*Official* Pakistan in CWLand

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Yousuf lights up day one
3rd Test - Day 1 - Cricket Web XI vs Pakistan - CWBCC Stadium

A brilliant ton by Mohammad Yousuf starred on the opening day of the crucial thrd Test match at CWBCC Stadium. Yousuf had scored just 121 runs in 4 innings heading into the match and came to the crease at 86-2, but arrested any potential slide and put Pakistan into a decent position at the end of the day.

Despite his 15 runs in the first two Tests, Pakistan persisted with Salman Butt and he looked keen on rewarding the faith and surviving the Borcich new ball attack. But with the opening stand on 39 and Borcich nearing the end of his spell, the inevitable occurred. Butt looked to drive a full delivery and only succeeded in nicking it chest high to second slip. Pakistan went to lunch without further loss, then captain Shoaib Malik perished for 31 early in the second session. The most experienced partnership in the team came together, in Younis and Yousuf. They batted with the sufficient prestige to justify the status and put on 76 runs in quick time.

Another delightful attack by Mohammad Yousuf
© Getty Images (originally shown on BBC)

Pakistan looked to be getting on top of the bowlers when Mike Wilson struck. He surprised Younis with a sharp bouncer and the ensuing hook shot lacked control and saw him caught behind square. Again the Webbers began to fade with Misbah-ul-Haq looking solid at the crease. But not for the first time in the series, an ominous dropped catch was quickly followed by the breakthrough. Yousuf was the man put down by Mørk when he had 61, then Neil Pickup struck for the first time with Misbah caught bat-pad for 23. Borcich was at the end of another testing spell and hit Faisal Iqbal on the pad with a sharp full delivery. The umpire thought the contact to be outside offstump and shook off the appeal.

And boosted by his good luck, Iqbal played strongly off the back foot during a sparkling knock of 36. He looked to be in full control when Wilson produced a similar delivery to that of Borcich earlier. On the later occasion the umpire consented and sent the batsman back to the pavilion. It was a crucial late wicket and allowed Cricket Web XI some shares of the day. Yousuf attacked Greg Thomas to reach his hundred and kissed the turf to commemorate the achievement. But the same bowler had some measure of a last laugh by trapping Kamran Akmal lbw for 2, long before he got his feet moving. Pakistan undoubtedly regretted not using a night-watchman before the dismissal, and went to stumps on 298-6.

Pakistan 1st innings 298-6 (90 overs)
Mohammad Yousuf 101*, Younis Khan 54, Faisal Iqbal 36, Sohail Tanvir 2*
MW Wilson 2-29

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

So Dav didn't play?

Would appreciate an XI tbh.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Unchanged from 2nd Test.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Obviously, after such a good performance

 

[superkingdave]

Hopefully we'll get a better result this match. Seems my test career is on hold again.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Confident CW XI ride on Young ton
3rd Test - Day 2 - Cricket Web XI vs Pakistan - CWBCC Stadium

Pete Young scored his 7th Test hundred and headlined a very impressive showing by Cricket Web XI top order in assuming control of the deciding third Test. Greg Thomas was at his best to improve to a 4-wicket haul and quickly wrap up the Pakistan tail in the morning. CW XI then made use of the poor standard of Pakistan's fielding and finished the day in the lead by 9 runs with 7 wickets still intact.

Facing up to Pakistan's 318, CW XI started their reply with an hour and a half to go to lunch. As usual Thamba Mamesh was in no mood to poke about against the new ball, so he offered a couple of tough chances in the early going. He ticked along at a swift pace to 25 before a thick edge flew into the uncharacteristically safe gloves of Kamran Akmal. Young joined Mørk, who hoped to build on the form he rediscovered in his last innings. But fluency was not forthcoming and he was dropped by Malik at the start of the second session. He looked up the sky, thankful for his luck, and punished a short ball for a boundary behind square later in the over. There seemed a renewed spring in the step for Mørk and he fairly raced to 50 after his moment of weakness. But on 58 he was a bit overconfident in attacking Akhtar off the back foot, and dragged the ball onto his stumps.

Mørk accelerated from a slow start
© AP (originally shown on Daily Life)

Andrew Cloete was dropped on 0 and accompanied Young to tea on 203-2. The final session was almost entirely grey. CW XI only lost Cloete for a breezy 44 and added 124 runs to the score after tea. Young marched on trouble-free and emphatically sealed his hundred with a thunderous pull shot against the pace of Akhtar. The shot and the celebration came with a few words of wisdom to the bowler from Young- an image that epitomized the day's effort. There was time too for Butler to reach his milestone, when a steady start gave way to an explosive charge past fifty. By the close he had 61 and Young 115, and the promise of more runs was stronger than ever.

Pakistan 1st innings 318 all out (96.5 overs)
Mohammad Yousuf 117, Younis Khan 54, Faisal Iqbal 36, Shoaib Malik 31
GM Thomas 4-76, MW Wilson 3-37

Cricket Web XI 1st innings 327-3 (83 overs)
PE Young 115*, CR Butler 61*, H Mørk 58, AP Cloete 44
Danish Kaneria 1-58

Cricket Web XI lead by 9 runs with 7 first innings wickets in hand.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Pakistan fight to keep close
3rd Test - Day 3 - Cricket Web XI vs Pakistan - CWBCC Stadium

Five wickets for Danish Kaneria helped bowl out Cricket Web XI, then Younis Khan and Mohammed Yousuf united strongly to fight back into the third Test. Pakistan ended the day leading by 4 runs for the loss of 2 wickets. But with Younis (41*) and Yousuf (47*) well entrenched at the crease and engaged in a partnership of 99 runs, the tourists will hope to pose a serious challeg on day four.

Kaneria celebrates the wicket of Young
(originally shown on BBC.co.uk)

Early wickets were the call from Pakistan, but they were made to wait for more than an hour before Kaneria broke through. The legspinner outfoxed Pete Young with a googly and Misbah-ul-Haq snatched a good catch at short leg. The previous day's hero, Young walked for a fine 143 and received the standing ovation he deserved. Kaneria's miserable series looked to be turning sharply for the better when he got the ball to bounce sharply and had Rob Dauth caught behind. But Chris Butler was well on his way to a sixth Test ton, which he raised from 155 balls. He batted into the second session with Mike Wilson (42) providing explosive company and Pakistan dropping catches as often as usual.

Kaneria was the likeliest wicketttaker and did so next by bowling Butler for a cool 103. Later in the over he went around the over to Wilson and got him to turn a catch into the hands of Malik at midwicket. Shoaib Akhtar bowled Nick Borcich for 6 and Kaneria wrapped up the tail with 2 more wickets, increasing his tally to 6 in the innings. What once threatened to be an imposing lead ended on 163. The spirit with which Kaneria bowled through the day seemed to inspire Pakistan to the belief that they could stage an unlikely comeback, and by tea the openers had knocked 30 from the deficit.

After tea Pickup turned to Greg Thomas for wickets and he was not disappointed. Salman Butt survived the pair of Demeza and Borcich for the first time in the series, but flashed at a wide ball from Thomas and was caught at third man by the latter. It was a loose shot when Butt had just begun to show form, so the reaction of his captain was one of heavy disappointment. Malik realized the scale of his task, but his dismissal was hardly better. A ball from Demeza pitched on his legs, but an attempted on-drive only went as far as mid-on, where Malik's opposite number took an easy catch. Pakistan still trailed by 95 runs, so the remains of the day made for thrilling viewing. The CW XI pace attack charged in at Younis and Yousuf, but were stoutly resisted for the most part. Borcich finally procured the an edge from Younis, but the miserable Rob Dauth failed to hold onto the ball. The batsmen buckled down once again and saw stumps without further loss.

Pakistan 1st innings 318 all out (96.5 overs)
Mohammad Yousuf 117, Younis Khan 54, Faisal Iqbal 36, Shoaib Malik 31
GM Thomas 4-76, MW Wilson 3-37

Cricket Web XI 1st innings 481 all out (128.1 overs)
PE Young 143, CR Butler 103, H Mørk 58, AP Cloete 44
Danish Kaneria 6-91

Pakistan 2nd innings 167-2 (42 overs)
Mohammad Yousuf 47*, Younis Khan 41*, Salman Butt 28, Shoaib Malik 25
GM Thomas 1-30

Pakistan lead by 4 runs with 8 second innings wickets in hand.

 

[Burgey]

Jeez, Young looking more and more like KP every day.....

 

[NZTailender]

Seems I love playing Pakistan. IIRC took my 7fer against them.

Hopefully we can get them out for around 250, giving us a small chase.

Good to see Butler in form as well.

 

[Shaggy Alfresco]

Reckon Kerr could be close to Test call up

Seriously?

 

[Mister Wright]

Good chance for Cricketweb here. Will be disappointed to lose last 7 wickets for less than 200 and really apply the pressure.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Thomas and Mamesh put CW XI on the verge
3rd Test - Day 4 - Cricket Web XI vs Pakistan - CWBCC Stadium

Excellent fast bowling disrupted the momentum of Pakistan, before the Cricket Web XI openers made an easy start to the chase of 193. The Webbers resume tomorrow needing a further 43 runs to complete a memorable 2-1 series win, and Håkon Mørk (50*) and Pete Young (36*) are the men in charge.

It was a far cry from the morning session, which Pakistan started well enough. Mohammed Yousuf completed an inevitable half-century 73 balls, but the following over he padded up to Greg Thomas without adding to his 50. The wicket did not appear to trouble Younis Khan, however, and he looked as solid as ever in guiding the total past 200. Pakistan closed in on the lunch interval and Thomas gave way to Nick Borcich. Again it was a flawless move by the tactician Pickup. Borcich, his Cricket Web Black clubmate, responded with the wicket of Misbah-ul-Haq (10) in his second over and Younis (70) in his third. To remove Younis he produced a contender for the ball of the series, that pitched on offstump and jagged sharply away to have Younis caught in the slips.

From 213-5 Faisal Iqbal and Kamran Akmal tried to counterattack and get their challenge back on track. It worked to the tune of 56 runs and then the former was undone by a yorker from Demeza. The middle stump flew back and the tail end was exposed with the lead on just 106. Iqbal was still set at the crease, so CW XI took the new ball as soon as it was due to try to wrap up the tail. Thomas needed 3 balls to get Sohail Tanvir, then Yasir Arafat looked a worthy partner for brave Iqbal. He attacked Borcich for 2 fours and a six, and Iqbal showed similar resolve in reaching 58. The daring strategy brought his downfall, however, caught at mid-off to reward a slower ball.

Catch it! - Pickup takes his second catch
(originally shown on DailyLife.com)

And the fielder, Pickup, could hardly believe his luck when he took another catch to dismiss Arafat in the exact fashion an over later. At tea CW XI needed just 1 wicket to finish the innings, but dropped catches and wilted in a sloppy third session as Pakistan climbed to 355. In the end it was Thomas who rounded things off. He completed a 5-wicket haul in the innings and a fantastic return to the Test frame with a 9-wicket match haul. CW XI faced one last mountain, 193 runs large, but did so with confidence and a touch of arrogance.

By the 11th over the openers had added 53, and in the 14th Mamesh battered an annoyed Yasir Arafat for 3 fours and a six. With the last of the boundaries he passed 50, but the next ball he picked out Akhtar at long-off. The field placement reflected the resignation of Pakistan, though CW XI needed a potentially tricky 114 more at that stage. It was important then that Mørk kept his cool, and he produced a composed innings of 50 unbeaten. A keen partner, Pete Young his 3 fours and a straight six in 36 not out.

Pakistan 1st innings 318 all out (96.5 overs)
Mohammad Yousuf 117, Younis Khan 54, Faisal Iqbal 36, Shoaib Malik 31
GM Thomas 4-76, MW Wilson 3-37

Cricket Web XI 1st innings 481 all out (128.1 overs)
PE Young 143, CR Butler 103, H Mørk 58, AP Cloete 44
Danish Kaneria 6-91

Pakistan 2nd innings 355 all out (96.5 overs)
Younis Khan 70, Faisal Iqbal 58, Mohammad Yousuf 50, Salman Butt 28
GM Thomas 5-84, NA Borcich 3-83

Cricket Web XI 2nd innings 150-1 (33 overs)
T Mamesh 53, H Mørk 50*, PE Young 36*
Sohail Tanvir 1-47

Cricket Web XI need 43 runs to win with 9 wickets in hand.

 

[Agent TBY]

Great bowling by Geg. Perfect return, really.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

2-1: Webbers complete series win
3rd Test - Day 5 - Cricket Web XI vs Pakistan - CWBCC Stadium

A match that started with the pace of Travis Demeza ended with the gentle offspin of Misbah-ul-Haq, as Pete Young tucked a single behind square to complete an emphatic 9-wicket win in the third Test. With the victory Cricket Web XI wrapped up a 2-1 series win in hugely impressive fashion. Conditions were still good for batting, so Mørk and Young took care of their averages and took an hour to complete the run chase. They resumed on 150-1, needing 43 more and hit just one boundary in what was played in the session. Mørk cut a short ball from Akhtar away to celebrate the boundary, but the focus was really on Young, who added an unbeaten half-century to his first innings ton. With the achievement he secured the Man of the Match award. An unbeaten 70 marked Mørk's strong finish to the series- 3 consecutive half-centuries.

Half ton up for Pete Young
© AP/PTI (originally shown on TribuneIndia.com)

Pakistan 1st innings 318 all out (96.5 overs)
Mohammad Yousuf 117, Younis Khan 54, Faisal Iqbal 36, Shoaib Malik 31
GM Thomas 4-76, MW Wilson 3-37

Cricket Web XI 1st innings 481 all out (128.1 overs)
PE Young 143, CR Butler 103, H Mørk 58, AP Cloete 44
Danish Kaneria 6-91

Pakistan 2nd innings 355 all out (96.5 overs)
Younis Khan 70, Faisal Iqbal 58, Mohammad Yousuf 50, Salman Butt 28
GM Thomas 5-84, NA Borcich 3-83

Cricket Web XI 2nd innings 150-1 (33 overs)
H Mørk 70*, T Mamesh 53, PE Young 54*
Sohail Tanvir 1-59

Cricket Web XI won by 9 wickets.
Man of the Match: PE Young

Scorecard
Ball by Ball

 

[roseboy64]

Cooool.

 

[Indipper]

Gun performance.

 

[cbuts]

about time i could get some runs and contribute to the team. Fantastic result guys, lets keep it going for the ODI series

 

[Neil Pickup]

'Stuff.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Heh, ended up averaging nearly 70 for the series. Bizarre.

The Test team have a genuine claim to no. 2 by now I think. Wondering who Geg bribed to get to bowl that much at the tail tho.

 

[Burgey]

Good stuff fellas.