CricSim Herald: Bannerman Shield Round 3

By Lloyd Townsend

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Crusaders vs Cyclones at The Castle

In one of the most stunning upsets in recent memory, the Cyclones pulled off a heist of epic proportions to snag an away victory at the home of the Crusaders.

<a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=183>N Hunt</a> was the star of the show, scoring 57, an unbeaten 37* and a breathtaking 6/36 including a match-winning hat-trick.

It only took two balls for spearhead <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=337>JH Ridd</a> to break through the Cyclones lineup, with new ball partner <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=896>JJD Heads</a> also taking an early wicket. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=456>EI Morris</a> steadied the ship though with his patient 86 before <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=918>JD Hurricane</a> made the most of his time at the crease, hitting a patient 126 alongside Hunt's half-century.

Crusaders stalwart <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=381>E Ames</a> opened the innings in convincing fashion, scoring 156 at the top of the order alongside <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=89>P Retzel</a> - the latter was run out for 82 and returned to the dressing rooms seething after an awful mix-up. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=266>TA Miokovic</a> and <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=966>CL Warrington</a> again showed their form, scoring 64 and 76. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=443>MJ Edwards</a> was rewarded for his toil, finishing with 4/110.

Despite <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=447>JJ Ritchie</a> taking 5/92 and <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=337>JH Ridd</a> once again performing with 4/91, the Cyclones scored 363 in their second innings, setting up a difficult task for the Crusaders. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=83>AM Farhat</a> (92), <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=907>IV Narang</a> (65) and <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=102>TR Man</a> (67) batted well without converting, unlike <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=940>GIMH Martyn</a> - the Englishman was out for a king pair.

<a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=443>MJ Edwards</a> gave the Crusaders headaches by taking two wickets in his first spell, but the match was thrown into chaos when the ball went to the hero of the moment, @H Hunt - <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=159>M Perry</a> was out for 43 whilst <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=966>CL Warrington</a> resisted. The 'Saders tail could simply not handle the pressure from the big Victorian. His surge obliterated the limp tail, giving the Cyclones a victory that baffled many an onlooker.

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Allstars vs Pumas at Gunnstar Rectangle

Although they did it tough, the Allstars managed to scrape a brilliant two-wicket win over the Pumas at Gunnstar Rectangle, primarily engineered by a third-innings bag of wickets from <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=39>AD Funkotron</a>.

<a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=343>RK Fittaman</a> scored a whimsical 90 at first drop, scoring freely with a lovely assortment of drives and silky cut shots. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=396>AJ Son</a> also helped bring the total along to the final 305 - he scored 52, batting cleverly with the Pumas tail.

<a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=917>DM Diggler</a> took a wicket with his second ball and it spelt trouble for the Allstars - they lost wickets consistently, with <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=154>AJ O'Driscoll</a> being the only batsman to pass 50 - his 59 enabling the 'Stars to post a passable 228.

Apart from <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=458>S Bakkum</a> scoring a breezy, untroubled 40 before he was out to <a href=http://www.thegameofcricket.net/site/players.php?id=145>BA Storer</a> (3/25), the Pumas batting lineup looked awful second time around - <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=39>AD Funkotron</a> was simply too good, taking 5/56 and leaving the Pumas shellshocked, all out for 156.

The chase may not have seemed overly difficult, but it became an epic as a result of some magnificent bowling from <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=58>SA Flack</a> and <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=314>AD Hunt</a>. Both bowlers claimed three scalps, but four Allstars were able to rise to the challenge - <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=41>BJT Manera</a> (46), <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=943>LV Himann</a> (51), <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=63>B Olsen</a> (47) and <a href=http://www.thegameofcricket.net/site/players.php?id=145>BA Storer</a> (41) ensured that the 'Stars reached the target of 234 with two wickets to spare.

They may have limped over the line, but it was an important victory for the Allstars.

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Gamblers vs Vipers at The Strip

A last minute collapse from the Gamblers at their home ground gifted the Vipers a win they perhaps should have achieved with less drama. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=332>WC Welker</a> proved the match-winner, taking eight wickets for the match.

<a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=191>T Delonge</a> scored his second century of season 12 - his 120 helped the Vipers to a daunting 493. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=457>S Verigotta</a> (64) and <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=362>JE McGrath</a> (80) were also instrumental.

<a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=72>A Vago</a> walked out to open the innings for the Gamblers knowing fully well that his side were in deep trouble. After crunching 15 fours and 4 sixes, Vago's stoic innings finally ended on 192. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=160>BS Read</a> was useful in his 70 and <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=139>BL Hornby</a> scored a vital 93, managing to hold up the two most dangerous looking bowlers in <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=332>WC Welker</a> and <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=339>BOY Blunder</a>. The two picked up four wickets each, but the Gamblers edged their noses in front with 536 gutsy runs.

All of a sudden, the Vipers in danger of defeat. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=191>T Delonge</a> and <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=457>S Verigotta</a> were again in the action, taking 58 and 54 before they were removed by <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=96>BJ Taylor</a> - the latter taking 5/80, continuing a solid campaign so far.

The Gamblers had a chase of only 168 to win, and despite a double breakthrough from <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=410>GJ Weaver</a>, they looked set to take a remarkable victory. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=112>BJ Gemmell</a> was at the crease seeing the ball well, having scored 61 - then the ball went to <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=332>WC Welker</a>. The crumbling pitch provided plenty of assistance for the leggie, who instigated a brutal collapse by removing Gemmell, then tearing apart the tail.

The Gamblers fell bitterly short of a brilliant win - 15 runs was the final difference.

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Ravens vs SWXI at Ravens Unkindness

The result may have been predictable, but the SWXI did provide some resistance before going down to the rampant Ravens.

<a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=54>JP Thornton</a> scored a big century to start the match on a high note for the oldest club in CricSim - he picked up @142 before the ever-present <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=37>RG Cribb</a> found a way through his gate. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=171>AJ Parker</a> again scored fluidly, taking 81 runs - <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=40>DT Petrucci</a> was beside him for a profitable period of time, he himself scoring 64.

Showing true grit, the Ravens upped the ante, taking 536 runs off the lacklustre Sticky Wickets bowling attack and surpassing their first innings 447 with ease. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=376>MJ Deane</a> (109) tonned up alongside <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=358>CJ Laing</a> (113), with <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=928>SSD Dong</a> continuing his reliable form with 60 runs. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=65>P Orr</a> decided to hit out in the lower order and demoralised the SWXI with his 64 off 80 balls. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=127>SDR Laing</a> was the only bowler to walk away with merit with 5/124.

<a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=57>DG Speirs</a> (79) tried earnestly to steer the Stickies to a match-winning position, but it seemed no-one wanted to partner him. <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=50>JB Dempsey</a> managed an unbeaten 44, but the rest of the side crumbled under the relentless Ravens pressure.

<a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=895>SP Phlegm</a> tapped 74 runs to guide the Ravens home with five wickets to spare - <a href=http://cricsim.com/site/players.php?id=376>MJ Deane</a> unbeaten on 41 yet again a star of the show.