NationStates Jolt Archive

The tournament will start today, and the schedule of matches is here:

Group A
Cockbill Street
Austro-Arabia
NEWI Cefn Druids
Legalese

Group B
Starblaydia
Audioslavia
Kaze Progressa
Vilita

Matchday 1 (tonight): Cockbill Street v Austro-Arabia @ VCG
NEWI Cefn Druids v Legalese @ Grubton
Starblaydia v Audioslavia @ Chesham
Kaze Progressa v Vilita @ Byndham

Matchday 2 (Friday): Cockbill Street v Legalese @ VCG
NEWI Cefn Druids v Austro-Arabia @ Grubton
Starblaydia v Vilita @ Chesham
Kaze Progressa v Audioslavia @ Byndham

Matchday 3 (Sunday/Monday): Cockbill Street v NEWI Cefn Druids @ VCG
Legalese v Austro-Arabia @ Grubton
Vilita v Audioslavia @ Chesham
Kaze Progressa v Starblaydia @ Byndham

Semi-finals (Tuesday): Winner Group A v Runner-up Group B @ VCG
Winner Group B v Runner-up Group A @ Chesham

Final, Thursday @ VCG.

The squads may be found in the sign-up thread (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=7337844#post7337844) where there is also a few scorecards from warm-up matches and details on the stadiums used in the tournament.

Again, RPing here will give a small bonus and increased chance of winning (but will not ensure a win - random numbers do that).

After the confusion surrounding the abortive tournament in Kaze Progressa, marred by the Spaamian assassin in Storavora after the Spaam-TBF match, the Cricket World Cup is now firmly established.

There is now a governing body, the INSCC; the Belmorians and Spaamians are both absent; and the cup is now hosted in Cockbill Street, possibly the most cricket-mad country in the NationStates world.

The Progressans were humbled in a warm-up match by Austro-Arabia, the only nation in the INSCC to date without known sporting credentials (Legalese have recently seen their football team rise to prominence, or at least the lawyers among them). The four-wicket defeat saw the country's reknowned opening trio (Arista Garubaliu, Jazubu Bavimo and wicketkeeper Wazhunil Fadi-Mabiir) struggle to make any impression, though Spafziuna Gabiol did rather better with 91 off as many deliveries, while the strength in depth in the bowling was tempered by the lack of a single destructive figure (the five wickets taken - discounting the run-out of Simkins - came from five separate bowlers).

The Progressans will still be difficult to beat if their opening trio deliver the goods, but the lack of a similar stand-out bowler may be holding them back. That said, sometimes strength in depth is more important - after all, Gabiol scored more than the 'Famous Three' combined in the Austro-Arabia match.

The Vilitans, a nation best known for their football - they co-hosted the last World Cup in that sport with the Progressans - are the first opposition. A very young side with only one player over 22, they are probably a side some way short of their full potential. Teenager Klas Bengtsson is already a dangerous batsman and could become one of the world's best, while Ippolit Bekishev's spin bowling could be devastating. Kresten Selvig - the daddy of the team, even at only 26 - is also dangerous, an aggressive batsman and fast bowler who took three wickets in their warm-up win over Starblaydia (who complete the group along with Audioslavia, a side packed with specialist players as opposed to the all-rounders plentiful in the Progressan side).

From Baseball to Cricket
Legalese prepares for Cricket World Cup with team of former baseball players

Sagdineo, Legalese

The Track has held an important place in history for Sagdineo, as the home of the 2,000-mile relay race, ending at the wall formed by the outfield here at the Track. However, with the demise of the Legalese Baseball League, the Track appeared to be threatened. Without anything other than the race to call home, what would it do?

The Legalese Cricket Association answered that question last week, when they named the Track as the new home for Legalese Cricket. While it is being prepared for play, the Black and Red Cricketers of Legalese will take off for Cockbill Street, which is hosting the revived NationStates Cricket World Cup. Legalese will face off in Group A against NEWI Cefn Druids first, followed by matches with Cockbill Street and Austro-Arabia. Success in these first round matches will move the Black and Red to the semifinal, where they look to take on opposition from Group B.

Legalese’s lineup is made up of 11 of the best former baseball players in the country. Upon the end of the LBL, the LCA recruited them for training to head to Cockbill Street. Included in the mix are Irv Vizcain, Pedro Delgado, and Phil Brook, all who hope to be successful in the new realm.

Matchday one has been simmed and the scorecards attached.

I dont get it :(

OOC: 1) Can you download the file? If yes,

2) Open it in notepad and scroll down to match number 4...

3) You will see the results of Vilita vs Kaze Progressa.

If no, I really dunno what is wrong.

Just because I'm nice though, I might as well put up the match results.

Cockbill Street beat Austro-Arabia by five wickets
Legalese beat NEWI Cefn Druids by 67 runs
Audioslavia beat Starblaydia by 121 runs
Kaze Progressa beat Vilita by four wickets

Kaze Progressa gained an important first victory in the Cricket World Cup, edging out Vilita by four wickets with nine balls to spare.

Put into bat first, the Vilitans started patiently, opening pairing Soufleris and Murphy putting on 75 before the former was caught by Zarkamutu off the bowling of Algato. Algato soon removed Bengtsson, stumped by wicketkeeper Fadi-Mabiir after a quickfire 19 that at least bumped up the run rate. Ruarte and Whittaker both fell cheaply to leave Vilita wobbling on 129-4 before Michelsson and Selvig put on quick runs near the end of the innings, while Murphy remained patient to carry his bat through the innings, eventually ending on an unbeaten 84. The Vilitans ended on 265-7 from their 50 overs, leaving the Progressans needing 5.32 per over in reply.

The much-vaunted opening pair of Bavimo and Garubaliu failed to live up to the hype, Selvig dismissing both for 15 and 22 respectively; but the all-rounders packed into the middle order, plus Fadi-Mabiir's useful 46, steadied the ship. Gabiol's quick 30 and a powerful 57 from Vagiz, who was later voted man-of-the-match having also taken two wickets in his five-over spell, put the Progressans in position for a final run chase with wickets to spare, but it was Tekzhali-Urao, with 49 off just 35 balls, that ensured that the target was made, his boundary from a bad ball from Bekishev sealing the match with nine balls to spare.

In the other group match, there was no such dramatic finish, Audioslavia smashing Starblaydia by 121 runs. Both Audioslavian openers scored centuries - how Bavimo and Garubaliu would wish for that - while the Starblaydians, chasing a daunting 289, were skittled out for 167, Hunter picking up superb figures of 7.4-2-30-5 as he destroyed the Starblaydian tail.

News reporter: "...cricket now, and the NEWI Cefn Druids team have lost convincingly to a bunch of baseball players from Legalese. With more, here's Ian Question-Mark."

IQM: "Yes, it is as bad as it sounds. OK, it was their first competitive match, but the shame was there for all to see on the face of the Druidish players. Only an unbeaten 98 from opening batsman Trevor Graves saved them from complete humiliation, but humiliation it was all the same. The main problem for the Druids was that none of their big guns fired. Neither Price nor Blackwood took a wicket, with Jan Tete the best of the bowlers, taking 2-50. In the batting department, Trevor Wick, with his reutation before him, went cheaply as the Druidish middle order collapsed after a solid start that saw Graves and his opening partner Trevor Bamwen both make half-centuries. But they were too slow about it, and it was never going to be enough. As the rest of the team crumbled, Graves tried his best, but it was all in vain. With the defeated Austro-Arabian side up next, the pressure is on if we are to see the Druids advance to the later stages."

Kaze Progressa beat Vilita by four wickets

What the heck does that mean (other than i lost!) :confused:

Utheim Gives Street Some Sporting Glory
Win Over Austro-Arabs Kick Off World Cup

The Streetian side scraped home with nine balls to spare thanks to a late slog from batting all-rounder Stephen Edswick in the first INSCC one-day international at the VCG yesterday. After an interestingly poised game which see-sawed either way, Edswick and wicketkeeper Adam Gritham saw the Streetians home with a fine partnership of 68 runs for the sixth wicket as the assortment of specialist bowlers from the Austro-Arabs failed to get real impact on the innings. Earlier, the Streetians had taken wickets at important points and bowled a fine line and length, particularly Brian Stewart, who swung the ball a lot and gained a bit of bounce under the clouds, ending with one wicket for 34. In the chase, Christian Utheim stood out as he forged partnerships with Darren Jenkins, the Streetians' most proven opening batsman, Leonard Midwarnock, another well-proven batsman, and Ewan Blain - outshining the lot with a stroke-filled 88 before being caught at long on trying to slog Irkman for his second six of the game. Blain and Gritham steadied the ship slowly, and Edswick hit six fours and a six in his 38 blast off 29 deliveries to win the game easily.

After the match, captain Leonard Midwarnock said that he was "very happy with the team's performances - we had a cracking day in the field and stopped quite a few runs there, and for the most part we bowled and batted well." Coach Eddie Hedscale was almost equally pleased, but said that "we have to work very hard to win the title here, there are some very good sides who are showing both batting and bowling potential and our primary goal is to reach the semi-finals." When asked about the next match against the former baseball players of Legalese, or "chuckers" as they have been dubbed by the Streetian crowd, Hedscale claimed that "they looked very strong in training, but I'm confident we can win the game if our bowlers bowl the way they did today, because they're gonna have trouble slogging balls on that length. I just hope Harald [ed. note: Stronginthearm] can step up his game a little bit, he was good but unlucky today and I hope that his luck will turn in the next match."

The Streeters, hoping to lift the nation's first ever "winners-trophy" in an international competition, carry a whole nation's hope into this competition as probably no other. It has been seen that although the teams in this cup compete on quite a level playing field (except maybe Starblaydia who let Audioslavia away to 235 for the first wicket and crumbled to 167 in pursuit of a massive 282), the level of cricketing knowledge and appreciation in the individual nations vary greatly, and it is only to hope that nations with few cricketers can turn out good teams.

Austro-Arabia 246 for 4 (50 overs, T Jones 69 - Blain 1/14) lost to Cockbill Street 247 for 3 (Utheim 88 - A Jones 1/30) by seven wickets.

(OOC to Legalese: throwing the ball in cricket is called "chucking", hence the nickname - your baseball players seem to have adjusted very well though)

What the heck does that mean (other than i lost!) :confused:

OOC: The opposing team (me :)) earned more runs than you, and had four wickets standing (losing six).

If, on the other hand, we had not lost any wickets at all in gaining more runs, we would have won by ten wickets, and so on.

If we had failed to gain as many runs as you, then we would have lost by (x) runs.

Ballplayers are Wicket Awesome
Legalese scores first win of INSCC World Cup, leads Group A into matchday 2

Grubton, Cockbill Street

Imagine going from a white leather ball with red stitching, to a red ball with white stitching. Now imagine going from a round bat to a wooden board with a handle. Now imagine taking a bunch of gentlemen making that sort of adjustment, and having them win their first ever international match.

In Legalese, no imagination is necessary, as the Black and Red won their first international match versus NEWI Cefn Druids, by 67 runs.

The action started with Irv Viscain taking the first ball. He would score 52 runs, before the wicket fell on him. Fellow batsman Alex Songster would score 60 runs before he was out. Also batting were Pat Otake, who scored 72 runs without being put out, Freddy Lipayon, who scored 52 without being put out, and Pete Porus, whose 26 runs came before the fall of the third wicket, the last one nabbed by the Druids before the 50 over mark, ending the first innings.

As over half of the Legalese squad was able to rest during the first innings, never taking a turn at bat, the Black and Red liked their chances going into the second innings. They turned out to be rather successful, taking 5 wickets from the Druids, and holding them to 215 runs in 50 overs.

Coming off of this win, Legalese will now travel to the main pitch, to take on the hosts, Cockbill Street. The Streetians were also victorious on matchday 1, so the winner of this ODI will be guaranteed advancement to the semifinal round. It shall be a huge day for the Black and Red “chuckers”, as called by the Streetians, if they can repeat their feat in the warm-ups, and defeat the hosts at the Vimesbairn Cricket Ground.

Starballedia
AGCC celebrates debut victory

The AGCC (Audioslavian Gentlemen's Cricket Club) celebrated its opening win today by cracking open a bottle of champagne and singing a song about their old posh schools.

The "Slave Owning Nazi Sympathiser's Rich Sons" (a slightly less snappy nickname than the football side have) or 'SONSRS' as they are affectionately known, had an excellent opening day with both Sir A.E. Wayde and Doctor R.C.L. Stein the third gaining centuries, with Wayde gaining almost as many runs as he had balls thrown at him, something he was famous for in his 'diahorrea days' in his dormitory at his private school. So say school chums 'Topper' Jenkins' and Harry 'The Right Hoot' Smythe.

A.A. Wrenwalk however, must be an imposter. A commoner playing the gentlemanly game of cricket, as he couldn't even score a single run. I'm sure he'll lose his place at the 'Cricket Boy's Posh Goon Club' after this rather dreadful display.

Heighly and Branson finished the overs in spiffing style, getting Audioslavia some simply divine runs until such a time where the overs ended and those funny little Starblaydians took to the field.

Needless to say, those Starblaydians played without nearly as much charm and elegance as the SONSRS and were skittled out for just 167 runs in almost half the overs Audioslavia had! Piffle! Poppycock! Rar! "Thats just say fahnny!" said one Tarquin Cuthbert Poshton-Esquridge, the esteemed son of right-wing raving looney, facsist, fox murdering gentlemen Tofflewhats William Poshton-Esqridge.

All in all a grand day out for Audioslavia, who's win of one-hundred and twenty one runs makes them top of the class! Hurrah for the 'Slavians!

I have been your esteemed collegue Jeremy Caviar. Good evening, female dogs.

OOC: Americans Talking about Cricket = Very Funny

Thanks for the laugh, guys :D

OOC: Americans Talking about Cricket = Very Funny

Thanks for the laugh, guys :D

OOC: No problem :D

Of course, that reminds me of the joke about the Scottish man watching his first baseball game...

OOC: No problem :D

Of course, that reminds me of the joke about the Scottish man watching his first baseball game...

heh, i think i remember that one :)

heh, i think i remember that one :)

Then I guess this will suffice: "Walk with pride, lad, walk with pride!"

I'm afraid I only had time to do one group today...very sorry, but Group B results will have to wait until tomorrow evening.

Today's results, however:

Legalese beat Cockbill Street by six wickets
Austro-Arabia beat NEWI Cefn Druids by 88 runs.

OOC: Time for more humour... Americans talking about Cricket!

Black and Red “Chuckers” Knock off hosts; advance to Semifinals
Strong defensive effort brings Legalites 9 wickets in 50 overs; win with 6 wickets standing

Vimesbairn, Cockbill Street

The Black and Red continue their strong performance at the INSCC World Cup, defeating Cockbill Street on Matchday 2. The result, determined after Legalese took 43.4 overs to pass the Streetian total of 207 runs, guarantees the Legalites a spot among the top two in Group A, sending them to the semifinal round.

The match started with the Black and Red Bowling for the first innings. The Streetians would use all 11 batsman, with Midwarnock leading their efforts, scoring 33 runs. Legalese would collect 9 wickets, just falling short of grabbing all 11, ending the innings before the 50-over limit. Cockbill Street completed the 50th over, scoring 207 runs during the innings.

Legalese would take their innings with a slow start. Alex Songster would fall first, scoring only 5 runs. Irv Vizcain was able to only take 21 himself, before his day ended. Legalese’s third batsman, Pat Otake, would end up doing most of the damage, scoring 95 runs, in an effort that would earn him Man of the Match honors. Joining Otake on the pitch after Vizcain’s fall was Pete Porus, who would bring in and additional 25 runs before being put out. Francis Lipayon came out to replace the put out Porus, and continued a strong performance throughout the Cup, scoring 57 runs for the Black and Red. Otake would be the fourth and final Legalite to be put out, bringing in Captain Brook, who hit the 4th ball in the 43rd over for the final 4 runs, giving Legalese 211 total, and the victory.

Legalese will finish off group play versus Austro-Arabia. Like the Streetians, they also have a split record, and will be playing for advancement on Matchday 3.

Group B results - belated:

Vilita beat Starblaydia by 23 runs
Audioslavia beat Kaze Progressa by 88 runs

Edit, tables:

Tables Group A: G W L NR Pts NRR
Legalese 2 2 0 0 4 +1.04
Austro-Arabia 2 1 1 0 2 +0.80
Cockbill Street 2 1 1 0 2 -0.27
NEWI Cefn Druids 2 0 2 0 0 -1.55

Tables Group B: G W L NR Pts NRR
Audioslavia 2 2 0 0 4 +2.03
Vilita 2 1 1 0 2 +0.12
Kaze Progressa 2 1 1 0 2 -0.70
Starblaydia 2 0 2 0 0 -1.40

Edit, tables:

Tables Group A: G W L NR Pts NRR
Legalese 2 2 0 0 4 +1.04
Austro-Arabia 2 1 1 0 0 +0.80
Cockbill Street 2 1 1 0 2 -0.27
NEWI Cefn Druids 2 0 2 0 0 -1.55

Tables Group B: G W L NR Pts NRR
Audioslavia 2 2 0 0 4 +2.03
Vilita 2 1 1 0 2 +0.12
Kaze Progressa 2 1 1 0 2 -0.70
Starblaydia 2 0 2 0 0 -1.40

Austro-Arabia actually has 2 points, correct?

Just checking

No, it's another of the weird rules of cricket which states that you don't get two points if you win by exactly 88 runs :p

Injuries between day 2 and 3:

D Nulukkizdin (Starblaydia) damaged knee - out for 5 matches
IE Rodgers (NEWI Cefn Druids) twisted ankle - out for 4 matches

Day 3 Results:

NEWI Cefn Druids beat Cockbill Street by 10 runs
Legalese beat Austro-Arabia by four wickets
Audioslavia beat Vilita by nine wickets
Starblaydia beat Kaze Progressa by five runs

Tables Group A: G W L NR Pts NRR
Legalese 3 3 0 0 6 +0.72
Austro-Arabia 3 1 2 0 2 +0.38
Cockbill Street 3 1 2 0 2 -0.25
NEWI Cefn Druids 3 1 2 0 2 -0.97

Tables Group B: G W L NR Pts NRR
Audioslavia 3 3 0 0 6 +2.28
Kaze Progressa 3 1 2 0 2 -0.52
Vilita 3 1 2 0 2 -0.86
Starblaydia 3 1 2 0 2 -0.93

Semi-finals:
Legalese vs Kaze Progressa @ Vimesbairn Cricket Ground
Audioslavia vs Austro-Arabia @ Chesham

Full scorecards attached.

D Nulukkizdin (Starblaydia) damaged knee - out for 5 matches

Now you're just adding Injury to Insult.

And everyone knows Dwarves don't have knees! It's hip > leg > foot. no knee, explains why they're so short. :D

Clean Sweep
Legalese goes through to the finals undefeated, despite weak effort

Jorvik, Cockbill Street

It wasn’t a pretty match for the Black and Red today at Grubton Cricket Ground, but it still was successful, as Legalese defeated Austro-Arabia in the final ODI of group play in the INSCC World Cup. Austro-Arabia’s batting efforts earned them 226 runs, with the Legalites taking only two wickets. Austro-Arabia’s first batsman, Price, was especially spectacular, scoring 122 runs, and staying out on the pitch for all 50 overs. He would earn Man of the Match honors.

Legalese’s innings at bat would not be the best overall performance by the Black and Red, but it would turn out to be sufficient. Alex Songster would take the first ball, and scored 67 runs. The first wicket would fall against Irv Vizcain, who started out with Songster, scoring 19 runs of his own. Songster would fall next. After Pete Porus was shut out, scoring no runs on 3 balls, Franics Lipayon stepped in, scoring 46. He was followed by the captain, Phil Brook, who scored 29. Finishing things off for Legalese were Nijel Glaub and Ethan McDougal, who combined for the final 30 runs, bringing Legalese to the 227 target in 45.3 overs.

With this result, Legalese advances to the semi-final round, and will take on the Group B runner-up Kaze Progressa. KP’s soccer prominence is pretty well known, and it will be interesting to see what their cricket team can do, coming out of the group phase with a 1-2 record.

As long as we beat Starblaydia, all is righti n the world :)

STREETIANS BOW OUT OF OWN WORLD CUP
Lose To Druids, Who Are Also Out

Another sport, another loss - it's beginning to be familiar with Streetian sports correspondents. Despite 22-year-old Brian Stewart's three-wicket-haul in the first innings, Trevor Llandewi hit a blitz of an unbeaten century (ending with 120 not out off 97 balls, particularly taking a liking to Franklin in the late overs) and partnered up with Trevor Price for 108 for the seventh wicket, smashing the part-timers about late in the innings.

Still, 273 looked a chasable target as Jenkins and Utheim proceeded with calm, taking the singles when needed and smashing the boundaries when given. A few half-volleys from the opening bowlers, Davies and Blackwood, sent the score to 100 for 0 after 20 overs. Despite the loss of Jenkins and a subdued 21 from Pete Walwich, Christian Utheim continued his mature innings and paired up with a blistering Midwarnock for 66 for the third wicket - only for Midwarnock to get a huge edge off a hook stroke off Williams to send the game finely poised at 237 for 3 with about four overs left. Despite a desperate charge from Blain, Utheim was kept down thanks to good leg-spin from Jan Tete, and the Streeters finished ten runs short in a poorly-paced chase.

The tournament goes on, however, and a Legalese side who has had a lot of coverage and even more luck in the tournament now face the experienced Progressans - who nevertheless lost two matches like everyone apart from Legalese and Audioslavia - in a crunch match at the VCG. Given that the domestic cricket league has taken a break, and the cheeky (or should that be chucky) upstarts from Legalese have been rather popular with the Streetians (okay, so they failed to trounce Austro-Arabia by enough, but hey...) With the Progressan "Famous Three" having failed miserably so far in the tournament, most eyes will be on their batsmen trying to chase whatever the bowlers concede in fifty overs, because they have certainly not looked threatening so far.

Semi-final results:

Kaze Progressa beat Legalese by 70 runs
Audioslavia beat Austro-Arabia by one wicket (take a peek, quite interesting game!)

Scorecards and a statistic summary attached.

Edit: Another injury, though not one that will affect the World Cup:

T Graves - 2 days - calf strain.

Legalese chucked out of World Cup
Strong innings by Kaze Progressa too much for Black and Red to overcome

Vimesbairn, Cockbill Street

It looks like the impossible will not happen for the Legalese Cricketers. This squad, an eleven-man crew of former baseball players, said goodbye to the World Cup, falling to Group B runner-up Kaze Progressa, by a score of 309-239. Jazubu Bavimo led the scoring for the Progressans, scoring 119 runs, and taking a century for his efforts, which would also see him named Man of the Match. Legalese’s defensive efforts left a touch to be desired, as only three wickets were collected before the 50-over mark.

A big innings was needed by the Legalese batsmen, who had come through with strong results throughout the tournament. Unfortunately, the results were left to be desired this time. Pat Otake turned out to be strong for the Black and Red, coming out third, and scoring 96 runs, only to be accompanied by Alex Songster’s opening 36, Irv Vizcain’s 25, Pete Porus’ abysmal 9, and other double-digit efforts.

The result will send the Legalites out of Cockbill Street, but not without good memories.

“It’s disappointing to be going home in the fashion that we are”, said Captain Phil Brook, “but we can’t say that our first cricket competition was a total failure. Honestly, who would have thought a bunch of baseball players could bowl and bat with the best in this ‘gentlemanly’ sport?”

“I have to hand it to the Streetians”, added Pat Otake, Legalese’s big bopper for the Cup. “They have been great to us throughout the competition.”

The Legalese Cricket Association can now turn to other matters, such as preparing the nation for future competitions, both domestic and international.

[OOC: Thanks are definitely in order to Cockbill Street for running a fun Cricket World Cup. I am definitely looking forward as to what lies ahead. :D ]

The World Cup Final scorecard is attached. Please note that a team that wants to be accepted in the next World Cup (scheduled to start sometime in December ), needs to invite another nation to a Test series before then. Invitations for series may be sent now, to the involved parties and with a copy to the INSCC headquarters, c/c Cockbill Street's TG-box.