katham Crusaders and Freeman Chargers have only been officially announced today, they have not yet released their grounds, or whether they have officially signed any players yet.

Below is the new map of Sylestonean T20 cricket zones. Is it time for you to switch allegiance?

---

MD7 Preview: Is it even worth playing a quick?

Ahead of the Hawthorns’ do or die match against second-placed Eastfield Lodge, Betham-based cricket tragic Xavier Whatmore has revealed a rather disturbing possibility over a now-viral social media clip: could Sylestone play without a quick?

“I don’t see why not”, the 25-year-old responded, when quizzed by reporters.

“The Venus Gardens pitch is going to be rancid. We saw what it was like against Brookstation, and that was just the ninth game of the tournament to be played on the ground. The match against Eastfield Lodge will be the fourteenth. Unless something miraculous occurs, there will not be a single blade of grass left on that bloody pitch by the time of the game. There’ll be nothing in it for the quicks and everything for the spinners.”

“I don’t see why we don’t play all of our spin-bowling all-rounders alongside Broughton Hall and Kate Sonnel, as well as our remaining best bats. Sure, it means that the likes of Jack Martin or even Chloe Anderson might be batting as low as eight or nine, but that’s not what they're there for. That surface is going to turn like crazy.”

“Obviously, while the Sylestonean selectors have a bold history, they won’t pull out this kind of tactic for they will be sacked if it doesn’t pay off, but it’s definitely something that I, as a cricket tragic, would definitely consider if I were to miraculously be elevated into the position. As long as we play our two out-and-out spinners as well as Liam Afosha, Caitlyn Elliott and perhaps Jack Martin and most importantly, give them a good bowl, I’ll be satisfied.”


“Unless we lose, that is. If we lose, we’re out. Check the maths.”

In order for Sylestone to progress to the final eight, all they require is a win. This is because their net run rate is greater than that of Eastfield Lodge, while Uncertainty and Brookstation are also participating in a winner-takes-all clash. As for the Rundel, Darmen and the aforementioned Eastfielders, if Sylestone loses, they’re through. If not, though, then things could get chaotic.

Let’s make things chaotic.

---

Sylestone Batting
Batter                                                    R   B  4s  6s   SR
L Tiati (c) (+)             c Wessel b Farooq             4   3   1   0  133.33
C Elliott                   c Miller b Thilikarathne     35  36   4   1   97.22
D Fomleya                   c Cooper b Schalk            84  92   9   1   91.3
L Cocrine                   b Thilikarathne              60  46   5   3  130.43
L Afosha                    lbw b Thilikarathne          15  14   1   0  107.14
S Asaskia                   run out (Joshi)               0   3   0   0    
A Stealom                   not out                      48  41   5   2  117.07
N Pistecial                 c Schalk b Naseem            13   9   3   0  144.44
S Scron                     c Thilikarathne b Farooq      5   5   1   0  100
J Vilesti                   c Shahbaz (+) b Naseem        8   6   0   1  133.33
K Sonnel                    b Farooq                      1   5   0   0   20
           EXTRAS           (3 b, 6 lb, 7 wd)            16
            TOTAL           all out                     289   (43.2 ov; 6.67 RPO)
                          

FOW: 1-4 (L Tiati (c) (+), 0.3 overs); 2-62 (C Elliott, 11.3 overs); 3-172 (L Cocrine, 26.2 overs); 
     4-200 (L Afosha, 30.4 overs); 5-203 (S Asaskia, 31.6 overs); 6-216 (D Fomleya, 33.6 overs); 
     7-251 (N Pistecial, 38.1 overs); 8-261 (S Scron, 39.3 overs); 9-282 (J Vilesti, 42.1 overs); 
     10-289 (K Sonnel, 43.2 overs)

Uncertainty Bowling
Bowler                         Ov   M   R  W   Econ  Ext
Farooq Hasan                  8.2   0  48  3   5.76  (3 wd)
W Mohammad                      4   0  37  0   9.25  (2 wd)
J Schalk                        8   0  52  1    6.5  
J Thilikarathne                10   0  58  3    5.8  
J Wessel                        6   0  37  0   6.17  (2 wd)
Naseem Latif                    7   0  50  2   7.14  

Uncertainty Batting   (Target: 290)
Batter                                                    R   B  4s  6s   SR
Shahbaz Bahawalanzai (+)    c Tiati (+) b Pistecial      18  19   3   0   94.74
A Cooper                    c&b Pistecial                56  77   4   0   72.73
J Harper                    st Tiati (+) b Sonnel        12  18   1   0   66.67
P Joshi                     c Asaskia b Pistecial        62  80   6   1   77.5
N Miller (c)                lbw b Afosha                  9  13   0   0   69.23
J Schalk                    b Asaskia                    57  54   7   1  105.56
Naseem Latif                c Asaskia b Vilesti          15  26   1   0   57.69
J Thilikarathne             not out                       5  12   0   0   41.67
W Mohammad                  not out                       0   1   0   0    
           EXTRAS           (2 b, 1 lb, 5 wd)             8
            TOTAL           for 7 wickets               242   (50 ov; 4.84 RPO)
Did not bat:              J Wessel, Farooq Hasan

FOW: 1-30 (Shahbaz Bahawalanzai (+), 6.4 overs); 2-55 (J Harper, 12.1 overs); 3-112 (A Cooper, 26.3 overs); 
     4-131 (N Miller (c), 30.4 overs); 5-179 (P Joshi, 37.1 overs); 6-216 (Naseem Latif, 45.2 overs); 
     7-242 (J Schalk, 49.5 overs)

Sylestone Bowling
Bowler                         Ov   M   R  W   Econ  Ext
N Pistecial                    10   1  46  3    4.6  (1 wd)
S Scron                         7   1  23  0   3.29  
J Vilesti                      10   0  55  1    5.5  (1 wd)
K Sonnel                       10   0  47  1    4.7  (1 wd)
S Asaskia                       6   0  37  1   6.17  (1 wd)
L Afosha                        5   0  26  1    5.2  
C Elliott                       2   0   5  0    2.5  (1 wd)

Venue: Ogre Street Cricket Ground, Ogre Street, Brookstation
Match number: Match 92
Toss: Uncertainty won the toss and elected to bowl
Season/Tournament: GCF ODI World Trophy III
Matchdays: Matchday Six
Player of the Match: Lachlan Cocrine (SYL)
Debut: none
Umpires: unknown
TV Umpire: unknown
Reserve Umpire: unknown
Match Referee: unknown
Match Result: Sylestone win by 47 runs

---

MD7 XI vs Eastfield Lodge @ Venus Gardens, Scroton, Brookstation

1. Luke Tiati (c) (+)
2. Caitlyn Elliott
3. Daniel Fomleya
4. Lachlan Cocrine
5. Liam Afosha
6. Jack Martin
7. Ashton Stealom
8. Broughton Hall
9. Samuel Scron
10. Joshua Vilesti
11. Kate Sonnel

[Eastfield Lodge]

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Sport >>> Cricket >>> ODI World Trophy III

Atrocious pitch preparation leaves Eastfielder hopes in the balance

Batsmen								Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR
W Baier-Gallard					b R Doudie	10	20	0	0	50.00
U Darryn-Pelletier	run out (E Sindjen)			72	107	3	3	67.29
A Abdul Ghani					not out		82	116	2	1	70.69
K Lunt						not out		37	57	2	0	64.91
Extras						8wd, 4nb, 2lb	14
							Total	215/2 (50 overs)
FOW: Baier-Gallard 24-1 (7.2), Darryn-Pelletier 146-2 (35.1)
Did not bat: M Gracelyn, N Sheasby, B al Din, A Lie, S Bukhari, K Strachan, E Fernandez

Bowlers		O	M	R	W	Econ
F Balgula	10	0	38	0	3.80
T Kentocks	10	1	51	0	5.10
S Massoin	9	1	44	0	4.89
D Aulbort	8	1	21	0	2.63
R Doudie	9	2	45	1	5.00
W Eutaw		4	0	16	0	4.00

Batsman							Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR
A Hurnamb				b A Lie		39	49	1	1	79.59
F Gorig		run out (W Baier-Gallard)		12	17	0	0	70.59
Z Bostwa	c (A Abdul Ghani)	b K Strachan	12	16	0	0	75.00
E Sindjen	c (B al Din)		b A Lie		25	17	3	1	147.06
P Tallung	c (E Fernandez)		b A Lie		44	33	2	1	133.33
R Doudie				not out		28	34	1	1	82.35
W Eutaw					not out		44	29	3	1	151.72
Extras					9wd, 3nb	12
						Total	216/5 (32.3 overs)
FOW: Gorig 24-1 (6.0), Bostwa 51-2 (11.3), Hurnamb 80-3 (15.5), Sindjen 141-4 (22.5), Tallung 141-5 (23.0)
Did not bat: S Massoin, D Aulbort, F Balgula, T Kentocks

Bowler		O	M	R	W	Econ
E Fernandez	6	0	32	0	5.33
S Bukhari	6	0	22	0	3.67
K Strachan	5	0	39	1	7.80
N Sheasby	5	0	43	0	8.60
B al Din	4.3	0	38	0	8.44
A Lie		6	0	42	3	7.00

GCF ODI World Trophy III Group C - Matchday 6

Rundel win the toss and opt to bowl first
Eastfield Lodge: 215/2 (50 overs)
Rundel: 216/5 (32.3 overs)
Rundel win by 5 wickets

Terrible pitch preparation at the Ogre Street ground in played havoc in this penultimate group stage match, as group leaders Eastfield Lodge succumbed to an incredibly heavy defeat against 4th place Rundel, a result that puts their chances of qualification on a knife-edge.

Going into the game, it was pretty clear what was required of the Eastfield Lodge team - win one of their remaining two matches, and they would secure a place in the knockouts. And this game against an unranked ODI side in Rundel was seen to be the better chance of securing that win compared to the 4th best ODI side in the world on the final matchday. However, Rundel have had international limited overs cricketing experience before, with two T20 world cups under their belt, and have so far shown they belong at this stage, with 3 wins in their 5 matches so far. The conditions were fairly unremarkable, a bit of cloud cover but nothing too extreme. However, the pitch was another matter - as it transpired, the Ogre Street groundsmen had just forgotten about today’s match and slept in, leaving the track cracked up from the two matches played in the last two days, Somehow, the umpires passed the pitch as playable, despite protest from Sydney Bukhari and co. Rundel won the toss, and wisely chose to field, as their heavily spin-favoured line-up looked to take advantage of the turning pitch.

And take advantage they did, with Baier-Gallard and Darryn-Pelletier unable to score more than singles in the opening overs of the match, nicking thick edges off the pace bowling of Balgula and Kentocks - Kentocks especially showing off with a maiden in his 2nd over of the match. Once the cracks opened up more, in came the spinners, with immediate dividends as Baier-Gallard completely misjudged Rikkel Doudie’s 2nd ball of the over - a googly from the all rounder which the opener could only chop straight into the middle of leg stump, Baier-Gallard exiting the pitch for a miserable 10 off 20 balls. Darryn-Pelletier was handling things a little better, and even maintained some semblance of a run rate, including a beautiful flicked effort off Kentocks down to mid-wicket for the first boundary of the match. He ended that over with a sweeped effort that just cleared the outstretched hands of Balgula on the deep square leg boundary in what proved to be the highest scoring over of the Eastfielders innings with a total of 12.

Arjun Abdul Ghani joined in at the other end, but also found it hard going, both him and Darryn-Pelletier resorting to singles and doubles to build what was effectively a test innings as the run rate remained firmly below 4 - Abdul Ghani’s first boundary brought his score to 30, as he nicked a thick inside edge off a Balgula full toss that ran out to the fine leg boundary. Darryn-Pelletier added the game’s second and third sixes over the next three overs to bring up his half century halfway through the innings, smashing both Massion and Doudie back over their heads and just clearing the boundary line. Both batsmen continued to build slowly, as the pitch continued to deteriorate and turn wildly - the lack of pace action from the Rundler bowlers seemingly the only thing preventing wickets being taken. Darryn-Pelletier struck back to back fours in the 35th over, first a neat little cover drive that beat the outstretched arm of Patskie Tallung for four, before a mishit slog down to cow corner off Massoin was dropped over the boundary by Zhobie Bostwa. It wasn’t a drop that was punished much though, as the following over saw the batsman run out through a brilliant direct hit from Evliny Sindjen at cover, Darryn-Pelletier walking for 72.

Katryn Lunt came into the attack, and tried her best to accelerate the run rate, but the horrendous pitch offered nothing, especially with Danyal Aulbort bowling so defensively at an economy below three. The next five overs all went for less than three runs each, with both Lunt and Abdul Ghani struggling to predict the pitch - they both began to advance up the pitch in order to meet the ball and try to manage it that way with some more success. Lunt also benefited from the short stuff as well, hooking some bouncers for a pair of boundaries at fine and square leg, whilst at the other end, Abdul Ghani added another six to the dismal boundary total off Balgula, advancing down the pitch and smacking it over long-on. The two continued to fight the pitch and eke out some runs, and despite the run rate picking up to 5 in final few overs, it wasn’t enough to leave a respectable score, setting Rundel a meagre target of 216 to win. And to make matters worse, the groundsmen appeared with the heavy rollers in the interim, flattening up the pitch just in time for the second innings.

Nonetheless, the Rundler team were used to spin and slow pitches, and despite the flattening, the pitch remained difficult for pace, which the Eastfield Lodge were set up for. That much was self-evident in the first wicket partnership, which started off on a much better foot than the opening innings as Abeneg Hurnamb and Fipkin Gorig both set out on the front foot, Hurnamb taking out Elly Fernandez to the boundary with a precise cover drive in the first over of the match. Gorig was the first to fall though, matching the first wicket stand in the opening innings of 24 but in 7 balls less as a miscommunication saw the Rundler batsman react slowly and stuck in no-man’s land after Hurnamb cut a short ball straight to backward point, Baier-Gallard with the direct throw at the striker’s end to take the first wicket - the fielding side’s only real hope was to bowl out their opponents within the total as they were perfectly at home with the run rate on this pitch. Zombie Bostwa picked up where Gorig left off, nicking singles and doubles on the regular for a short cameo, before being caught at deep mid-wicket taking on a shorter ball from Kalah Strachan having just brought up the 50 run mark in the innings. Whilst Syndey Bukhari was the only bowler to keep the run rate in check with some good spin, Hurnamb was happily picking off the pace bowlers, before missing a peach of an inswinger from Amelie Lie.

With Rundel now 80-3, the middle order came in to bat, and the foregone conclusion was set into motion by Evliny Sindjen, who decided not to sit back and defend but started taking it to the bowlers, hitting four boundaries in his brief 17 ball spell, including a ludicrous ramped six off Strachan on top of fours against Badr al Din and Neva Sheasby. At the other end, Patskie Tallung wasn’t sitting back either, providing the steady stream of runs and remaining composed whilst Sindjen went hell for leather - Tallung was dropped short of deep mid-wicket by Abdul Ghani on 10 from a mistimed pull shot, which he then followed up by clearing square leg with massive six. That lasted until the 23rd over, where Lie finally dismissed Sindjen who was caught at third man by al Din after miscuing a short ball. Tallung had crossed over with the running, only to be dismissed the following ball by Lie, this time caught out at point by Fernandez after an attempted cut. Things were looking up for the bowling side, with Rundel reduced to 141-5, but 75 runs with more than 25 overs to play is not much of a target at all. Rikkel Doudie and Wilk Eutaw saw the match home from that point on, Eutaw in particular dismissing Lie’s hat-trick ball with an emphatic six over square leg, a shot that was matched by Doudie for the game winning runs in the 33rd over off Strachan.

With one game to go, Rundel move to the top of the table with that significant net run rate jump following Darmen’s similarly sizeable loss to hosts Brookstation, leaving 6 sides with a chance of qualifying to the knockouts. Eastfield Lodge in 2nd face 5th place Sylestone, but with a worse net run rate going into the game - a win for Sylestone would see them leapfrog the Imperial Commonwealth regardless of score, and leave Eastfield Lodge needing either a loss from Darmen against bottom of the table Cyborg Holland, or a very narrow win for Brookstation against Corridor of Uncertainty to leave top four qualification up to net run rate. All to play for, unfortunately.

XI to play Sylestone: Baier-Gallard, Darryn-Pelletier, Abdul Ghani, Lunt, Gracelyn (wk), Sheasby, al Din, Lie, Bukhari, Procter, Fernandez

[The Sarian]

[Krytenia]

The Cardiac Kryties
Angus Haggerston reports from Aubury

Six games played, four games won, and three occasions as part of those wins where Brigham Hill has been called on to bat. It may be a controversial opinion, but maybe, just maybe, Krytenia need to dial it back a notch with the bat. Don't get me wrong, Damon Stenson clubbing the ball hither and yon, and Diego Aquino treating opposition with contempt, are an absolute joy to watch. It's just that if the Stars keep walking the tightrope between victory and defeat, cardiology wards in Emberton may not be able to take the strain.

It's not even like any particular player is to blame for putting undue stress on those that follow them. The middle order especially has been good for picking up runs. It's more that there is a culture of aggressive batting that has led to players losing their wickets in a fashion that maybe they shouldn't. Admittedly, for Gavin Udall it's practically his stock in trade, but the likes of Aquino, Stenson, and Saxon should maybe be practicing a little more self-preservation.

The flip side of the coin, of course, is that it's working. Krytenia, despite this seeming lack of care for their own wickets, have won all three of their games when they've ended their innings nine down. That doesn't quell the fear, though. It seems only a matter of time before the team leave themselves too much to do in their last wicket stand. Hill can only fend off so many, after all; we all know he's not in the team for his batting prowess.

There is one game left before things get to the knockouts. Barring a complete capitulation against Liventia, and three other results going against them, Krytenia will qualify from the group stage. Be warned, though; there's a good chance our first opponents in the knockouts will be one of the top sides in the tournament, fellow Anaians Ko-oren or the Plough Islands. Though we very much had the former's number in the AODICC, and we know the latter almost as well as we know ourselves, playing with such reckless abandon could well see us getting a rude awakening very quickly.

[Rundel]

The Annasholm Sentinel

Wilk Eutaw has admitted that Rundel's upset victory over Eastfield Lodge was "an opportunistic result," but denied the suggestion that taking advantage of the frankly appalling conditions at Ogre Street was slightly unsporting. "Cricket's a grand old game with many honorable traditions, foremost among which is placing a great deal of importance on the outcome of a tossed coin," said Eutaw, on the result which allowed Rundel's spin bowlers to deliver first. "Every side will have different strengths and weaknesses. Some teams will have more experience at this level. The host nations will have their home fans behind them. Those of us used to perennially dreary conditions have not only thereby built character, but also may find ourselves with a modest benefit on well-used pitches."

While the Eastfield Lodge team lost only two wickets, they were held to a mere 215 runs, a total which Rundel surpassed in their thirty-third over batting. That the groundsmen chose to tidy up the pitch between innings was "fortuitous but not decisive," according to the unconvincing Eutaw. "It's a long day for the fans--well, not so long given how quick our innings went--but they want a chance to get tea and percolate on the possible group outcomes. Besides, the pitch is hosting all four games for this group in quick succession, you can't blame the groundsmen if they want to go home after the match concludes just like the rest of us."

Rundel were aggressive in their chase, leading to several dismissals; three wickets fell during Amelie Lie's overs. "It just goes to show you that anyone, no matter how skillful, will be laid low by A Lie," summarized Skurgway representative Amshai Ercon, failing to understand the box score. "One must strive to live up to scrupulous and unflinching honesty in all things, most importantly one's own transgressions and shortcomings, and almost as importantly those of thy kinsfolk, ancestors, and anyone else who you can possibly be blamed for."

"Verily," Ercon continued, "had Eutaw and his comrades sinned in their decision to bowl first, we most certainly would have decried such wickedness and made penitence most woefully. What is even the point of having a national team if thou cannot become so wholly absorbed in patriotic identity?"

[Milchama]

"Three game losing streak"

"Three game losing streak"

"That's bad"

"Agreed"

"What happened?"

"Our batting has sucked, our bowling has been mediocre, and we've kept losing"

"So what should we do?"

"We should sleep"

"After that"

"Eat"

"After that"

"Go to shul"

"After that"

"Talk to Margaret"

"Oh that's a good idea"

"Yeah we haven't done that all tournament"

"Yeah she might need a refresher"

"I mean it can't hurt right?"

"Certainly not, and, more importantly, we're sucking right now and could use any help we can get to get better"

"So then I guess that's the idea"

"Oh it's definitely the move"

"Well that and subbing out Ross for Melst at the top of the order"

"Yeah but that's clearly going to happen"

"Fair enough"

"So then here we go"

"Do as I do and say as I say"

''Ringa pakia!''
''Uma tiraha!''
''Turi whatia!''
''Hope whai ake!''
''Waewae takahia kia kino!''
''Ka mate, ka mate''
''Ka ora, ka ora''
''Ka mate, ka mate''
''Ka ora, ka ora''
''Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru''
''Nāna nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te rā''
''Ā upane, ka upane''
''Whiti te rā, hī!''

"Now repeat after me!"

"Forini! Forini!"
"Finidi! Finidi!"
"George! George!"
"Oh Brother! Oh brother!"

*They strip and run around for 6 minutes*

"We pray the Margaret of SnubNose 38 and Random Number God that you may deliver us victory over Kimi-Suomi and any other infidels that we face in international play"

"Sacrifice the Rubber Chicken!"

*Swoosh of an axe and the chicken is dead*

"Margaret we pray that you take this sacrifice of a rubber chicken in good faith and that by your deliverance Milchama does well in all international competitions"

"Come on You Warriors!"

"Let's Go Milchama!"

[The Plough Islands]

Apologies to everyone for the slightly lackluster last few RPs - it turns out it's actually quite hard to roleplay when you work in a government that's basically collapsing, who'd have thunk :( it's also been waaay too hot and humid up here - which is not, I imagine, a problem that Kevin and his team will be having in Mawryshire right now...
Hopefully this is a little better though; I'm starting to hopefully get back into a rhythm and enjoy myself a little more, although I'm not quite sure what it says about me that I find dissecting tournament formats fun. My thanks to the user behind West Barack & East Obama for giving me a lot of latitude - with the scores we've been having, it's been quite difficult to remain 100% serious, and I hope I've captured the spirit that you intended with this roleplay! Good luck to Sajnur too ahead of our match - given the chaos that's been going on in other groups, I feel quite relieved that we've somehow secured qualification already. Hopefully everyone else gets the results they were hoping for today!

---

WORLD TROPHY: DIFFICULT ROAD AHEAD FOR FOXES IN KNOCKOUTS
by Ian Goswell, Chief Cricket Correspondent for Plough Radio, in Llandy

With one match remaining, the Plough Islands have managed to secure their progression from Group B and ensured that they stay active in the multiverse's most important limited overs competition for at least a few more days. Kevin Laing's team held on through a rough start to their innings in Llandy to chase 256, Sarah Wilson flicking the ball into the Mawryshire sunset to complete the win, and followers of the Foxes at home and elsewhere can now turn their minds to the next stage of the competition.
The Plough Islands were pushed all the way to earn their victory, with the tense atmosphere in Llandy elevated to high farce by the quality of the cricket played by the team claiming to be from West Barack and East Obama, under that lugubrious and faintly absurd title. Nobody on the journalists' balcony at yBherafon Hills could be quite sure whether the Obamen were legitimate and sincere in their approach or, to quote Krytenian cricket writer Angus Haggerston on the subject, "really, really committing to a bit". The existence of a purported presidential decree forbidding team sports in the nation further muddied the waters, as did the presence in the playing XI of Kate Obammus, whose dark glasses and guide dog caused some concern in the Foxes' ranks that a blind bowler must have some secret delivery in her arsenal hitherto unknown to cricket.
As it happened, Obammus' leg breaks were surprisingly conventional, albeit with a tendency to land anywhere except inside the line of off stump, and a reasonable amount of the Plough Islands' victory could be directly attributed to her overs and the eighteen official wides that were called from them. The player going by Stanley Obama, though, was far more of a threat; his raw pace accounted for both Andrew and Shauna Weaver in his first over, and it required all of Laing's accumulated experience - sharing valuable partnerships with Arnold Tyrie and Jannie Hendricks - and a little bit of luck from Wilson, who was dropped by Barack Morris with the Foxes nine down, to overcome the Obamen and secure the Plough Islands a place in the next round.
Who will await the Foxes, after the hop over the mountains to Leeshire to face Sajnur in Aubury, is rather less clear. While not as complicated as some tournaments have been in the past - unlike the inaugural World Trophy in Liventia, the format can be understood without the aid of a theoretical mathematics degree - things are not entirely straightforward once the group stage concludes, with teams in positions one and two in the group having a separate path from those ranked third and fourth. The Plough Islands are the only team in group B on ten points, so a win in Aubury would result in the Foxes finishing top of the group and headed to the massive stadia in Greencaster or Willowbourne to play the second-placed team in group A - this could be one of six teams, but our old friends from Krytenia and the Global Cricket Federation custodians, Liventia, are currently two points clear at the top of the group. Win that match, and the quarter finals await; should the Plough Islands come off second best, though, they will not be eliminated but instead drop into the other 'path', playing against a third or fourth place team for a place in the last eight.
If, however, Sajnur overcome the Plough Islands - and as we learned when they toured for three Tests in 2020, they have the squad depth and talent to make this a genuine prospect - then the Foxes could still finish top of the group, but depending on how Ko-oren and Gnejs fare against unranked opposition, could drop to second (which would guarantee playing one of Krytenia or Liventia) or even third in the final table. Progression would therefore be less assured, with the Plough Islanders travelling to Rushmore and Brookstation where a side from group C would await, and with seven of that group's eight teams still able to qualify, it would be almost impossible to predict who until the last stumps have been pulled up. Only the winner stays in the competition from that match, and they would play one more game in Brookstation against a losing first or second place finisher from groups C or D. Only after defeating them, in this route, would the Foxes be in the quarter finals.
Even with the aid of a diagram, trying to navigate the competition is enough to make this writer's head spin; for Laing, though, like a chemical reaction, the equations can be simplified a little. "We are just trying to treat every game from now as though it is a knockout", says the captain over cereal in Llandy. "We are aware of all the permutations and the different paths and what is going on in the other groups, but it is not our responsibility to be thinking of them - that is yours, and Andrew's and Emily's, and poor Lourens's! We just need to go out and unite and play the best cricket that we can find within ourselves. If we can stay in control of our own destiny, everything becomes a lot more achievable..."

PLOUGH ISLANDS CRICKET ASSOCIATION
XI FOR WORLD TROPHY VS.     SAJNUR

        PLAYER           BAT   BOW
#14 ANL Weaver           RHB      
#10 AC  Leggett          RHB   RLB
#15 SLC Weaver           RHB   RLB
#13 ADM Tyrie            RHB   RLB
#1  KCT Laing (c)        RHB   RMD
#7  AG  Fairfield        LHB   SLU
#8  AJ  Hendricks        RHB   RLB
#5  TM  Bleasdale (w)    RHB      
#2  DV  Andreyev         RHB   RFM
#16 SH  Wilson           RHB   ROB
#11 NA  Salisbury        LHB   SLA