Elite Cricket 2019 - Week 1

As promised, the first week of the Elite season is here, played on January 2. We begin with...

Kraft Crowns Park, Royal: The promoted Crowns will sit Cassie in their first Elite game, while the demoted Knights have Quincy on the bench to start his sophomore season. Kiwi wasted no time in challenging the hosts, paddling 550 for Terrace City on the opening turn. Kayla answered with a solid 429 for Royal on their first turn, keeping them within striking distance. Jennifer put up 392 for the Knights, faltering on her pace at times as she let some swings drop. Jake had a good turn going, but he sent a ball sky-high, ending at 314 as the Crowns slip farther behind. Oreo provided a steady hand in the middle of Terrace City's lineup, recording 503 to add nicely to their lead. Nightfur missed a low swing, watching it slip under her bat to end her turn at 177 in a disappointing start to the year for Royal's captain. Melissa piled on with 624 for the Knights, setting them on track to win with 2069. Brownie had an alright 274 in her Crowns debut, leaving them in a loss with 1194. Terrace City goes to 1-0 in their first game at a lower division, while Royal is 0-1 and realizing the challenges Elite presents that Select did not.

Toyota Pitch, Freedom: The Cascades also have their home opener against the Knights, with Stinky sitting for the hosts while Jennifer takes a turn on the bench for the visitors. Kiwi matched her last performance, taking 550 and only ending when a ball hopped over her bat to take the wicket. Jasmine had the pace to threaten the visitors, but a high swing cut her off at 487 as Freedom starts from behind. Oreo fired back with 472 for the Knights, looking very comfortable in the second hitting position. Roxy showed no fear, carrying the Cascades ahead with her 603 to bring the game to half-completion. Quincy shot back with 589 for Terrace City, emboldened by his pool success and a desire to be a more complete player this year. Nikolai busted at 180 for Freedom, the strongman unable to keep his swing down, which cost his team dearly. Melissa tacked on 379 at the end, a weaker turn that gives the Knights a final score of 1990. Stripes just covered that damage with 382, unable to push on as the Cascades take the loss with 1652. Terrace City looks like a dangerous road team with a 2-0 record, while Freedom starts the year at 0-1 before heading on the road to finish a doubleheader.

Verizon Field, Pacific: The Volcanoes have taken a step down to Elite, sitting their newcomer Cowzart against the promoted Cascades, who test the road with Nikolai sitting here. Jasmine exploded for 874 for Freedom on the opening turn, as the former Select team is having no trouble scoring in Elite. Starlight couldn't settle a ball on her backhand, falling at 336 as Pacific will have a lot of work to do here. Roxy added a supporting 625 for the Cascades on their second attack, boosting their lead nicely. Ms. Kitty managed 305 after a false start, lacking a higher pace for the Volcanoes. Stripes scattered another 569 for Freedom, her unconventional swing working wonders to support her team's lead. Twinkie I fell in line with the rest of Pacific, collecting 312 points in an acceptable turn. Stinky provided 700 for the Cascades, a menacing finish that ices their final score at 2768. Leonette looked sharper than the rest of her Volcanoes teammates, scoring 376 to cap their loss at 1329. Freedom evens their record at 1-1, while Pacific starts at a poor 0-1 with little to be happy about.

Nike Field, Commerce: The Tradewinds also begin the year with a doubleheader, sitting Taylor S. against the Defenders, who put their newcomer Wario on the bench in their first road game. Bianca had a good pace going for Southridge before a high hit cut her off at 256. Tigerette tried to play aggressive, but ended up with only 130 when she sent a ball out of play, giving Commerce a weak start. Debby swung too early for the Defenders, wasting her turn with just 96 points as this game starts off slow. Solaris impressed for the Tradewinds in his first game since being traded by the Torpedoes, racking up 820 to give the hosts a distinct mid-game lead. Stephanie tried to answer that, but ended up at 214 after a poor swing ended her turn early for Southridge. Niki anchored the other half of the game for Commerce, rallying with 702 to extend their lead greatly. Caitlin managed 324 for the Defenders at the end, but they suffered a hard loss at 890. Rosemary supplied another 564 for the Tradewinds at the end, bringing their winning total to 2216. Commerce looked fantastic in getting to 1-0, while Southridge is also finding it difficult being promoted from Select, starting 0-1 on the year.

AT&T Oceanside Stadium, Oceanside: The Waves have their home opener with Jason V. on the bench against a Tradewinds team sitting Tigerette but looking much improved from last year. Solaris looked good with 447 for Commerce in a rare lead-off appearance. Snuggle replied with 514 for Oceanside, beginning with a high pace but fading later in the turn. Taylor S. started off alright but ended at 353 for the Tradewinds, unable to build a stronger turn. Celestia covered that with 361 for the Waves, maintaining their mild lead at the midway mark. Niki charged forward with 509 for Commerce, trying to help the visitor fight back in the second half. Josie matched it with 506 for Oceanside, keeping them ahead by the thin margin again. Rosemary fell at just 80 points for the Tradewinds, leaving them at 1389, which forces only a tiny response from the hosts. Dewey did plenty with 755 for the Waves, capping their win at 2136. Oceanside looks good at 1-0 to start the year, while Commerce slips back to 1-1 with the road loss.

Audi Knights Pitch, Terrace City: The Knights' last game of the week sees them sit Melissa for their home opener, while the Defenders bench Debby after a disappointing first game. Bianca was better for Southridge this time, leading off with 425 in an even-keeled performance. Kiwi crushed an even 1200 in response for Terrace City, the highest score of the season across the league. Stephanie fired back with 605 for the Defenders, using great pace to build her attack. Her older sister, Jennifer, took a nosedive with only 150 for the Knights, continuing her rough start to the year. Wario threatened the hosts' lead with 370 in his first appearance for Southridge, a respectable effort for the newcomer. Oreo bounced back with 564 for Terrace City, protecting their lead heading into the final turn of the game. Caitlin couldn't cover the deficit for the Defenders, her 408 leaving them short at 1808. Quincy went with 267 to finish off the Knights' win, ending with a total of 2181 as a team. Terrace City is a strong 3-0 and looks formidable, while Southridge drops to 0-2 despite a better showing here.

AT&T Oceanside Stadium, Oceanside: Celestia will sit in the second Waves home game for rest, while the Tridents start the year with Potter on the bench. Precious drilled a quick 540 for Pronger, looking as fit as ever in her seventh year with the organization. Snuggle had 388 in response for Oceanside, a decent turn but not enough to take the early lead. Spot added another 525 for the Tridents in a good second attack for the visitors. Josie picked up 371 for the Waves on their second attack, losing a bit more ground at the halfway point. Zach appeared to enjoy his first game playing as a 2/3, clobbering 845 for Pronger to boost their lead again. Dewey made a mess of his turn for Oceanside, taking a measly 32 points as their hopes of a comeback shatter. Lize put up a decent 352 for the Tridents at the end, icing their attack at 2262. Jason V. put in a middling 256 for the Waves, leaving their losing total at 1047. Pronger starts off 1-0 with the convincing win, while Oceanside dips to 1-1.

Kraft Crowns Park, Royal: The Waves take their show on the road, sitting Dewey in their third game of the year, while the hosting Crowns have their captain Nightfur on the bench after a bad game earlier. Snuggle had to make a save late in his turn, but it ruined his pace before he exited with 627 for Oceanside. Kayla edged Royal ahead with 678 on their opening turn, which keeps things close initially. Celestia struck a ball high and out of play, ending at 310 on the Waves' second attack. Jake answered with 387 for the Crowns, giving their lead a little more cushion in a close game. Josie played at a critically high pace for Oceanside, slamming 806 to put them far ahead. Brownie had a similar energy in her attack, but she dropped the pace late and ended with 429, giving Royal a noticeable deficit. Jason V. ruined the Waves' offense with a meager 60 points, putting them in a vulnerable spot at 1803. Cassie had only 128 for the Crowns, unable to make the necessary attack to save them from a loss, which came on their total score of 1622. Oceanside escapes at 2-1, while Royal is frustrated to be 0-2 after this game.

Pepsi Prestige Park, Lighton: The Prestige take their first look in Elite against a Tridents team that has already proven themselves once. Nicole sits for the hosts, while Lize's on the bench for the visitors. Precious bowed out at 32 for Pronger, an unusually poor effort from the captain. Acorn didn't punish the mistake as much as he could have, but his 534 gives Lighton a strong initial lead. Spot picked up 370 for the Tridents, which isn't enough to cover the deficit. Citrus washed that damage out with 391 for the Prestige, doing fairly well in her first game since being traded from the Diamond Gems. Zach got jammed on the hands, leading to him hitting a pathetic 32 for Pronger as well. Spirit showed no mercy with 544 for Lighton, the longtime second-hitter fine in her new role as a 2/3. Potter closed with 422 for the Tridents, but two wasted turns stuck them with a loss at 856, raising questions about their consistency. Shiny showed good pace and form, hitting 385 to finish off a Prestige win at 1854. Lighton starts the year at 1-0, while Pronger is 1-1 and remains an interesting team.

Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: The Surfers have their home opener with Bright on the bench, while the Crowns begin a seven-game road trip by sitting Jake. Kayla showed a bit of pop in her swings before skying a ball to end with 425 for Royal. Pearl's lead-off hitting co-captain Watermelon replied with 590, giving the hosts a slight edge after the first turn. Nightfur continues to scuffle early in the year for the Crowns, managing a paltry 81 in this appearance. Boots responded with 487 for the Surfers, building a bit more strength in their lead at the midway point. Brownie knocked a respectable 397 for Royal this time, which did little to fight back against a growing deficit. Neopolitan swatted 1064 for Pearl in response, showing much more comfort in the 2/3 position after Pearl's lineup reshuffle for 2019. Cassie missed a mark on her swing, skying it to end at 168 as the Crowns' woes continue with this loss at 1071. Beth tapped 407 for the Surfers at the end, sealing their win at 2548. Pearl starts the year 1-0, while a long road-trip starts badly as Royal sinks to 0-3.

GE Stadium, Southridge: The Defenders return home in search of a win, with Caitlin taking a turn on the bench, while the Stills sit their offseason trade acquisition Ruby in this first game. Sierra took an unusual turn at lead-off for Todavía, and made the most of it, producing 699 to start the game. Bianca couldn't get much back with 225 for Southridge, putting the hosts in a deep hole early on. Bells was sharp with her swings for the Stills, crashing her way to 556 on the second attack. Debby began with good pace for the Defenders, but some questionable swings left her with only 177 when she missed a swing. Easter missed a low offering, but had already assembled 509 points for Todavía in her first turn as a 3/4 hitter. Stephanie made a lunging save at one point, but still had only 361 for Southridge, who are looking overwhelmed in this game. Prism led the way for the Stills, clubbing 714 to give them a final score of 2478. Wario angled a swing upward after approaching the ball early, ending at 407 in a decent turn that ends the Defenders' loss at 1170. Todavía can feel good after a dominant win gets them to 1-0, while Southridge has regressed in falling to 0-3.

Nike Field, Commerce: The Tradewinds have Rosemary on the bench, hoping to extend the Crowns' misery; the visitors sit an under-performing Cassie in the second of a seven-game road trip. Royal's Kayla made an awkward early swing and couldn't pull back to stop the fast offering, ending her turn at only 247. Tigerette answered with a confident 581 for Commerce, erasing the memory of her early struggles. Jake missed a swing and then missed his chance to make a save as well, as the Crowns' second hitter fell with a weak 49 points. Solaris continued to enjoy his new team's home park, driving his way to 726 for the Tradewinds. Nightfur had great pace but a short turn that ended at 270 as Royal's offensive struggles seem to be permeating deep into the lineup. Taylor S. covered the damage with 292 on her turn, which is fine for a Commerce team comfortably ahead in this game. Brownie did alright with 328, unable to rally for the Crowns as they lose with 894. Niki stayed good with 517 for the Tradewinds at the end, icing their win at 2116. Commerce stays strong at home, going to 2-1 overall, while Royal sinks to 0-4 on the year.

That's all for Elite Week 1. Tomorrow, we will let Premier take the stage for the first time in 2019.

Select Cricket 2019 - Week 1

It's New Year's Day and we're celebrating by kicking off the new cricket season. Select will play its entire Week 1 schedule today, with Elite and Premier following over the rest of the week. First up...

Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison. The first game of the Select season sees the Specters sit their sophomore Rudolph, while newcomer Wild Thing sits for the visiting Wolves. Juno started with 337 for Stonebridge in their road opener, a respectable effort for the captain. Sydney S. provided a much stronger 571 for Harrison, poising her for breakout season. Cobalt jerked 193 for the Wolves, the weak second attack unable to offset the deficit. Twinkie II posted 456 for the Specters, boosting their lead with a strong outing of her own. Hershey crumbled at 146 for Stonebridge here, hardly offering resistance with his turn. Blizzard slammed 736 for Harrison, her first appearance for her new team going exceptionally well. Vladimir did alright with 392 for the Wolves, but their season starts with a loss at 1068. Lexi picked up 308 for the Specters, icing their win at 2071. Harrison goes to 1-0 while Stonebridge is 0-1 after the year's first game.

Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: The Specters continue their opening day festivities with Lexi on the bench, while the Meteors sit Frosty as they unleash a dramatically redesigned roster. Princess opened with 326 for Viewpoint Sound, her first game since being traded going in a mixed fashion. Sydney S. didn't do as well for Harrison as before, but her 451 gives them another initial lead. Hoot cancelled that out, as one of two holdovers from last season gave the Meteors 457 on the second turn. Twinkie II smashed 874 for the Specters, regaining the lead with force at the midway mark. Nibbles showed good dexterity early on, but a high hit ended his effort at 384 as Viewpoint Sound's other returnee can't overcome a large deficit. Blizzard bopped 537 for Harrison this time, continuing to forge goodwill with her new team and fans. Dani tried to rally for the Meteors, her 523 getting them close but proving to be too little as they lose with 1690. Rudolph only had 80 for the Specters at the end, capping their win at 1942. Harrison stays perfect at 2-0 to start the year, while Viewpoint Sound falls to 0-1 despite showing up well on offense.

The Intel Pitch, Diamond: The Specters take the show on the road, but leave Rudolph on the bench again, while the new-look Gems sit Leonardo in their home opener. Sydney S. contributed another 476 for Harrison, showing excellent pace in her first road appearance of the year. The much-anticipated Diamond debut for Shadow ended with mixed feelings as he hit 357 at lead-off for his new team. Twinkie II slipped up at 202 for the Specters, the aging captain showing signs of fatigue after traveling. The Gems captain Smokey had an even worse 33 on his turn, letting the visitors off the hook. Blizzard took a dip to 357 for Harrison, who remain ahead in their low-scoring road debut. Pedey makes Diamond proud, as his fourth season starts with 576 to get his side back in the game. Lexi served up a solid 422 for the Specters at the end, capping their offense at 1457, which isn't all that safe. Katelynn's first cricket game for the Gems (having played for them in 2012 before the cricket competition started) saw her take only 290, falling short in a loss at 1256. Harrison cruises to 3-0 in a busy start to the season, while Diamond starts at 0-1.

IBM Nighthawks Nest, North Modernistic: The Nighthawks will set their third-year player Luigi in the home opener, while the Meteors put Nibbles on the bench in their second game of the year. Princess' rough acclimation to Viewpoint Sound continued with a poor 184. Peach pummeled 771 for North Modernistic to begin the game well for the hosts. Hoot had a much more respectable 539 for the Meteors on his turn, but it wasn't enough to pull them ahead. Cheddar tried to play patient, but she exited with 279 for the Nighthawks when a high hit clipped the boundary. Frosty looked strong for Viewpoint Sound, recording 460 to cover the deficit this time in a close game. Gal's sophomore season started in great form with 520 for North Modernistic. Dani added 470 for the Meteors at the end, bringing their total to 1653 to force a response from the hosts. Lionel offered great offense with 619, his Nighthawks debut functioning to secure their win at 2189. North Modernistic's quest to return to Elite begins at 1-0, while Viewpoint Sound has gotten unlucky to start 0-2.

Sprint Pitch, Victoria: The Spurs will sit their offseason signing Mitchell in the home opener, while the Sharks have a veteran on the bench in Cubby for their road debut. Graham led off with 243 for Eastside, a middling first turn of the year for the visiting captain. Spice failed harder for Victoria, her meager 65 putting the hosts behind in a low-scoring start. Chelsea did a bit better with 312 for the Sharks, but their lead is still far from comfortable. Yekaterina proved this point, outscoring everyone else combined with 684 for the Spurs to put them in the lead at the halfway point. Taylor M. had a debut to forget with only 177 for Eastside, as the rookie failed to help their cause much. Sage covered it with 209 for Victoria, leaving a lot of offense on the board as the final players come to bat. Gizmo gave the Sharks plenty to question with a measly 65 points, giving them a losing total of just 797. Strawberry iced the Spurs win with 414 individually for a total of 1372. Neither team can be happy, but Victoria is better at 1-0 than Eastside's 0-1 start.

Volkswagen Stadium, Viewpoint Sound: Big names are on the bench, as the Meteors bench their trade acquisition Princess, while the Gems sit their captain Smokey. Shadow had a more vintage effort in his second game with Diamond, starting their attack with 472. Hoot answered with an energetic 576 for Viewpoint Sound in his first spot start at lead-off. Pedey put a focus on pace for his turn, contributing 686 for the Gems to restore a big lead. Frosty answered with 460 for the Meteors, a good turn but not enough to retake the lead. Katelynn's road debut for Diamond saw her end at a mild 164, putting their lead in danger. Nibbles fired back with 553 for Viewpoint Sound, lifting them ahead with a player each to go. Leonardo hit 286 for the Gems, giving them 1608, which forces the hosts to provide a small response. Dani obliged with a decent 330, giving the Meteors a win at 1919. Viewpoint Sound is 1-2 but has looked good so far, while Diamond drops to 0-2.

UPS Ground, Maplewood: The first derby match of the year has the Lumberjacks sitting a veteran in Gabe against their Northeastern rivals, the Arrows, who sit newcomer A. Charlton in their road debut. Sally made her debut as Archtown captain with 339, a solid performance for the longtime member. Whiskers blasted 668 with pace for Maplewood, continuing her ascent as a star in the league. Sleepy B. responded with 466 for the Arrows, enough to cover the previous deficit. Diddley countered with 410 for the Lumberjacks, maintaining their lead fairly well. Hoppy kept Archtown on the attack with 486, the former Southern Monarch showing real quality in her debut with her new team. Summer shot back with 414 for Maplewood, again causing their lead to shrink slightly. Dusky got off to an awful start this year with only 18 points for the Arrows, costing them a comeback chance as they lose with 1309. Bryant kept the Lumberjacks steady with 439 here, closing their win at 1931 overall. Maplewood begins the year 1-0 while Archtown will shake things up to correct their 0-1 start.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: The new-look Spiders begin the post-Shadow era with Jack sitting out their home opener, while the Nighthawks bench Cheddar for performance in their first road game. Peach teed off with 748 for North Modernistic, a devastating attack against the hosts early on. Waluigi replied with 280 for Web City, as he adjusts into a lead-off hitter for this season. Gal missed a swing and ended with a mediocre 211 for the Nighthawks, weakening their lead. Ted muscled up with 476 for the Spiders, cutting deep into the deficit halfway through the game. Lionel stumbled at 230 for North Modernistic, further weakening their lead. Avril matched that with 258 for Web City, keeping the deficit steady with a player each to go. Luigi roared on with 643 for the Nighthawks, giving them a final score of 1832. Chicky Phil's journeyman career continued as he scored 587 in his Spiders debut, which left them short at 1601. North Modernistic goes to 2-0, while Web City starts the year 0-1 despite showing up well for their home opener.

Microsoft Pitch, Del Sur: The Monarchs kick off their season with their draft signing Salmo sitting on the bench, while the Spurs sit their captain Spice after her bad performance in their home opener. Yekaterina swatted a crisp 600 for Victoria to start the scoring, clearly enjoying her chance to lead off. Mams did well with 451 for Southern, a solid debut for her son's team after being signed at the draft from Viewpoint Sound. Sage scooped up 329 for the Spurs, a bit of a slow turn for the crafty sophomore. Panda dropped off at 295, the Monarchs captain wasting a chance to help his team catch up in this game. Strawberry supported the Victoria attack with 619, boosting their lead in the process. Pounce sliced a swing high, ending with only 177 as Southern slips further behind late in the game. Mitchell tapped 280 in his Spurs debut, finishing their offense at 1828 in what should be a win. Dominic provided 519 for the Monarchs at the end, but they still lost with 1442. Victoria looked better here, going to 2-0 while starting Southern off at 0-1.

UPS Ground, Maplewood: The Lumberjacks host another Northeastern rival as they sit Summer; the visiting Specters bench their captain Twinkie II for rest in their fourth game of the year. Sydney S. stayed in form with 429 for Harrison to begin this game after showing fatigue from the early tripleheader. Whiskers answered with 636 for Maplewood here, carrying the hosts to a lead. Blizzard countered with 472 for the Specters, covering the deficit nicely. Diddley kept in line for the Lumberjacks, lifting 656 to extend their lead midway through the game. Lexi faded with only 80 for Harrison this time, deepening the deficit significantly with her bad turn. Bryant went off with 790 for Maplewood, extending their lead again. Rudolph did better with 486 in his second game of the year, but the Specters took the loss at 1467 against a dangerous rival. Gabe blended right in with 606 for the Lumberjacks finishing a fantastic win at 2688. Maplewood stays perfect at 2-0, while Harrison drops to 3-1, a good start for a busy week.

Starbucks Cup, Archtown: Dusky will sit out the Arrows' home opener after a bad first appearance, while the Meteors rotate through their lineup by sitting Dani in their fourth and final game this week. Princess continued to disappoint with only 193 for Viewpoint Sound, who have been plagued by slow starts. Sally popped 806 for Archtown on a strong opening attack for the hosts. Hoot dropped off at 232 for the Meteors, the heavy schedule catching up with him in this game. Sleepy B. ripped 639 for the Arrows, adding a significant score to their lead at the game's midpoint. Frosty gave Viewpoint Sound 609, continuing to impress on her new team during the opening week of the season. Hoppy crashed out at 152 for Archtown, suddenly putting their big lead in danger on the final turn. Nibbles couldn't quite do enough for the Meteors, his 405 putting them at 1439 in the loss. A. Charlton provided a modest 272 for the Arrows in her first appearance, enough to secure a win at 1869. Archtown is 1-1 with a successful home opener, while Viewpoint Sound's road struggles pin them at 1-3.

Sprint Pitch, Victoria: The Week 1 finale sees the Spurs rest Sage as they return home, while the Nighthawks give Gal this game off. Peach missed a swing early on, and lacked pace as well, falling at 288 for North Modernistic. Spice shot back with 429 for Victoria, a much better second appearance of the year for the hosting captain. Cheddar answered with 544 for the Nighthawks, a strong outing that pulls them ahead for now. Yekaterina cobbled 445 together on her turn for the Spurs, enough to regain the lead at the halfway mark. Lionel bowed out with only 192 for North Modernistic this time, an underwhelming turn that puts his team in a dangerous position. Strawberry got beat on a sinking offering, ending her turn at only 186 as Victoria fails to run away with the lead. Luigi tried to go big and clipped the boundary, falling with just 100 as the Nighthawks close at a disappointing 1124. Mitchell didn't look good, but his 200 was enough for the Spurs to win with 1260 total. Victoria stays perfect at 3-0, dumping North Modernistic to 2-1.

Tomorrow, the Elite division begins its season, and Premier is set to follow on Thursday.

Club Cricket Challenge 2018 - Semifinals and Final

Today, we complete the Club Cricket Challenge, crowning the top club from the remaining four. First up, the semifinals, beginning with...

Prime hosting Humanity Senior 1 after receiving the option to play the first semifinal series. Kayla attacked with great pace, scoring 659 for HS1 on the initial turn. Acorn started casually and then surged to 839 for Prime, putting them ahead after the first turn. Chelsea tried to attack with pace, but she deflected a ball into her wicket to end at 274 as HS1 falls into a tough position. Snuggle answered with 625 for Prime, his poor group stage form a distant memory now. Jennifer had only 220 for HS1, facing resistance from the opponents' bowling. Sweetheart kept the Prime offense healthy, attacking with 681 to boost their lead. Caitlin caught a ball behind her bat on a backswing, ending with 225 as HS1 takes another stumble. Strut blasted 792 for Prime, continuing their relentless attack at the game's midpoint. Chris had a solid 416 for HS1, but it isn't likely to spark a comeback for the overwhelmed visitors. Oreo covered the damage with 456 for Prime, showing that they plan to back off from their attacking pace. Steven managed 313 for HS1, hardly making an impact for his team. Delila added a little more with 527 for Prime, who are well on their way to the final game now. Zach posted 445 for HS1, a hollow victory for him personally after three games on the bench. Goatee took a stumble at 145 for Prime, although the misstep is not likely to impact the result of the game. Shawn cobbled 504 together for HS1 at the end, leaving them at 3056 in their only loss in the competition. Mr. Snowman had only 96 for Prime, finishing their win at 4161. Prime is in the final, with the opponent determined by the winner of the next game.

Arguably the most dangerous team, Reality takes on the Cinderella-style Celebrity in the second semifinal. Lorde continued to be a dangerous starter for Celebrity, recording 514 to start this game. Patches edged Reality ahead with 550 on her turn, making it a close start. Sydney S. kept the pace consistent with 582 for Celebrity on the second attack. Spice answered with 714, restoring a slightly larger lead for Reality. Pauline fell at 304 for Celebrity, a slightly early exit that just covers the deficit. Dusty had a rough turn, hitting only 245 for Reality as their lead takes a small hit. Charli provided a stronger challenge with 407 for Celebrity, continuing the back-and-forth nature of this game. Puff II countered with 392, her conservative start not covered by a later surge. Mario continued to pressure the opposition, pulling in 480 as Celebrity proves persistent. Boots finally got Reality out of their rut, slamming 676 to gain a little separation. Daisy didn't meet the challenge, her middling 245 keeping Celebrity behind. Starlight covered the damage with 405 for Reality, a good move at this stage in the game. Taylor S. covered the deficit with 500 for Celebrity, reminding the hosts that it's not yet over. Twilight lost some of the lead with 361 on her turn, but Reality just needs to hold on for one more turn to advance. Melissa gathered 481 for Celebrity, forcing the hosts to respond to their final score of 3513. Twinkie I did enough with 405 to scrape Reality to a win at 3748. Reality's close call will have them on edge a bit more in the final.

Prime now faces Reality with the Club Cricket Challenge championship on the line as the top two teams clash. Patches gave 502 for Reality to build upon in the final. Acorn answered with 640 for Prime on their first turn, pulling the top-seeded team ahead. Spice replied with 545 for Reality, keeping their attacking pace strong. Snuggle took a step back with 467 for Prime, but they retain the lead through two turns. Dusty faltered again with just 64 for Reality, barely enough to cover the deficit. Sweetheart muscled up for 823 to give Prime a commanding lead. Puff II got stymied at 96 for Reality on her turn, deepening the deficit they face. Strut popped 407 to boost the Prime lead again at the midway mark of their championship march. Boots replied with 490 for Reality in an attempt to get their offense back on track. Oreo faded at 200 for Prime, potentially causing the tides to shift in this game's second half. Starlight attacked with 674 for Reality, carving most of the deficit out of the way. Delila mitigated the damage with 605 for Prime, keeping them comfortably ahead at the moment. Twilight couldn't make much on her turn with only 115, likely dooming Reality's comeback effort. Goatee didn't help the Prime cause much with 185 on her turn, but their lead remains large with one player left on each team. Twinkie I had some big swings, but fell at 264, confirming Reality's loss at 2750 thanks to Prime's unrelenting play on both sides of the ball. Easter's 308 capped Prime's win at 3635, a below-average effort but enough to claim the competition's Championship title.

Prime goes into next season with a special sense of unity among its members, who came together out of their own former clubs. Acorn is the MVP of the competition, as Prime's captain set the tone on offense with the first turn in all of their games and a competition single-game high score of 1684 when they clinched the #1 seed in the final group game against Humanity Junior.

Cricket will be out of action until the start of the regular season on January 1st, which will feature a 3-hour bonanza in the Select circuit. I am expecting the Heart of the Game 13-ball preseason pool tournament to begin shortly after the new year, with qualifiers likely during February and March.

Club Cricket Challenge 2018 - Quarterfinals

After a day off, we'll do the quarterfinals for the knockout rounds now. We begin with...

Humanity Senior 1 taking on an Oriental United side familiar with the other HS team from group play. Goldy started slow and then burst forward for 766 for OU on the first turn, showing her side's quality immediately. Kayla answered confidently with 661 for HS1, keeping the game close at first. Hoot shot back with 842 for OU, attacking with the same high-intensity offense as they did in the last game. Chelsea covered that damage with 852 for HS1, shrinking the deficit a tiny amount. Panda took a knock at 223 for OU, weakening their already fragile lead. Yekaterina had her first misstep for HS1 at the worst moment, hitting a paltry 96 as the chance to catch up goes wasted. Bells hauled in 553 for OU, pulling them out of danger with the positive turn. Caitlin changed that narrative with 729 for HS1, evening the game out at the midway mark. Sparkles picked up 425 for OU on her attack, rebuilding their lead partially. Chris shot back with 569 to pull HS1 ahead for the first time in the game. Shelley couldn't do much with 297 for OU, her worst performance of the competition. Steven cranked out a quick 405 for HS1, adding a little more to their lead. Paps didn't do enough to impress for OU with 260 on his turn, leaving them vulnerable. Katelynn just about matched it with 256 for HS1, keeping them ahead with a player each to go. Wild Thing forced a response with 470 for OU, giving them a total of 3836 for the game. Shawn locked up the win for HS1 at the end with 560 on the final turn, their winning total resting at 4128. HS1 awaits the winner of today's last series as their foe in the semifinals.

In the next quarterfinal, Youth Movement tries to record a third win against Group E rival Celebrity. Lorde took a step back from recent efforts, recording a strong 575 for Celebrity to start the game. Celestia, looking a bit overworked, fell at 176 as YM gets off to a slow start. Sydney S. hammered another 642 for Celebrity on the second attack, boosting their lead. Gradley seemingly had good pace, but only managed 320 for a faltering YM side that trails significantly here. Debby got forced onto her backhand and failed to make the right flick, falling at 195 on a poor turn for Celebrity. Valencia stormed back on 499 for YM, cutting into the deficit pretty well. Pauline countered with 429 for Celebrity, keeping them comfortably ahead at this stage of the game. Spirit had only 227 for YM, losing a bit of ground halfway through the game. Charli had a had swing that cut her down at 224 for Celebrity, negating their chance to grow the lead. Bianca wasted another chance for YM to get back into the game, her mediocre 211 costing them another turn. Daisy pummeled 784 for Celebrity in response, giving their lead a huge addition. Sierra matched the damage with 780 for YM, as the hosts are getting desperate for offense. Taylor S. made a last-second save but had to alter her swinging style, which didn't last long when she crashed out at 202 for Celebrity. Isabella had only 272 in response for YM, yet another wasted chance to catch up. Melissa showed no mercy in hitting 750 for Celebrity, giving them a total of 3801. Rosemary had a pathetic 85 for YM at the end, sending them to the loss at 2570. Celebrity's revenge win puts them in the semifinals against the winner of the next series.

A heavily favored Reality side welcomes Forest SC in what's expected to be the most brutal quarterfinal. Jake smacked 487 on the first turn for Forest SC, a respectable opener for the visitors. Patches answered with 434 for Reality, her strong pace fading later in the turn. Nikolai lacked pace for Forest SC, ending at 404 after a crawling turn. Spice connected for 740 to pull Reality noticeably ahead after two turns. Wings stumbled at just 177 for Forest SC, unable to cover his side's newfound deficit. Dusty replied with 582 with Reality, a firm attack to build strength in their lead. Dustin responded with 434 for Forest SC, attempting to keep his side within striking distance. Puff II lashed 840 for Reality, continuing to extend their lead at the halfway point. Bandit made a deep gash in the deficit with 713 for Forest SC, but they are still behind. Boots erased that damage with her own 740 for Reality to maintain their large lead. Jack had a middling 256 for Forest SC on his turn, not helping their comeback chances much. Starlight belted 900 for Reality, showing no mercy as the Group B winners are running away with this game. Roxy couldn't stop a ball with her backhand attempt, ending at only 272 as Forest SC crumbles under pressure. Reality continued to tee off for batting practice as Twinkie I picked up another 792. Graham ended with 441, sealing Forest SC's definitive loss at 3184. Stinky tapped 285 for Reality, icing their competition-record winning score at 5313. Reality takes on the #8 seed Celebrity after their previous upset victory.

The last quarterfinal sees Prime take on the only remaining coalition squad, CELYM. Gal initially lacked energy on her swings for CELYM, but she ended at 633 to open the scoring quite well. Acorn answered with 724 for Prime, a fantastic response to put them narrowly ahead. Peach didn't follow up all that well with only 313 for CELYM. Snuggle answered with 723 for Prime, essentially doubling their offense. Taylor M. had only 176, her inexperience showing against the veteran club as CELYM falls far behind. Sweetheart showed no mercy with 544 for Prime, keeping the top-seeded side comfortably ahead. Luigi made a positive contribution of 539 for CELYM, but they've got a steep climb to make if they want a comeback. Strut ripped 696 on an energized turn for Prime, who continue to dominate the game. Solaris grabbed 475 for CELYM, a decent turn from the third-year player. Oreo's pace crashed late in her turn, but she still had 714 to keep Prime building their lead. Wario was slow to react to a ball that got under his bat, ultimately costing him the turn at 659. Delila eased her way to 606 for Prime, maintaining the lead for another turn. Rosalina hurt CELYM's comeback odds by managing only 300 on her turn. Goatee covered that with 319 for Prime, as both teams slow down toward the end of the game. Waluigi bailed at 115 for CELYM, leaving them with a hard loss at 3210. Easter took 291 for Prime, capping their win at 4617. Prime hosts Humanity Senior 1 in the semifinals.

Tomorrow, we will put an end to the Club Cricket Challenge with both semifinal games likely in the morning followed by the final in the afternoon.

Club Cricket Challenge 2018 - Wild Card Round

The first part of the knockout rounds is here, with teams ranked 5-12 fighting for four spots in the quarterfinals. First up...

SCPRI represents Group C against CELYM, as two coalition teams battle it out in the first wild card match. Gal pummeled 833 for CELYM on the first turn of the game, a fantastic start from their new lead-off hitter. Leonette fought back with excellent form, scoring 832 to make it nearly even for SCPRI. Peach kept the intense pace going with 736 for CELYM, giving them a second chance at the lead. Frosty didn't get it all back, but her 644 keeps SCPRI close after two turns. Taylor M. continued the CELYM attack with 633, as the offense on both sides trickles a bit slower. Ms. Puppy fired back with 782 for SCPRI, making a gain in the incredibly competitive match. Luigi restored a lead with 669 for CELYM after briefly falling behind. Snowball bested that with 769 for SCPRI, carrying them further ahead at the halfway mark. Solaris took a step back with 414 for CELYM, his good pace not enough to cover a short outing. Diddley fought it off with 580, adding a little more to SCPRI's lead. Wario covered the deficit lightly with 548 on his turn for CELYM. Tigerette lost a portion of SCPRI's lead after hitting 436, but they remain ahead with two players left on each side. Rosalina flipped 512 for CELYM, keeping them in the game for another turn. Citrus lost more ground with 433 for SCPRI, who are just hanging onto a lead heading into the final turn. Waluigi managed 388 for CELYM, leaving them at 4733 overall in an excellent team game. Blizzard picked an awful time for an awful turn, hitting just 112 to give SCPRI the loss on a total of 4588. CELYM's dogged pursuit of offense sends them to a quarterfinal match against the top-ranked Prime team.

After splitting two games in Group F, BFFSCENT hosts Forest SC for a third and decisive meeting between the intertwined teams. Jake slapped 385 for Forest SC to lead off the game. Smokey answered with 326 for BFFSCENT, keeping it close after a turn. Nikolai lashed out with 603 for Forest SC, giving them a more confident lead this time. Cowzart sprayed 503 for BFFSCENT in response, losing a little more ground on the crazy turn. Wings hit 475 for Forest SC on his turn, a respectable effort to keep them ahead. Cubby stayed steady with 454 for BFFSCENT, the coalition remaining within striking distance. Dustin couldn't stop a high offering, ending at 408 as it bounced off his backhand and onto his wicket to end the turn for the Forest SC star. Rudolph provided 503 for BFFSCENT, cutting into the deficit a bit at the midway mark. Hershey had a middling 272 for Forest SC, further weakening their lead. Slinks stayed aggressive on her pace, clocking in at 434 for BFFSCENT in a somewhat short turn by swings. Jack attacked with 544 for Forest SC, trying to reignite their offense after slipping behind on the previous turn. Marsell stumbled with a paltry 164 for BFFSCENT, damaging the coalition's chances of a win. Roxy drilled 742 for Forest SC on the next turn, trying her best to secure their lead. Noelle flicked 379 for BFFSCENT, unable to cover the damage. Sally left a little vulnerability with only 128 for Forest SC, giving them a final score of 3557. Bright had the right idea to rally, but he ended at 345 for BFFSCENT, ending their competition with a loss at 3108. Both group winners that failed to earn a bye are now out, while the #11 Forest SC goes on to face Reality in the quarterfinals.

Bitter club rivals clash with their best players as Oriental United takes on Outcast. Violetta took no chances early on, producing a sturdy 631 for Outcast to start with. Goldy replied with 560 for Oriental United, keeping things close between the squad captains. Josie couldn't get a pace going for herself, ending at 239 as Outcast takes a knock. Hoot shot back with 424 for Oriental United, pulling them ahead after two turns. Potter popped 512 for Outcast to cover the deficit this time, a strong turn from the #3 hitter. Panda tapped 663 for Oriental United in response, adding a little more to their lead. Prism couldn't quite pick a corner at the end of her turn, falling with a strong 699 for Outcast. Bells answered with a crisp 629 for Oriental United, maintaining their lead at the game's midpoint. Summer maintained pressure against the hosts, recording 636 for Outcast here. Sparkles repelled the threat with 764 for Oriental United, who have managed their lead efficiently. Kodiak couldn't pull Outcast ahead again, falling with a poor 239. Shelley couldn't stop a ball from bouncing over her bat to knock out her wicket, ending her turn at 336 for Oriental United. Spot kept Outcast in the game with his 569, but this barely covered the deficit. Paps covered it with 602 for Oriental United, putting them a turn away from advancing. Hoppy had 345 for Outcast, leaving them at a total of 3870 in a loss. Wild Thing iced a win for Oriental United with his 575, giving them a final score of 4553. Oriental United is set to take on Humanity Senior 1 in the quarterfinals thanks to this win.

The last wild card game has Celebrity taking on the last game's coalition effort, OCOUENT. Cobalt tried to go with pace for OCOUENT, but his bad swings caught him at 290. Lorde clubbed 1055 for Celebrity, another fantastic turn from her at lead-off. Salmo hit a solid 450 for OCOUENT, but they remain noticeably behind anyway. Sydney S. shot back with 665 for Celebrity, adding to their lead on the second attack. Shiny hauled in 405 for OCOUENT, who are still losing ground with their turns. Pauline took a weaker turn with 341 for Celebrity, but they remain ahead. Dewey collected 597 for OCOUENT, making a large dent in the deficit. Charli fired back with 526 for Celebrity, limiting the damage done against her team. Chimpy helped OCOUENT to keep the pressure up, taking 602 to shrink the deficit again. Mario had a false start and then an awful attempt at blocking an offering, causing him to fall at 80 points for Celebrity. Ruby pushed OCOUENT ahead with 401 on her turn, challenging their hosts to make a move. Taylor S. regained the lead for Celebrity with her 276, but they are weakening at the wrong time. Chicky Phil had a chance to go for more, but he ended with 379 after a ball slipped off his backhand, putting OCOUENT in an interesting position. Melissa answered with 310, restoring an even smaller lead for Celebrity. Fuchsia came up weak with 186 for OCOUENT at the end, forcing the opposition to reply to their final score of 3310. Katharine had only 152 for Celebrity, but it was enough for them to take the win at 3405. Youth Movement will be Celebrity's next opponent after this narrow win.

We're set to play the quarterfinals tomorrow if everything goes to plan.

Club Cricket Challenge 2018 - Day 6

This is the last day for the group stage of the competition. We are currently planning on taking the six group winners and the next six best teams to the knockout stage, which begins with a wild-card round first. All knockout round matches are one game, to maximize home-field advantage for successful group-stage teams.

First, we have OCOUENT facing Humanity Senior, with the winner taking Group A. Kayla hit a respectable 417 for HS1 on the opening turn, giving them a decent lead to start with. Cobalt answered with 337 for OCOUENT, keeping things close initially. Chelsea hammered 919 for HS1 on the second turn, boosting their lead significantly. Salmo answered with 432, breaking out on a big pace before a high swing reined him in for OCOUENT. Yekaterina turned in another stable turn with 553 for HS1 to extend their lead again. Hughbert had a bad swing too soon in his turn, ending at 324 as OCOUENT just hasn't been able to match turns yet. Jennifer tapped 387 in a bit of a down turn for HS1, but they remain well ahead. Shiny made a little progress with 422 for OCOUENT, but they've got a long way to go at this game's halfway point. Caitlin poured on 710 for HS1 in an excellent surging attack that strengthens their lead. Dewey had a strong 576 for OCOUENT, desperately holding onto hopes of a comeback. Chris didn't do anything remarkable, scoring 364 to keep HS1's offense steady. Ruby maintained a fierce attack with 644 for OCOUENT, cutting into the deficit. Steven struck 584 for HS1, pacing his attack well to maintain the lead under some late pressure. Fuchsia swung early at one point, faltering at 371 as OCOUENT is likely to lose now. Katelynn tacked on 436 for HS1 at the end, capping their offense at 4370 for the game. Quincy had a meager 81 for OCOUENT, securing their loss and 2-2 finish at 3187. HS1 went perfect in the group stage, making them likely to have a first round-bye, while OCOUENT should make a wild-card appearance.

In Group B, Outcast welcomes Reality, with the latter needing a win or a loss by no more than 962 points to take the group. Patches picked up 656 for Reality on the first turn, a strong attack from the superstar. Violetta answered with 525 for Outcast, keeping the game close initially. Spice covered a lot of that with 425 for Reality, but the game remains close early on. Josie answered with 506 for Outcast, bringing the two teams very close after two turns. Dusty was unfazed by the intensity, striking 629 for Reality to restore a large lead. Klaus lost all control with a measly 12 for Outcast, putting them at a deep deficit. Puff II used the essentially free turn to smash 750 for Reality, giving their lead a huge boost. Prism had a good pace but a short turn for Outcast, recording 361 to bring the game to its midpoint. Missy stumbled at 65 for Reality, causing their large lead to waver slightly. Summer halved the deficit with 520 on her turn, adding a bit of intrigue into the match. Starlight fired back with 900 for Reality, a fantastic attack from the young spark plug player. Kodiak couldn't match that, falling at a mild 270 for Outcast instead. Twilight supplied 354 for Reality on her turn, a solid output for a team in the lead. Nibbles fell at 144 for Outcast, making no effort at battling back late in the game. Twinkie I had 410 for Reality at the end, giving them 4189 in what should be a win for a 4-0 group stage record. Hoppy answered with 388 for Outcast, giving them 2726 overall in a steep loss that puts them at 2-2.

The four teams receiving byes in the first round are Prime, Reality, Youth Movement, and Humanity Senior 1, all finishing 4-0 in their group games.

In Group C, Humanity Senior 2 looks to spoil Oriental United's chances at the group title. OU needs a win with at least 4737 points to top the group. Stealth had a mediocre 230 to lead off the game for OU. Gabe answered with 627 for HS2, establishing the early lead for the hosting side. Hoot hit 572 for OU, covering the deficit for now with the good turn. Bryant took a knock at 295 for HS2, weakening their lead a quarter of the way through the game. Panda poked 434 for OU this time, keeping them competitive. Niki mitigated most of the damage with 387 on her turn for HS2. Bells ripped 631 for OU in response, pulling them ahead nicely. Jasmine had a good pace, but a high swing cut her off at 280 as HS2 falls behind halfway through the game. Shelley struggled with pace at times, but stayed up long enough to record 679 as OU's resurgence continues. Nicole's back-swing caught a dead ball on the pitch, dragging it to her wicket to end her turn at 373 for the slumping HS2. Mams faltered at 184 for OU, causing their lead to slip a bit again. A. Charlton only managed 239 for HS2, unable to make a meaningful dent in the deficit. Paps took 326 for OU, missing a swing outright to end his turn early. Kirstin didn't make a move, her 292 ultimately an unimpressive performance for HS2. Wild Thing made a valiant effort, but ended with 476 to cap what should be an OU win at 3532. Dani couldn't save a ball that jumped over her bat, ending with a measly 156 as HS2 finishes 0-4 in group play with this loss at 2649. SCPRI took Group C on points, but Oriental United is in good shape to claim the 7th or 8th seed with a 3-1 record.

REAHJ has nothing to play for, but some members of the coalition might want to spoil their Humanity Junior mates' positioning. Andrew had an ugly first turn with 176 for HJ, leaving them exposed early on. Twinkie II replied with 418 for REAHJ, giving them the initial lead. Jason N. rewarded HJ's faith in him, scoring 663 to pull them ahead on the second turn. Gizmo answered with 426 for REAHJ, keeping things close after his attack. Sarah reaffirmed HJ's lead with 614 on her turn, a good look from the rookie. Puff I failed to counter the attack effectively, her 367 causing REAHJ to fall noticeably behind. Briana picked up 337 for HJ on her turn, keeping their lead steady. Sugar smashed 836 for REAHJ, pulling them ahead again with the big attack. Ted fired back with 515 for HJ, keeping his side in this back-and-forth battle. Hannah countered with 357 for REAHJ, just edging the coalition ahead of her usual club-mates. Mitchell covered the deficit with 283, but HJ finds themselves in another dangerous position. Kitty made a statement with 1013 for REAHJ, who now find themselves in a position to overtake their opponents in group stage points. Vincent charged back with 665 for HJ, trying to keep their chances of finishing second in the group alive. Cassie stumbled with a pathetic 32 for REAHJ, another twist in a game full of them as the final players step up to bat. Jason V. grabbed 553 for HJ at the end, setting their final score at 3806. Lize took the win with 480 for REAHJ, bringing their score up to 3929. On points, Humanity Junior remains ahead of REAHJ's coalition, which could prove critical for filling out the last spots in the knockout round.

A similar situation arises in Group E, as Brute Force looks to spoil the party for Celebrity. Cleo led off with 326 for Brute Force, a reasonable attack from the veteran. Lorde decided to make this a long game for the visitors, slugging 1565 on the first turn to stake out a huge Celebrity lead. Americus had a rocky turn with only 64 for Brute Force, making the deficit even worse. Sydney S. showed no mercy, adding 597 to the Celebrity total. Juno knocked 438 for Brute Force, trying to save face for the embarrassed club. Debby bowed out with a meager 80 for Celebrity, slowing their offense down just a bit. Midnight picked up 290 for Brute Force, only seeming half-invested in her performance. Pauline shot back with 702 for Celebrity, who hold a massive lead at the midway mark. Nightfur supplied 436 for Brute Force, continuing their plodding offensive march. Mario clubbed 750 more for the dominant Celebrity offense. Rainmane posted 482 for Brute Force in positive turn for her side. Daisy took a quick fall at 144 for Celebrity, attempting to speed up the game a bit. Princess had only 230 on a mediocre outing for Brute Force. Taylor S. smashed 676 for Celebrity on her turn, keeping their offense dangerous on the late turns. Dominic took 192, giving Brute Force 2458 in the heavily lopsided loss that sends them to 0-4. Melissa grabbed 348 for Celebrity at the end, icing their win at 4862. Celebrity ends at 2-2 for the group stage, in a good position to earn a wild-card bid.

Enterprise, Solid Core, Humanity Senior 2, and Brute Force all finished without a win, in positions 15-18. They will not play in the knockout round. Two additional teams will fail to qualify, those being the ones with the lowest points at 1-3.

Group F presents the most interesting scenario as CELYM welcomes BFFSCENT. Simply, a CELYM win assures all Group F teams a spot in the knockout round. However, BFFSCENT takes the group with a win or a loss of no more than 1224 points while scoring at least 2235. CELYM can also top the group with a win by 1225 points or more, and at least 3460 points scored. If BFFSCENT wins and scores more than 4750, they will be the #5 seed, otherwise it belongs to the Group C winners. Smokey got off to a positive start with 584 for BFFSCENT, well on their way to meeting the minimum points. Avril didn't hold up her end of things well for CELYM, exiting on a lousy 64. Cowzart had 364 for BFFSCENT on the second turn, adding to their lead. Peach had 280 for CELYM, unable to make any progress with the middling turn. Strawberry caught a corner and fell at 245 for BFFSCENT, potentially weakening their lead. Taylor M. took an aggressive 1092 for CELYM, overcoming the deficit for a lead to make things interesting. Cubby replied with a pacey 544 for BFFSCENT, keeping things close, which favors his coalition. Luigi spiked 570 to maintain a CELYM lead at the halfway point. Lionel had an early exit at 225, unable to cover the deficit for BFFSCENT. Brownie failed to pull away, hitting only 177 for CELYM on her turn. Slinks took advantage of the sloppiness to score 568 for BFFSCENT, covering the deficit this time. Solaris shot back with 662 for CELYM, restoring a lead with two turns left. Marsell dropped off at 250 for BFFSCENT, who currently hold the group lead on points regardless of the result. Rosalina ended at 96 for CELYM, not doing her side any favors for meeting the points requirements. Noelle had only 242 for BFFSCENT, giving them a total of 3022. Waluigi settled at 364 for CELYM, giving them a win on 3305. Both teams are 2-2, meaning that both Humanity Junior and the REAHJ coalition teams are out, finishing 13 and 14.

The matches for the wild card round, tentatively scheduled for tomorrow, are as follows.
#5 SCPRI v. #12 CELYM
#6 BFFSCENT v. #11 Forest SC
#7 Oriental United v. #10 Outcast
#8 Celebrity v. #9 OCOUENT

The teams advancing will be reseeded prior to the quarterfinals. 

Club Cricket Challenge 2018 - Day 5

We're getting down to the end of the group stage, with games today and then one more before the knockout rounds. Leading off...

Humanity Senior 1 hosts Enterprise, with the latter only able to play spoiler here. Ice Cream provided good pace after false-starting on her first try, ending at 470 for Enterprise to start the game. Kayla lacked the pace, but outplayed her mark with 527 for HS1, ending with an odd backwards bounce. Neopolitan covered the deficit with 409 for Enterprise, keeping things competitive at first. Chelsea shot back with 758 for HS1, reestablishing a strong lead for her side. Precious faltered with 199 for Enterprise, dropping off of the game's high pace. Yekaterina made a questionable block, but knocked the ball into her wicket to end at 567, continuing her good form for HS1. Whiskers dropped at 280 for Enterprise, their offense stumbling in the middle of the game. Jennifer picked up another 467 for HS1, giving them a large lead at the halfway point. Kiwi carved out 594 for Enterprise on her turn, trying to fight back against the opposition. Caitlin nearly got all of it back with 590 for HS1, maintaining their lead pretty well. Max knocked 405 for Enterprise on his turn, a solid performance. Steven responded with 544 for HS1, a much better second appearance for the veteran. Fluffina fell with 146 for Enterprise in her worst game of the competition. Katelynn continued HS1's firm attack with 466 on her turn, keeping them on a great pace. Watermelon's 355 for Enterprise sealed their loss at 2858, which gives them a fourth loss in the competition. Shawn answered with 366 for HS1, giving them a winning total of 4285. HS1 is in the driver's seat for Group A at 3-0, needing just a win to take the group outright.

In Group B, Reality looks to stay perfect while Solid Core tries to spoil their party. Sprinkles couldn't stop a ball that rolled over her bat, ending her effort at 291 for Solid Core. Spice answered with 546 for Reality on their first turn, establishing the early lead. Sleepy B. pulled up unnecessarily on a swing, ending at 355 as Solid Core barely covers the deficit. Dusty slugged 1020 for Reality on their second turn, boosting the lead greatly. Misty buckled at 121 in an ugly performance for Solid Core, who are quickly losing their chance to battle in this game. Puff II batted 543 as Reality continues to pile on the offense. Crystal showed some energy for Solid Core, but didn't get much for a result, hitting only 337. Boots stumbled at 209 for Reality, ceding a bit of their lead at the midway point. Shadow tried to be aggressive for Solid Core, ending with a measly 65 points instead. Starlight showed little mercy in picking up 304 for Reality, as this game seems to have cooled from its intense start. Stripes went with a decent 292 for Solid Core, but they aren't making any progress now. Twilight belted 839 for Reality, just about confirming her team's win. Dreamy grabbed 272 for Solid Core before skying a ball ended her turn. Twinkie I answered with 364 for Reality, doing her part to maintain their lead. Pounce ended Solid Core's competition with 385, giving them a loss at 2118 during their 0-4 campaign. Stinky's 185 gave Reality a total of 4010 for the game, which gives them nearly 1000 points of cushion should they lose in their last Group B match.

Oriental United really needs a win to solidify themselves, but SCPRI looks to stay undefeated in their final Group C match. Leonette had a brutal start with 115 for SCPRI. Goldy lost her swinging angle and crashed out at 185 in a slow start for OU. Snowball had a much more respectable 544 for SCPRI on the second turn, establishing their lead. Hoot answered with 677 for OU, edging them ahead in a close game. Diddley shot back with 636 for SCPRI, keeping the pace up in this game. Panda found a groove to take 595 for OU, keeping them ahead despite losing a bit of ground. Tigerette fell at 137 for SCPRI, unable to cover the deficit. Bells ripped 811, finding a fantastic pace to help OU take a commanding lead. Ms. Kitty dropped at 100 for SCPRI, apparently willing to cede this game as the club rests on its laurels. Sparkles didn't have her best swinging posture, falling at 195 after missing a ball on her first attempt to create a false start. Leonardo had a pathetic 65 as SCPRI begins to spiral toward their first loss in this game. Shelley replied with 310, unable to block a ball from her wicket. Citrus picked up 582 in a solid outing for SCPRI, trying to make this game look better than it was. Paps answered with a big 715 for OU, as they continue to play very well. Blizzard ended with 326 to give SCPRI a final score of 2505 in their only group stage loss. Wild Thing exited with 121 for OU, icing their impressive win at 3609. OU would need to win with about 4700 points to take the Group C title from SCPRI.

Humanity Junior likely needs a win here to stay competitive, but an undefeated Prime side stands in their way. Acorn crushed 1684 for Prime on the initial turn, likely already securing a favorable result. Stephanie had a solid 375 for HJ, but they will need a miracle to overcome Acorn's turn. Sweetheart added 589 on a supporting attack for Prime. Jason N. stayed in line at 376 for HJ, hardly deviating for his team. Oreo rocked 614 for Prime, keeping their offense going at a blistering pace. Sarah fought back with 656 for HJ, playing with an active swing throughout the turn. Delila replied with 643 for Prime, keeping their lead steady again. Sydney C. hit a ball high to give HJ 364 points from her turn. Goatee flipped 436 for Prime, a decent turn but a little slow in the context of their game. Briana tried to be aggressive for HJ, but her 305 marked her worst effort so far. Mr. Snowman slipped at 80 for Prime, officially putting them into cruise for the rest of the game. Ted cranked 1044 for HJ on his turn, an impressive effort to launch a late long-shot comeback. Easter didn't have much with 313 for Prime on her turn, but they are still comfortably ahead late in the game. Vladimir matched it at 309 for HJ, leaving likely too much of a deficit to take down with one turn remaining. Sage topped Prime's offense with 200, for a total of 4559 to ice their 4-0 group stage. Jason V. predictably didn't get enough with 376 for HJ, leaving them in a loss at 3805, a significant score should their knockout round hopes come down to a points tiebreaker.

It's do or die time for Brute Force, as they try to spoil a perfect start from Youth Movement. Celestia stumbled at 245 with a bad swing causing her early exit for YM. Cleo tried to wind up a big swing, causing her own downfall at 341 for BF. Gradley caught a couple of balls on the handle of his bat, the latter hitting the wicket as well to down him at 426 for YM. Juno clobbered 778 with pace for BF, establishing a better lead for her team. Bianca responded with 714 for YM, covering the deficit again in a tough battle early on. Midnight went for a scoop swing and missed, ending at 245 for BF with the rough outing. Sierra cranked out 703, taking good advantage of their opponents' weakness to build up a YM lead. Nightfur erased a large portion of the deficit with 619 for BF, setting up an exciting second half of the game. Isabella showed no mercy in striking 782 for YM, repairing their lead again. Leandra collapsed a meager 88 for BF, setting them far back. Dusky eased up with 385 for YM, who are looking like favorites in this one now. Rainmane didn't make a move with 225 on a slow pace for BF. Rosemary wired 635 for YM on an energetic turn, getting them closer to a perfect group stage. Pedey barely offered resistance with 32 for BF, almost assuring them of a loss now. Cheddar fell at 242 for YM, a mediocre turn capping their big win at 4132. Dominic's 305 left BF at a total of 2633, their third loss only making it possible for them to be spoilers to Celebrity. YM has won Group E, but will not be the top-seeded team in the knockout stage.

Finally, the BFFSCENT coalition takes on one of their lender clubs in Forest SC in the tight Group F. Jake produced an even 400 for Forest SC on the opening turn. Smokey lacked pace for BFFSCENT, ending at 320 as the coalition will begin behind. Nikolai added 298 for Forest SC, a reasonable turn for the veteran. Strawberry answered with 425 for BFFSCENT, dragging her side ahead after two turns. Dustin covered the deficit with 419 for Forest SC, but they are not yet anywhere near safety. Cubby kept it close with 407 for BFFSCENT on his turn, keeping the game up for grabs. Bandit hit an ugly 121 for Forest SC, endangering them with the poor attack. Lionel shot back with 470 to boost BFFSCENT's lead the midpoint of the game. Jack fell at 235 for Forest SC, unable to cover the deficit. Slinks had a false start on her first try, but bounced back with 454 for BFFSCENT on the second attempt. Roxy tried to find a groove but got taken out at 292 for Forest SC, making their deficit grow. Marsell quickly stuck 443 on the board for BFFSCENT, adding a bit more to their lead. Sally replied with 441 for Forest SC, just keeping the deficit steady late in the game. Noelle matched it with 441 for BFFSCENT, inching them closer to a pivotal result. Graham dropped at 100 for Forest SC, sealing their loss at 2306 as they end at 2-2. Bright's 140 left BFFSCENT at 3100 even as they take the lead in the group. A win outright clinches Group F for BFFSCENT, but they can also win it with a loss of no more than 1224 points as long as they score at least 2236 points in one of the most fascinating final games. CELYM would need to cover a 1224-point spread while also scoring at least 3460 to take the group for themselves. If both teams fail to meet each of their provisions, Forest SC tops the group instead.

That's it for the fifth round of group stages games, with just one left to go later this week.