Bushrangers v. Blues - Pura Cup

[Donny]

Vics looking for a good lead now.

They are 7/308 with Hussey on 112 and Roach, 40. Partnership of 75 for the 8th. wicket.

[Donny]

It's 9/320. Hussey made 120 and Roach, 46.

The lead is 33 runs.

[Donny]

At stumps, NSW are 1/18. Wise claimed Jaques for 13.

[piedys]

Donny,
Rather bizzare 1st Innings? Both top orders fail to fire and it's left to the tail-enders to make the runs!

Dyso

[Donny]

Yes, Dyso. Both 5 for under 100 and a lower order fightback.

The difference was David Hussey's 120 which gave the Vics a 33 run lead.

[piedys]

[Donny]

White opened with Wise and Moss and they both took a wicket.

Mail (16) and Zammit (15) started well but fell in consecutive overs. 3/45 and only 12 ahead.

[Donny]

Michael Clarke was bowled by Mick Lewis for 9. 4/64. Virtually 4/31.

[Donny]

Waugh enjoys Victorian generosity - Fox Sports


VICTORIA gave New South Wales captain Mark Waugh some generous farewell presents by dropping him twice in the first session on day three of the Pura Cup cricket match at the MCG today.

Waugh hit sitters to counterpart Cameron White and Jason Arnberger early in what's likely to be his final innings at the MCG, but was still there on lunch on 15, with NSW 4-93 in its second innings - a lead of 54.

Michael Bevan was not out 21.

Waugh's let-offs soured a good morning for Victoria, which took three wickets including that of danger man Michael Clarke, who inside-edged Mick Lewis onto his stumps on nine.

Waugh replaced Clarke and should have been out for a duck after edging Lewis to White at first slip, but the Bushrangers skipper dropped a waist-high sitter.

Then on five, Waugh chipped Andrew McDonald straight to mid-wicket where Arnberger spilled another easy chance.

The Bushrangers started well by removing overnight batsmen Greg Mail (16) and nightwatchman Liam Zammit (15) in the opening 40 minutes.

Allan Wise had figures of 2-30 for Victoria, with a wicket each to Lewis (1-30) and Jonathan Moss (1-22).

Victoria took first innings points yesterday by reaching 326 in reply to NSW's first innings 287.

Outright points will give the winner a share of top spot on the Pura Cup table.

[Donny]

Mark Waugh, 58, and Bevan added 116 to put NSW back in the game.

Bevan just went for 106 and the score is 6/251. Wise has 5/51 and Lewis, 2/70.

And with a lead of 217, Lewis just claimed Thornley for 19.

[Donny]

Alan Wise takes 5/59 and NSW are all out for 268.

230 for the Bushies to win.

[Donny]

This game certainly has had it's moments.

With Waugh and Bevan together, it looked like NSW were really getting into a strong position but they lost 6/90 from when Waugh went and 5/20 from Bevan's dismissal.

Young Allan Wise, in his third first class game, took his first 5 wicket haul and now has 12 wickets @ 19.6 for the season, so far.

[Donny]

In a testing little 6 over session till stumps, The Bushies openers got through unscathed. 0/25. 205 to win.

[Donny]

NSW in hunt after Bevan ton

Fox Sports

A MILESTONE Michael Bevan century and Allan Wise's maiden five-wicket haul has given NSW and Victoria genuine claims on outright points in the Pura Cup cricket match at the MCG.

Bevan (106) scored his 32nd Pura Cup century in NSW's second innings of 268 to give his side a defendable total considering pre-lunch wickets have been the trend.

But in a see-sawing match and an equal share of top spot on the Pura Cup table for an outright winner, Wise (5-59) swung the initiative back Victoria's way when he had Bevan caught in the slips to trigger a late collapse.

That was the first dismissal in a crucial spell of 5-20 as the Vic quicks got their rewards after toiling hard without hamstrung medium pacer Ian Harvey.

Victoria will resume tomorrow on 0-25, needing another 205 to win.

Bevan survived the morning session and ploughed on to register another ton and move into outright third spot on the list of Pura Cup hundreds, with only Darren Lehmann (37) and Don Bradman (36) above him.

"It was nice to get one out there today because I don't think I've played a Shield match here since 1993-94, so it's been 10 years and I was looking forward to playing here and I was fairly happy with the way I hit them," Bevan said.

Bevan and NSW captain Mark Waugh compiled a 116-run stand which threatened to put the match beyond Victoria after the Bushrangers gave Waugh an overly generous gift in what's likely to be his farewell match at the MCG before retiring.

Victorian captain Cameron White spilt a sitter at slip before Waugh had scored and if that was the parting gift, then Jason Arnberger wrapped it for Christmas when he dropped a lolly at mid-wicket when Waugh was five.

The former Test star naturally made Victoria pay and the home side can be thankful Harvey's sharp take in the gully off Mick Lewis (3-79) ensured Waugh departed with 58 and not a century.

NSW will hope it can continue the trend of early wickets, particularly with Brett Lee to steam in on a pitch that could throw up the odd demon early on the last day.

"Chasing last has always been historically hard," Bevan said.

"There's a little bit in the wicket.

"For the first 30 or 40 overs if you get the ball in the right areas it's hard to score, so hopefully if we bowl well and field well it might be enough."

Victoria is also confident, provided it can survive the first two hours.

"We're very confident we're going to get home, we'll obviously try and be patient - there's been a lot of runs scored in the middle sessions of the game with the older ball," Wise said.

Harvey did not bowl because of hamstring soreness as Victoria still has to play Western Australia next week, but the allrounder should bat if required.

Victoria took first innings points with 326 in reply to NSW's first-up 287.

[piedys]

I see the Vics tried in vain to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory again! Hussey the match-winner. Nice pair for Ian Harvey. He's either up or down with the bat isn't he?

Dyso