Preview – Smeda 2nd XI v Blue Balls

In a friendly encounter this weekend at T&N Smeda Stadium, Smeda 2nd XI takes on Blue Balls.

The 2nd XI have failed to show any depth in their ranks as they have been beaten horribly all season. The team has changed every week and there has been no continuity in team selection. While these are all just friendly matches, the main purpose for Smeda XI is to see who else is capable of joining the 1st XI when necessary. So far the only graduates this season have been Graeme Jeremy and Eddie Ayres, while Geoff Kenny used his time at 2nd XI to get some runs and return to the 1st XI starting line-up. Danny Giles is also one who has just recently found a place in the OD team at the expense of Marc Weeks, and who has also played well in his brief innings’ for 2nd XI.

For the coming encounter, Geoff Kenny is given another chance to improve on his current form. He will open with Rohana Ahad, the new wicket-keeper. This will be a huge challenge for the 17-year old Ahad as this will be his first match opening and also keeping. Danny Giles is given a chance to improve on his brief innings with 1st XI by coming in at number 3 with Marc Weeks following at 4.

The bowling attack includes Graham Harrison for only his second start of the season. He has not had an opportunity to show his skills and so was given preference over Ciaran Winder who had played for the 1st XI during the week. After Sunday’s friendly, the entire squad would have been given a chance to play this week, allowing for the coaching and selection staff to see what combinations are working and where improvement is needed.

2nd XI captain, Dan Mangweni, “This is just another opportunity for the back-up players to showcase their skills. I’m looking forward to my second game in charge and hope to be a good motivator.”

Mangweni on Ahad’s new role, “Ro has taken the opportunities with both hands, excuse the pun, and is looking forward to challenging for the keeper berth in the 1st team.”

With Chris Gossland’s very inconsistent form with the bat this season, there’s no wonder that another backup was being looked at within the squad. Marc Weeks is a useful keeper, but has already indicated that he does not want the job permanently.

Team for Sunday: Kenny, Ahad(wk), Giles, Weeks, Mangweni, Capp, Rorke, Ransom, Branson, Harrison, Wright-Phillips. 12th: Mokoena.

So close in front of a near-capacity crowd

Smeda XI finally put together a match display that was worth watching as the 7,000+ spectators filled the seats to watch a close encounter between the home side and Rats, seeing the visitors win in the penultimate over.

The pitch for the week’s 3-day game was the one used for this match, so effectively day 4 of the pitch-use. The wicket showed lots of turn, but Clemence from Rats was the only one able to use it to full advantage, although Ciaran Winder’s chinamen did cause some damage in the Rats’ innings.

Rats captain Wardley won the toss and put Smeda XI into bat. The home side began well with an opening stand of 75 between Prince(38) and Kenny(87), followed by the 2nd wicket partnership of 94 between Kenny and Jeremy(67). Those were the highlights of the batting as Clemence was brought on and picked up 3 quick wickets to reduce the home team to 250/6 in their 50 overs. Danny Giles looked good at number 6 with a run-a-ball 15 and will no doubt spend some more time in the 1st OD side.

Rats never really looked like losing after their opening partnership of 93 between Popejoy(105) and Castle(38). After Winder(2/55) broke through with 2 quick wickets and excellent support from Chris Kotzo(1/31), the match evened out, with McCauley and Shorey having to take risks to get close to the chase. Too many fielding mistakes was the demise of Smeda XI and they may have won had more catches been held and misfields eliminated. Rats won the match by 6 wickets.

A change in bowling strategy in this match saw Prince bowl Ayres and Blott right through their allotment of 10 overs each. The plan was to grab early wickets and put the middle order under pressure when the spinners were introduced, but that plan backfired as Ayres was the only one to pick up a wicket and that came in the 19th over.

Captain Prince seemed somewhat satisfied with his team’s performance today, “This is a marked improvement from the last few weeks and its nice to put a competitive total on the board, giving us an opportunity to make a game out of it. Today we showed that we have the potential to put a winning side together, and we fell just short of a victory.”

Prince was also ecstatic about the turnout, “This is the largest crowd we’ve had all season and I think that really helped us focus more to put on a good performance. We have two more home one-day matches and hope to put on someting special for the supporters.”

With 3 matches left, Smeda XI are still in 7th place, just 4 points behind Master Blasters XI, whom they take on next week.

Change – Smeda XI v Rats

In a last-minute change, Eddie Ayres has replaced Tim Fox in the bowling attack for the OD fixture against Rats.  The coaching staff, along with Michael Prince, came to a late conclusion that Ayres’ form during the week was worthy of a place in the side, as well as keeping the fierce combination of Blott and Ayres together so as to keep the team from the ranks of demotion.

Tim Fox can be disappointed after his 2/9 two weeks ago against Candistripers could be counted in favor over Greg Ransom who has just returned to the 1st XI, but it was felt that Ransom’s experience was needed in the lower-middle order and also for bowling at the death.  In addition, Fox’s spell last week of 0/91 in 10 overs did not help his cause.

Fox spoke of his dropping, “While I am obviously disappointed at being left out at the last minute after being selected, I understand the need to keep a winning combination together.  It just means I need to keep working on my consistency, I do tend to be wayward at times.”

Prince on the change, “Even after we announced our team for the match, we still felt that Ayres needed to fit into our plans.  It just doesn’t make sense to have your best combination broken up after successfully destroying the opposition the day before.  We need to begin to rely on our combinations and give them experience, if anything to build for next season.”

The only other possibility of Fox maintaining his spot would have been to bring Ayres in for Ciaran Winder, the 2nd spinner.  Prince remarked that “Jamie has produced an excellent spinner’s wicket, so it would be silly to play only one spinner, especially when we have the options for both orthodox and unorthodox turn.”

The revised team for the match later today: Prince(c), Kenny, Jeremy, Stearman, Gossland(wk), Giles, Ransom, Blott, Kotzo, Winder, Ayres; 12th, Fox.

The match starts at 10:30 SAST.

Preview – Smeda XI v Rats

This Friday the Smeda XI team host the Rats at T&N Smeda Stadium in a one-day league match. In their previous encounter of the season, Rats beat Smeda XI by 138 runs, with Simpson(44) the only batsman showing any fight. Clemence was the best bowler for the Rats with his 4/9 in 5 overs.

Smeda XI have not had a great run of form this season in the OD setup and will look to remain out of the relegation zone by winning against the Rats. There are some changes to this week’s team in that Geoff Kenny comes in to bolster the top order, allowing for John Simpson to take a well-earned rest.  Marc Weeks is also taking a rest, allowing for Daniel Giles to slip in at number 6 with Chris Gossland moving up to number 5.  Greg Ransom also returns to the 1st XI after taking 3/36 against the Rats last time around. With Simpson resting and the wicket prepared for the spinners, Ciaran Winder’s unorthodox wrist-spinners will pick up the 2nd spinner’s role to complete the attack.

Michael Prince said the team was optimistic of being able to pick up a victory on Friday, “Some of our one-day specialists have returned to the team, giving us an opportunity to fight for a victory. We’re confident after our victory against MUM during the week and look to build on that confidence.”

The team for Friday is: Prince(c), Kenny, Jeremy, Stearman, Gossland(wk), Giles, Ransom, Kotzo, Fox, Winder, Blott. 12th: Mangweni

 

Bowlers too good for MUM

It was always going to be a one-sided affair at the T&N Smeda Stadium in the match between Smeda XI and MUM. Home captain Michael Prince won the toss and had no hesitation in batting, hoping to build a large total and use the spinner Chris Kotzo on the final day to great effect.

Smeda XI put on a solid 1st innings total of 563 all out with a marvelous century coming from Marc Weeks, his second of the season. His 121 came off just 147 balls and included 12 boundaries. Weeks was well supported by Graeme Jeremy(86), Ron Stearman(66) and Chris Gossland, who has finally shown some form with a patient 73. Best of the bowlers for MUM was Ngxongo with 4/68.

The 1st innings of MUM was immediately disrupted by the pace and accuracy of Eddie Ayres as he picked up the first 4 wickets for just 5 runs. Allan Blott joined the party with his 2 wickets and left MUM reeling on 18/6. A defiant stand of 48 by Dalen was not enough to see the visitors being dismissed for 97. Ayres finished with 5/10.

Prince pushed for the follow-on in the final session of day 2 and Blott quickly reduced the visitors to 7/2. Day 3 provided for a better performance by MUM as the wicket began to take a great deal of turn and they managed 161. Lattey(47) and Neveling(50*) were the only contributors. Kotzo cleaned up the batting order with 6/53, as he relished every over on the wicket that he turned into quite the biter. Man of the match was Marc Weeks for his century, although both Ayres and Kotzo could not have been too far behind him.

Michael Prince said about the victory, “We needed to get a big victory here this week to remain at the top of the table and push for automatic promotion. Any mistake now on our part will drop us to second.”

Man of the match, Weeks, “I’m thrilled about my hundred in the first innings and was just grateful that I had the support of the other guys around me to allow me to get to that landmark.”

After 11 rounds, Smeda XI are now 14 points clear of Otus at the top of the log. If Smeda XI continue with their consistent form in the FC league, they should have no problem with automatic promotion, leaving Otus the team to playoff.

Preview – Smeda XI v MUM

The T&N Smeda Stadium hosts the match between the home side and MUM in the return leg of their first-class tie.

Smeda XI are the favorites to win as they sit in first place on the log.  They also have an advantage over their guests having beaten them in the first leg, by 7 wickets.

The home side have strengthened their bowling attack compared to the team that the fielded 2 months ago.  Allan Blott and Eddie Ayres, after a devastating attack on their opponents last week, return to take the new ball, backed up by John Immelman and the impressive Chris Kotzo.   The groundsman, Jamie McLaren, has ensured a slow wicket has been prepared and this will assist the spinners, Chris Kotzo and John Simpson.  This shouldn’t fool anyone as both Ayres and Blott are in exceptional form.

The settled look of the batting line-up remains the same this week, with Chris Gossland fortunate to keep his place ahead of Rohana Ahad, who has looked very impressive during practice. 

Team: Prince(c), Mokoena, Jeremy, Simpson, Weeks, Stearman, Gossland(wk), Kotzo, Blott, Ayres, Immelman; 12th-Kenny.

Batsman to watch: Graeme Jeremy has been in consisten form this season and a century is beckoning for the young 17-year old.

Bowler to watch: Despite the mayhem caused by Blott last week, this week Chris Kotzo is the one to watch as the wicket has been prepared right to his specifications.  Watch for those bat-pads.

Croft smashes visitors

In an inspired batting effort by Uninspired Batting, the home side thrashed the Smeda XI bowlers to all ends of the park, amassing a challenging 363/5 in their 50 overs.  Captain Croft made 144 off 110 balls with 13 fours and 3 sixes.  Croft’s demise came through the arm ball of Chris Kotzo and he was dismissed LBW.  In a 219-run 4th wicket partnership, Croft and Shirley (83) ensured that their total would be too much for the depressed visitors.  Best of the Smeda XI’s bowlers was Kotzo’s 3/55 in 10.  Dirk Wright-Phillips made history with his 100 runs taken off of his 10 overs.

Smeda XI were never in the running as they were quickly down to 26/2 with both Prince and Jeremy being dismissed in consecutive deliveries from Burch (2/16).  The visitors were eventually all out for 79, just continuing their poor form in the one-day league.

Fixtures

26/08/2008 (First Class)	Smeda XI v MUM	Home
29/08/2008 (OD League)	Smeda XI v rats	Home
31/08/2008 (Friendly) 02/09/2008 (First Class)	Smeda XI v Blue Balls Swiss Kricket team v Smeda XI	Home  Away
05/09/2008 (OD League)	Smeda XI v South Coast Fever	Home
07/09/2008 (Friendly) 09/09/2008 (First Class)	Blue Balls v Smeda XI Smeda XI v Trol United	Away  Home
12/09/2008 (OD League)	Sats Team v Smeda XI	Away
16/09/2008 (First Class)	Gunner619 v Smeda XI	Away
19/09/2008 (OD League)	Smeda XI v Master Blasters XI	Home

Dirk Wright-Phillips

Age 22; R/H lower-order bat; R/A medium bowler

Dirk Wright-Phillips has found his niche in one-day cricket and his nagging line and length frustrate batsmen at the beginning of innings’. 

Season 2

Wright-Phillips played only one 2nd XI match during the second season and was subsequently released on a free transfer.

Season 1

Wright-Phillips did not play much during the first season, but he did manage to play 7 limited-overs matches for the 1st XI, owing mostly to his consistent line and length. He fell away towards the end of the season in a record-breaking feat of being hit for over a hundred runs in two consecutive matches. That unsought-after record ended his season and he did not play again in both 1st and 2nd team matches.  His best performance of the season was his 2/20 in a one-day league match against Candistripers.

 

Ciaran Winder

Age 23; L/H lower-order bat; L/A chinaman

Ciaran Winder is the 2nd choice spinner for the Crusaders and often features in one-day matches when Kotzo is resting.  His bowling is more suited to the one-day format.

Season 1

Ciaran Winder played a decent roll as backup spinner for Chris Kotzo, especially excelling in the one-day matches. His chinamen spinners provided great uncertainty for opposition batsmen, but unfortunately many plays and misses denied him great hauls of wickets. In fact, his best performance all season was 2/55 which did not show his true contribution in the bowling attack. When given the opportunity, Winder has shown some skill with the bat with some valuable contributions down the order towards the end of an innings. He played mostly for the 2nd XI in friendlies, although did manage to line up in 4 one-day matches and 2 T20 games.