West Indies v South Africa (3992923)

Date: 06/07/2009 at 15:30
Ground: Kensington Oval

We are going to play the West Indies in our first ever test match this next monday.


Day 1 - Morning Session

A crowd of 2908 turned up at Kensington Oval stadium for the Historic inaugural BT NT Test Match.

West Indies won the toss and elected to bat on a cracked pitch.

Arnold opened the bowling with Hale, who with great bowling kept the runrate to a minimum.
Long's first ball was driven to the boundary for a 4, but his spin bowling was just too much, beating Julian and claiming the first WI wicket in the same over! Keil was supporting from the other end on his debut.

The players are off the field for lunch.

Over 35. West Indies: 79-1, runrate=2.26

Wickets -
Julian b. Long 20 (FOW: 38/1)

SQUADS:
SA:
James ©, Jenny, Delap, Fitzpatrick, Kelly, Lampard(+), Long, Keil, Arnold, Hale, Mercer

WI:
Julian ©, Hooper, Seargeant, Dancy, East, Maynard, Naykutse(+), Farquharson, Gillan, Deane, Roberts


Day 1 - Afternoon Session

So far only taken 1 wicket, SA came back on the field wanting more! The runrate was nice and low, but was not goign to help us if we do not take any wickets...

Veteran Spinner Mercer was brought into the attack to try break the partnership after lunch. However it was not to happen. The batsman slowly pondered along with SA doing all they could to get a wicket. Long was brought back into the attack and with his third over this spell got the much awaited wicket of Hooper who went back to the pavilion for 74 off 179 balls. Seargent however did not stay in long, and Long sent him packing as well for 47 off 113 balls.

Keil hungry for a debut wicket got the wicket of East who was looking to be dangerous before tea.

The players are off the field for tea.

Over 70. West Indies: 195-4, runrate=2.79

Wickets -
Hooper c. Delap b. Long 74 (FOW: 145/2)
Seargeant lbw b. Long 47 (FOW: 146/3)
East b. Keil 16 (FOW: 171/4)

Day 1 - Evening Session

With the final 40 overs to be bowled, South Africa will be hoping to get wickets and capatilise before the end of play on Day 1.

Arnold got the breakthrough giving a sitter for James at midwicket.
Last few overs WI started to push the runrate as our bowlers were showing fatique.

Long has been exceptional, or is it elite , today with 7 out of the 10 wickets. What a great match he is having!

The players are off the field for the change of innings.

Over 107. West Indies: 311-10, runrate=2.91

Long 24-6-58-7


Wickets -
Maynard c. James b. Arnold 14 (FOW: 199/5)
Naykutse c. Lampard b. Long 34 (FOW: 280/6)
Farquharson b. Long 4 (FOW: 298/7)
Dancy lbw b. Keil 84 (FOW: 310/
Deane c. Kelly b. Long 0 (FOW: 311/9)
Roberts b. Long 0 (FOW: 311/10)


3 Overs left of day 1, all SA needed to do is keep wickets, and build partnerships tomorrow.
James and Jenny opened the batting for us and will continue in the morning on 16/0

Great day of test match cricket!


*Interesting facts about today's game:*
Both captains opened the batting for their teams.
SA only gave away 12 extras in their 107 overs.
WI already has given 5 in 3 overs.
zero sixes has been scored
31 fours were hit.

Day 2 - Morning Session[/b]

Back at Kensington Oval stadium this morning SA captain James and Jenny made their way out onto the pitch.

With a first inning score of 311 to chase it would not be easy. The two openers however put bat to ball and built a solid start, pushing the runrate. Even to 6 at one stage!

James got his first Test 50 in style by hitting the first 6 of the match. Shortly after Jenny got his 50, he lost a bit of concentration and got a inside edge onto his stumps.

Delap came in to make his appearance, but manager madkk says he was a bit dazzed by the sun, thus just could not get going.


The players are off the field for lunch.

Over 38. South Africa: 141-2, runrate=3.71
Trail by 170 runs.


Wickets -
Jenny b. Gillan 52 (FOW: 121/1)
Delap c. Naykutse b. Deane 5 (FOW: 138/2)


Day 2 - Afternoon Session

Fitzpatrick and James got into the WI bowlers putting on a quick 40 partnership before got sent back to the pavilion. With 3 wickets down SA still look in control, now it is just to keep it like that.

A great ball from Gillan bowled Kelly and put SA in disseray! Next over Seargeant takes an awesome catch to send the dangerman Fitzpatrick to the changerooms.

Two new batsman at the crease, can Lampard's high wage bill show how much he is really worth? Also will SA's All-Rounder who single handedly take WI apart yesterday, show what he can do with the bat?

46 Run partnership helped steady SA to 243 before Long gave an easy catch for East. Next over Gillan bowled Lampard for 32 and putting the WI on the front foot.

The players are off the field for tea.

Over 73. South Africa: 273-7, runrate=3.74
Trail by 38 runs.

Wickets -
James c. Gillan b. Farquharson 90 (FOW: 179/3)
Kelly b. Gillan 4 (FOW: 197/4)
c. Seargeant b. Deane 39 (FOW: 197/5)
Long c. East b. Roberts 18 (FOW: 243/6)
Lampard b. Gillan 32 (FOW: 249/7)

Day 2 - Evening Session

Trailing by 38 runs and 3 wickets in hand, survival instincts have kicked in at the SA camp. Debutant Keil was in with AR Arnold to try get SA as close as possible to the WI first inning score.

Keil however was cought plumb in front and it was the umpire to end his first batting spel. Hale was not on the pitch very long and Mercer had to go and assist Arnold to get SA 19 runs short of WI's first innings score.

The players are off the field for the change of innings.

Over 85. South Africa: 292-10, runrate=3.44
Trail by 19 runs. (West Indies 311-10)

With a 19 run deficit, SA bowlers will need to take wickets early and try get at least 3 to 4 batsman back into the stands before the end of days play.

Arnold and Hale opened the bowling again for SA and Arnold struck first this time sending the WI captain back to the duggout for 16, before he could better his first innings score of 20.

Hale got his support wickets with a great cought and bowl getting Hooper and then an over later getting Seargeant leg before, putting WI at 42/3. Starting to look like the start SA needed!

Wickets -
Keil lbw b. Farquharson 8 (FOW: 278/
Hale b. Roberts 0 (FOW: 281/9)
Mercer c. Julian b. Farquharson 1 (FOW: 292/10)

Julian lbw b. Arnold 16 (FOW: 22/1)
Hooper c & b. Hale 16 (FOW: 40/2)
Seargeant lbw b. Hale 9 (FOW: 41/3)
East c. Lampard b. Keil 5 (FOW: 47/4)

More wickets tomorrow and then to chase down the lead WI set and try get the win!

That would a great effort for the boys in the opening Test match.

Great effort by the SA Nat team, hopefully we can get a win!

Day 3 - Morning Session

The two West Indian batsman made their way onto the pitch knowing that a huge lead will need to be made.

Soon after Maynard made his 50 Mercer read his move early and adjusted his pitch and Fitzpatrick did the rest.

Dancy and Naykutse then started with the assault agaisnt South Africa.

The players are off the field for lunch.

Over 63. West Indies: 192-5, runrate=3.05 (1st Inn: 311-10)
Lead by 211 runs.


Wickets -
Maynard c. Fitzpatrick b. Mercer 60 (FOW: 145/5)


Day 3 - Afternoon Session

The two showed what real NT test matches are made of and started, what could become the match winning innings in the match!
SA bowlers tried everything and James almost pulling his hair out, just could not break this partnership.
With tea coming up the duo built a 140 run partnership with both almsot with centuries each, not to mention increasing their comanding lead.

The players are off the field for tea.

Over 98. West Indies: 284-5, runrate=2.90 (1st Inn: 311-10)
Lead by 303 runs.

Wickets -

Day 3 - Evening Session

Naykutse reaching his ton first got was the first to loose his wicket. Great wicket for Keil breaking the partnership that was looking unstoppable.
Another partnership was put to stop with debutant Keil striking again.
Long got the edge of Gillan putting the pressure on WI tail.

With the day almost finished WI batsman lost concentration and Arnold and Hale cleant up the Tail.
A great knock by Dancy saw him ending on 150 not out and help WI leave a huge total for SA to chase.

The players are off the field for the change of innings.

Last 3 overs of the day, SA openers will just hope to survive and then give it all or nothing tomorrow, chasing 420 runs to try clintch the first Test match between these two countries.

Over 3. South Africa: 8-0, runrate=2.67
Trail by 412 runs.

Wickets -
Naykutse c & b. Keil 109 (FOW: 332/6)
Farquharson c. Lampard b. Keil 14 (FOW: 370/7)
Gillan c. Lampard b. Long 2 (FOW: 375/
Deane c. Jenny b. Arnold 4 (FOW: 390/9)
Roberts c & b. Hale 3 (FOW: 401/10)