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**Wilted** · 09-09-2023, 05:33 AM

I really cannot see the 1900s losing this. In my experience, Bradman, Hobbs, Lillee and Khan are some of the best players in CC and will often put in match-winning performances. The 2000s could pull off an upset but it seems unlikely. Maybe if some players from the 1990s such as Tendulkar, Pollock, Warne and Murali were added to their squad, things would be closer.

After saying all that, watch the 1800s block their way to eight draws across the tournament and win on a tiebreak.

**CrazyCaptain101** · 09-10-2023, 01:25 AM

Game 1: 1800s v 1900s

1800s XI: A Shrewsbury, W Grace (c), A Stoddart, A Steel, B Murdoch (+), W Read, S Jackson, B Bates, G Lohmann, C Turner, F Spofforth
1900s XI: J Hobbs, S Gavaskar, D Bradman (c), G Headley, J Miandad, G Sobers, J Dujon (+), I Khan, I Botham, R Hadlee, D Lillee

Toss: 1900s win and elect to bat

Day 1, Session 1

A beautiful pitch for batting stood before the two captains, and when it landed on Heads Bradman elected to bat first. The two openers started cautiously, with Turner and Lohmann bowling very tight lines. It took until the 18th over for the first wicket, when Hobbs fished at a ball outside off and paid the price, Ferris picking up the first wicket. Allan Steel struck with his first ball to dismiss Gavaskar for 15, and the 1800s were on top. Bates re-arranged Headley's stumps soon after, leaving the 1900s in strife at Lunch

1900s 59-3

Day 1, Session 2

Bradman and Miandad brought their team back into the game with many great strokes. Bradman passed 50 an hour into the session with a glorious cover drive. They continued their great partnership all the way to Tea on Day 1.

1900s 159-3

Day 1, Session 3

Miandad passed 50 early on before Bradman brought up the first century of the Tournament. The new ball was taken but it didn't seem to matter, with Miandad bringing up a century of his own. The celebrations didn't last long for him though, with Allan Steel trapping him in front just before Stumps.

1900s 296-4

Day 2, Session 1

After a good night's rest, the 1800s bowlers came out with a new energy. It showed early on when Sobers was clean-bowled by Steel. They couldn't strike in quick succession though, and Bradman took full toll. He brought up a double hundred with an hour left in the session. The onslaught continued after that, and the 1800s bowlers had no answers.

1900s 401-5

Day 2, Session 2

Dujon got a 50 of his own, showing how tired the 1800s bowlers were. The inspired bowling change to bring Jackson on worked wonders, with Dujon falling to him. Imran Khan tried to reverse-sweep Billy Bates, bringing his downfall. In the mean time, Bradman passed 250, well on track to get a triple century by Tea. He rode his luck, being dropped twice in two overs, but couldn't reach 300 before Tea.

1900s 517-7

Day 2, Session 3

The third new ball was taken early on in the session, but only for Bradman to strike a short ball for six and bring up a magnificent triple century. The question was now, how much longer will he go? The answer, not much longer, with Lohmann dismissing him. He received a standing ovation walking off, knowing he'd set up a big first innings score for his team. Ian Botham was having some fun at the other end, hitting 10 boundaries in his first 51 runs. They declared with half an hour left in the session, with an unassailable 602 runs on the board.

The 1800s had a tricky 10 over period to get through, but couldn't do it unscathed with Shrewsbury bowled by Hadlee.

1900s 602-8 dec, 1800s 29-1

Day 3, Session 1

WG Grace came out and showed why he is one of the highest-rated 1800s player in the world, scoring a well-made 50. He was supported well by Stoddart's 45 in a session where 0 wickets fell.

1900s 602-8 dec, 1800s 105-1

Day 3, Session 2

Lillee took his first wicket of the Tournament when he trapped Stoddart in front for 46. The scoring rate begun to slow down after that, and it showed when Steel attempted to hit a Khan yorker for six, only to edge it behind. Grace fell soon after, leaving the 1800s in a hole with 32 mins left in the session. Murdoch and Read survived the period, but not without chances.

1900s 602-8 dec, 1800s 177-4

Day 3, Session 3

The two keepers battled hard in the last session of the day, but a horrible mis-communication cost Read his wicket. Murdoch brought up his 50 on the last ball of the session, leaving a big job for the 1900s bowlers on Day 4.

1900s 602-8 dec, 1800s 255-5. 1900s lead by 347 runs

Day 4, Session 1

The defensive style of the 1800s showed early on, with 9 runs scored in the first 11 overs. Jackson and Murdoch picked it up after that, but Jackson lost his wicket in a moment he'd want back. A run of 5 maidens ended off the session in a slow style.

1900s 602-8 dec, 1800s 322-6

Day 4, Session 2

Lillee's continuous toiling awarded him with the wicket of Bates for a very slow 23 from 72. Lohmann fell soon after, and with Murdoch 8 away from a century he took most of the strike. He moved to 99 before playing a cut shot, which went straight to Headley at slip! He dropped his head in disbelief and trudged off. Ferris was the last wicket to fall, and the 1900s enforced the follow-on.

1900s 602-8 dec, 1800s 364

Day 4, Session 3

Needing to survive 4 sessions to perform a great escape, Grace and Shrewsbury came out with one thought in mind; defend. Shrewsbury was dismissed by a Sobers yorker for the 1900s first wicket. Grace and Stoddart again proved too good for the bowlers and batted the session out steadily.

1900s 602-8 dec, 1800s 364, 61-1

Day 5, Session 1

The day began with Lillee bowling a vicious bouncer (unsurprisingly) to Grace, almost dismissing him. Stoddart edged one over the slips cordon to bring up his half-century.

1900s 602-8 dec, 1800s 364, 123-1

Day 5, Session 2

Grace's fifty came up after a whopping 212 deliveries, and included 2 boundaries. He was bowled by Lillee right after, with the job not over yet. The new ball once again didn't help the bowling team, but after 12 overs with it Imran Khan clean-bowled Stoddart, giving the 1900s a sniff.

1900s 602-8 dec, 1800s 364, 189-3

Day 5, Session 3

Despite losing Murdoch early, the 1800s battled until the end, securing a draw.

1800s 602-8 dec
D Bradman 314, J Miandad 100
A Steel 3-145, B Bates 2-79

1900s 364
B Murdoch 99, W Grace 68
G Sobers 3-49, D Lillee 3-113

1900s 255-5 (f/o)
A Stoddart 77, W Grace 51
G Sobers 3-32

Match Drawn

D Bradman was named Man of the Match

**CrazyCaptain101** · 09-12-2023, 08:30 AM

Game 2: 2000s v 1800s

2000s XI: A Cook (c), G Smith, K Sangakkara (+), S Smith, A de Villiers, M Dhoni, B Stokes, R Ashwin, D Steyn, N Lyon, J Anderson
1800s XI: W Grace (c), S Jackson, A Stoddart, A Steel, B Murdoch (+), W Read, B Bates, B Peel, G Lohmann, C Turner, J Ferris

Toss: 1800s win and elect to bat

Day 1

Jimmy Anderson trotted in to bowl the first delivery, only for it to be smacked over his head for four in a fiery statement from Grace. Him and Jackson set a good tempo, scoring 45 runs in the first 10 overs. The quickfire stand came to a standstill after Stokes dismissed Grace, but Jackson didn't stop, bringing up his 50 after a mere 54 balls. Lyon bowled Stoddart just before Lunch, but Jackson didn't slow. He moved to 81* from 92 balls at the main break.

Steel came to the crease and helped up the ante, with Jackson moving past 100 in just the session's fifth over. Steel's 50 came up just before Drinks, and so did the century stand. A cacophony of noises could be heard, with each strike of the ball sounding better than the last. Ashwin came back into the attack and Steel tried to attack, only to hole out for 77. He trapped Murdoch in front on the next delivery but couldn't complete the hat-trick. Still he had got the 2000s back in the game, with the 1800s on 289-4 at Tea.

A cameo from Read ticked the score past 300 before Lyon got him to edge one to Smith at slip. Once again, Ashwin came into the attack and dismissed a set batter, with Jackson sent back to the pavilion after a magnificent knock of 180 runs from 203 deliveries. Bates fell the over before the new ball, leaving the tailenders vulnerable. But Peel and Lohmann fought off Steyn and Anderson, getting their side to Stumps in a winning position.

1800s 405-7

Day 2

The 8th wicket stand continued to grow, reaching 74 before Ashwin spoiled the party and raised the ball after picking up his 5th wicket. Finally Anderson got a wicket, dismissing Turner for a handy 22. Peel's fighting knock continued, but Ferris fell and the innings was over at 487. The 2000s openers only needed to survive around 8 overs before Lunch, but couldn't do it without losing Cook.

George Lohmann has the best Test bowling average of all-time, and it showed when he re-arranged the highly rated Sangakkara's stumps. The spin duo of Peel and Bates frustrated the 2000s, who were used to free flowing runs. Graeme Smith was bogged down, and tried to smash a Bates delivery but was bowled in the process. AB de Villiers fell to Peel not long after and the 2000s were in dire straits at 66-4. A change in fortune occurred for the 2000s, and they piled on 40 more runs in the last 6 overs of the session.

Smith and Dhoni both passed 50 early on in the final session, with the scoring rate picking up. The spinners came back on and slowed the scoring rate but couldn't break the stand, but it was Steel's medium pace bowling that got Dhoni out. Smith was dropped in the last over of the day as a massive chance went begging.

1800s 487, 2000s 213-5

Day 3

A bazball approach by Ben Stokes ended with him out for 5 disappointingly. The second hundred of the match was surpassed by Steve Smith, coming off 202 deliveries in 291 minutes. The run-rate slowed when Ashwin struggled to get going and he couldn't get set at all before Steel picked up his second wicket. From there, the wickets tumbled as the 2000s were bowled out just before Lunch.

With a lead of 180, the 1800s set the tone early on, with Grace hitting 3 boundaries in the first over. His fast start came to an abrupt holt when Steyn trapped him in front for 14. Stoddart fell three balls later, with the 2000s working their way back into the game. Jackson and Steel again formed a quick partnership, with Jackson passing 50 just before Tea.

Steel's second 50 of the match came up in the first over of the final session, with the 1800s well on top. Anderson ended the party by dismissing him though, before Murdoch fell again without scoring to Ashwin. This time Jackson couldn't reach 100 as he fell for 95. With the pitch beginning to deteriorate, the 2000s took a couple more wickets just before stumps.

1800s 487 and 236-8, 1900s 307

Day 4

Beginning the day with a lead of 416, the 1800s looked poised to upset the 2000s. The lead quickly ballooned to 461 before the spinners took the last wicket. The 2000s were not going to go down without a fight, but needing 462 to win it wouldn't be easy. Cook and Smith made their way to Lunch without being dismissed, but couldn't put many runs on the board in the process.

The spinners came into the attack and worked wonders immediately, with Smith gone for 19. The lead was slowly whittled down to 400, but the spinners continued to be economical. Sangakkara's lean match continued when he was again bowled by Lohmann, this time for 43.

With an up-hill task still ahead, Cook passed 50 from 158 deliveries, but lost his partner Steve Smith for 21. Soon after he fell, and the 2000s were in real trouble at 170-4, needing 292 to win. De Villiers and Dhoni added some quick runs before Stumps.

1800s 487 and 281, 2000s 307 and 213-4. 2000s need 249 to win

Day 5

Needing a miracle to win it from here, de Villiers and Dhoni set out with a positive mindset. A couple of borderline LBW calls went their way before Dhoni was dismissed within the first half hour. The new ball was soon taken and de Villiers took advantage, bringing up his 50 with the harder ball. Stokes decided not to go full bazball mode on the tricky surface but couldn't add any more than 38 runs. Lunch was called, with the game in the balance. The 1800s needed 4 wickets while the 2000s needed 154 runs.

It was obvious that if the 2000s were to get home AB de Villiers would play a large role. Unfortunately for them though, he fell without adding anymore runs in the second session. The tail was under immense pressure and crumbled, with the spinners combining for 9 wickets in the innings.

1800s 487
S Jackson 180, B Peel 75*
R Ashwin 6-109, N Lyon 2-95

2000s 307
S Smith 140, M Dhoni 72
A Steel 3-21, B Bates 3-76

1800s 281
S Jackson 95, A Steel 60
R Ashwin 4-77, D Steyn 3-68

2000s 343
A de Villiers 75, A Cook 58
B Peel 6-93, B Bates 3-119

1800s win by 118 runs

S Jackson was named Man of the Match

**CrazyCaptain101** · 09-17-2023, 04:36 AM

Table after 2 matches

Team	Wins	Draws	Losses	RpW
1800s	1	1		1.5017
1900s		1		0.5488
2000s			1	0.8464

*stats update after 1900s v 2000s match

**CrazyCaptain101** · 10-18-2023, 08:16 AM

Hey everyone, sorry for the massive wait between games. I have been very busy the past month or so but I plan to continue the series this weekend.

1800s	1900s	2000s
W. G Grace	Sunil Gavaskar	Alistair Cook
Arthur Shrewsbury	Graham Gooch	Graeme Smith
Stanely Jackson	Jack Hobbs	Virender Sehwag
Bobby Peel	Don Bradman	Hashim Amla
Andrew Stoddart	Allan Border	Steve Smith
Alfred Shaw	Viv Richards	Virat Kohli
Billy Bates	George Headley	AB De Villiers
Walter Read	Garfield Sobers	Ravi Ashwin
George Lohmann	Imran Khan	Ben Stokes
John Ferris	Richard Hadlee	Kumar Sangakkara
Fred Spofforth	Jeff Dujon	MS Dhoni
Charlie Turner	Javed Miandad	James Anderson
Allan Steel	Ian Botham	Dale Steyn
Tom Richardson	Dennis Lillee	Vernon Philander
Bill Murdoch	Sydney Barnes	Nathan Lyon

Announcement

A Battle of the Centuries Tournament

A Battle of the Centuries Tournament

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