Winter Watch (w/e 18 Nov): Luke Wells with another hundred Down Under

Luke Wells continued to lead from the front in his role as captain of Victorian Premier Cricket side Casey-South Melbourne. He scored his second century of the season over the weekend, making 154 from the top of the order as the Swans came close to pulling off a big run chase at home against reigning champions Dandenong. Batting first, the visitors made 369-8 on Saturday, with Luke taking 1-56 with his legspin as well as a catch.

Luke’s innings was the mainstay of Casey’s reply on Sunday, the next top score being 54 against an attack including former Nottinghamshire and England Test seamer Darren Pattinson. His 261 ball stay at the crease took the Swans close to a first innings’ win, but ultimately they had to settle for a draw after reaching 332-8 at stumps.

 

Slashing start to @vicpremcricket for @CaseySthMelbCC skipper Luke Wells. The English left-hander hit 154 v Dandenong today, his second ton for the season. Has 356 runs from five hands. Swans director of cricket Craig Lambden did say Wells would get hold of a few attacks. pic.twitter.com/DzIXo7ikWk

— Paul Amy (@PaulAmy375) November 18, 2018

Luke is averaging over 70 so far this Australian summer and his coach at Casey was full of praise in comments to the Herald Sun newspaper.

George Garton was also in Victorian Premier Cricket action over the weekend. The left-arm quick made his debut for Northcote CC, taking 2-25 as opposition Greenvale Kangaroos were bowled out for 200.

Great to have you with us @george_garton #dragons https://t.co/62u661SQmV

— Northcote CC (@nccdragons) November 13, 2018

Sent in as a nightwatchman as Saturday’s play drew to a close, George made a fluent 23 off 24 balls before being bowled by Sussex Academy bowler Will Sheffield, who is also spending the winter Down Under. A fellow left-arm seamer, Will finished with 2-51 to go with 45 from number ten during the ‘Roos’ innings, but it was Northcote who took the points as they ran out winners by five wickets.

A full match report from the Herald Sun can be read here.

Danny Briggs donned an England Lions shirt for the first time since 2013 on Sunday as he took to the field for the first day of their unofficial ‘Test’ against Pakistan A in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. Danny scored five at number nine as the Lions were dismissed for 240. He then bowled five extremely tidy overs, conceding just four runs, as Pakistan A reached 33-2 in their reply.

Linsey Smith and Danni Wyatt finally got their ICC Women’s World T20 campaign with England up and running last week. The team played three matches in St Lucia as they looked to qualify from Group A for a place in the semi-finals.

On Monday, England stormed to a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh. Making her international debut, Linsey was impeccable, conceding just 17 runs from her four overs and taking her first wicket in England colours as Bangladesh were restricted to 76-9. Danni took the catch that dismissed Bangladesh’s top-scorer, opener Ayasha Rahman. She was lbw for a first-ball duck during England’s chase, but this didn’t prove too costly as the middle-order saw the side home with 39 balls to spare.

Friday brought another seven-wicket win for England, this time over South Africa. Linsey dismissed opener Laura Wolvaardt with her fourth delivery and ended up with 1-26 from her four overs as South Africa collapsed to 85 all out. Danni got the chase off to a confident start, making a run-a-ball 27 as part of a 55 run opening partnership, and set England up for victory with almost six overs remaining.

Linsey did not make the eleven for England’s final group game against reigning champions, West Indies on Sunday, but Danni was part of the side that succumbed to a narrow defeat. Batting first, England made 115-8 from their 20 overs, with Danni out for one in the first over. The Windies were able to chase that down, but with only three balls and four wickets to spare. Danni took two catches to dismiss the host’s two highest scorers as England fought hard to the end. Despite the defeat, England finished second in their group and qualified for the semi-finals. They will play India in Antigua on Thursday.

THE WEEK AHEAD

 

Monday 19th November

Danny Briggs - Pakistan A v England Lions, Only Four-Day Match (day two), Sheikh Zayed Stadium (Nursery 1), Abu Dhabi (6am GMT)

 

Tuesday 20th November

Danny Briggs - Pakistan A v England Lions, Only Four-Day Match (day three), Sheikh Zayed Stadium (Nursery 1), Abu Dhabi (6am GMT)

 

Wednesday 21st November

Jofra Archer, Laurie Evans & Tymal Mills - Rajputs (Evans & Mills) v Sindhis (Archer), T10 League, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE (2.30pm GMT)

Danny Briggs - Pakistan A v England Lions, Only Four-Day Match (day four), Sheikh Zayed Stadium (Nursery 1), Abu Dhabi (6am GMT)

 

Thursday 22nd November

Linsey Smith & Danni Wyatt - England v India, ICC Women’s World T20 (semi-final), Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua (8pm GMT)

Luke Wright - Bengal Tigers (Wright) v Northern Warriors, T10 League, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE (11.30am GMT)

Jofra Archer - Sindhis (Archer) v Kerala Knights, T10 League, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE (1.45pm GMT)

Chris Jordan & Rashid Khan - Maratha Arabians (Rashid) v Punjabi Legends (Jordan), T10 League, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE (4pm GMT)

 

Friday 23rd November

Laurie Evans & Tymal Mills - Rajputs (Evans & Mills) v Pakhtoon , T10 League, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE (11.30am GMT)

Rashid Khan & Luke Wright - Maratha Arabians (Rashid) v Bengal Tigers (Wright), T10 League, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE (1.45pm GMT)

Chris Jordan - Punjabi Legends (Jordan) v Northern Warriors, T10 League, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE (4pm GMT)

 

Saturday 24th November

Jofra Archer - Sindhis (Archer) v Pakhtoons, T10 League, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE (2.30pm GMT)

Chris Jordan & Luke Wright - Punjabi Legends (Jordan) v Bengal Tigers (Wright), Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE (4.45pm GMT)

George Garton - Monash Tigers v Northcote, Two-day match (day one), Victorian Premier Cricket, Central Reserve North, Glen Waverly, Victoria, Australia (12am GMT)

Luke Wells - Greenvale Kangaroos v Casey-South Melbourne, Two-day match (day one), Greenvale Reserve #1, Greenvale, Victoria, Australia (12am GMT)

 

Sunday 25th November

Laurie Evans & Tymal Mills - Rajputs (Evans & Mills) v Kerala Knights, T10 League, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE (2.30pm GMT)

Rashid Khan  - Northern Warriors v Maratha Arabians (Rashid), T10 League, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE (4.45pm GMT)

Danny Briggs - Pakistan A v England Lions, 1st ODI, ICC Academy, Dubai (6.30am GMT)