Western Warriors v. Tassie Tigers - Pura Cup

[Donny]

WA score 211 in session
December 10, 2003 - Fox Sports

TALENTED left-hander Chris Rogers slammed 108 runs in the final session to finish with a superb 116 not out as Western Australia manoeuvred themselves into a potentially winning position in the Pura Cup game with Tasmania at the WACA.

Rogers, a 26-year-old opener, thrashed the islanders' attack in the 135 minutes to stumps as WA piled on an amazing 211 runs in the session.

They finished with 1-231 in their second innings, leading overall by 288 with one day remaining and a declaration appearing certain in the opening session today.

Rogers was well supported by former Zimbabwe Test right-hander Murray Goodwin (50no) in an unbroken 137-run second-wicket stand and skipper Mike Hussey (61) in an opening partnershipo of 94.

The WA batsmen ran riot after Tasmania had frustrated the home bowlers deep into the day, with the last four wickets adding 164 runs to complete a challenging total of 380 – only 57 behind WA's first innings 437.

[Donny]

W.A. declared at 5/329, a lead of 386.

Rogers made 120 and Goodwin was 104 n.o. from 117 balls.

Downton was expensive but took 3 wickets.

The Tigers need 387 @ a touch over 5 r.p.o. The Warriors might have declared earlier if it wasn't for Tassie's fantastic chase for victory against the Blues.

[Donny]

Williams struck twice, removing both openers, l.b.w.

Cox (11) and Mason (13) gave Williams his 5th. and 6th. wicket for the match.

He has to leave at tea to catch a plane to Adelaide for tomorrow's training session with the Oz Test team so he'd love one or two more before then.

[Donny]

Well, Divva's having a go again. He's 46 from 40 balls. Watson is supporting on 24.

They are 2/103 from 22 overs and on target.

[Donny]

3/134 and the required run rate is mounting. Still only 6.57 but Di Venuto is gone.

Watson (31 n.o.) and Dighton (22 n.o.) are batting steadily and if they can keep it under 7 r.p.o., they're in with a chance in the last session.

[Donny]

The bowler who replaced Williams , Edmondson, came on after tea and claimed Watson (46)

Tassie now need 189 from 27 overs which is a touch under 7 r.p.o. and while Dan Marsh is there, they are a chance. He is already 22 from 20 balls. Gighton is 46 n.o.

[Donny]

Are they going to do it again !!??

Dan Marsh is on fire with 72 from 52 balls and Michael Dighton is 88.

The required run rate is nearly down to run-a-ball and there are less than 100 runs to get.

Dighton just went, for 88, from Wilson's bowling.

[Donny]

18 needed from 18 to win !!

Marsh rockets to 103 n.o.

OK. Last over. 7 needed from 6 balls. 3 dots !!

Marsh hits a four !! 3 from 2. They get 2 singles only. A draw

W.A. get 2 points for the first innings win.

[Donny]

The bowler who replaced Williams at tea, Ben Edmondson, took 3/47 from 9 overs and bowled that last thrilling over.

His three dots to Marsh did the trick.

Another great effort from Tassie but this time they missed the 6 points by the narrowest of margins. Dan Marsh played a wonderful captain's knock again. His 111 n.o. took only 96 balls.

[Donny]

Shield match thriller
December 10, 2003 - Fox Sports

WESTERN Australia and Tasmania's Pura Cup cricket match ended in a thrilling draw after scores were tied at the end of the final day at the WACA Ground.

Andrew Downton needed two runs off the final ball for the Tigers to win after being set a victory target of 387.

However, the tailender could only manage a single off rookie Ben Edmondson, meaning his team finished with no points from the contest.

Tigers captain Daniel Marsh led the gallant chase with an unbeaten 111 off 95 balls.

WA took first innings points yesterday.

The result sees Tasmania (14) remain on top of the Pura Cup table but another run would have put the Tigers well clear with 20 points from four matches. WA remained on the bottom.

WA captain Michael Hussey closed his second innings at 5-329 after Murray Goodwin (104no) completed his hundred with Brad Hogg (8no) the other unbeaten batsman.

Tasmania's mammoth fourth innings chase spluttered along until tea with the visitors 3-138 off 38 overs, needing 249 runs off the final 37 overs in the last session.

It stepped up with Marsh's arrival at the crease at 4-166 as the solid allrounder and Dighton put on a cracking pace on a pitch which had shown some gremlins early in the day.

Their fifth-wicket partnership of 128 runs in 110 balls set up the visitors' unlikely charge for glory.

Dighton's fine knock ended when he top-edged a hook shot with Peter Worthington taking an ungainly catch in the deep off Paul Wilson's (1-43) bowling.

But Thorp grassed a difficult chance low down when Dan Marsh was on 74 and the score 5-300 as the Tigers seized the momentum.

Hussey then showed enormous faith in Edmondson, handing him the ball with 45 runs needed off seven overs.

He did not let his new team and state down with the wickets of Sean Clingeleffer (30) and Damien Wright (5) in crunch time.

WA coach Wayne Clark said the Queensland 2nd XI bowler had shown he was worth the gamble after leaving the Sunshine State because of a lack of opportunities with its rich fast bowling stocks.

"He was under immense pressure there in the end and his last few overs were very good, we were gone for all money," Clark said.

[Newelly]

Michael Dighton got his start with the Warriors grrrr . It's certainly frustrating supporting the Warriors over the last few years as we have become a development team for the eastern states squads. It appalls me that some of our best talent heads east. Is it the money and/or the perception that they wont be noticed by national selectors unless they play on the east coast? The inclusion of Langer, Martyn and Gilchrist in the Aussie first 11 surely disproves this theory. Simon Katich moved across to NSW but originally debuted for Australia in the Ashes series of June-July 2001 when playing with the Warriors. If anything proving yourself as a top class batsman on the WACA pitch certainly helps build a strong case for national selection. Allan Donald testified to this as he mentioned several times during the latter part of his career that he wanted to play for the Warriors for a season or two. Some people believed this was because he wanted to achieve his final goal in cricket of killing a batsman (he must have bowled faster than 160 at his peak).