Bushies v. Warriors - Pura Cup

[Donny]

Victorian team to play WA in the Pura Cup starting Saturday: Jonathan Moss (capt), Jason Arnberger, Matthew Elliott, Shane Harwood, Ian Harvey, David Hussey, Brendan Joseland, Mick Lewis, Andrew McDonald, Matthew Mott, Peter Roach, Allan Wise (12th man to be named).

[Donny]

WA name three debutants

Fox Sports

MURRAY Goodwin will lead an inexperienced Western Australian cricket team that includes three debutants in a Pura Cup match against Victoria starting Saturday at the WACA Ground.

Right-arm pacemen Ben Edmondson and Michael Thistle and batsman Craig Simmons will make their first class debuts for the bottom-placed WA in the clash with ladder leaders Victoria.

It will be Goodwin's first match as WA captain with Justin Langer (Test) and Michael Hussey (Australia A) busy with national team duties.

Edmondson, who only left Queensland a fortnight ago, played in WA's last Pura Cup match as a final day replacement for Brad Williams as the blond speedster left the match early for Test commitments.

Edmondson performed admirably in his short stint, producing figures of 3-47 and stopping Tasmania's march to outright points in a thrilling draw in Perth.

However Western Australian Cricket Association officials said the clash with the Bushrangers would be Edmondson's first class debut and he would be presented with a WA cap.

Simmons, 21, is a powerfully built left-handed opener who has been rewarded for strong performances in grade cricket.

Meanwhile 23-year-old Thistle made his ING Cup debut against South Australia in October and impressed with two wickets.

Young legspinner Beau Casson comes back into the team while Paul Wilson and John Taylor have been dumped from the four-day side.

WA: Murray Goodwin (c), Ryan Campbell, Beau Casson, Ben Edmondson, Brad Hogg, Shaun Marsh, Scott Meuleman, Marcus North, Craig Simmons, Michael Thistle, Callum Thorp and Peter Worthington.

[Donny]

Mossy won the toss and sent The Warriors in to bat.

[Donny]

Harvey got an early wicket and Harwood removed the dangerous Goodwin for 4.

After 22 overs, W.A. are 2/60 with Meuleman on 32 n.o.

[Sultan of spin]

Good to see Harwood back. I reckon when he is onsong he is our best bowler. I wish he was a few years younger cos he could have a big future.

[Donny]

At lunch, The Warriors are 2/80 with Meuleman on 40 n.o. and North, 22 n.o.

[Donny]

McDonald (2/20) and Wise (2/29) have crashed through.

4 wickets have fallen for 13 runs including the last 3 for none from 8 balls !!

W.A. are 6/106

[Donny]

Harvey back on and claims Worthington with his 4th. ball. 7/125.

[Donny]

All out for 151.

An excellent effort by the Vic. bowlers. 2 wickets each to Harvey, Lewis, McDonald and Wise and 1 to Harwood.

[Donny]

Elliott is on fire with 35 from 35 and the Vics are 1/46.

[Donny]

It's 1/72 after 17 overs. 79 behind.

Elliott is 42 n.o. and Mott, 19 n.o.

[Donny]

What a great day for the Vics and all Bushrangers fans - and I'm unashamedly one.

Victoria's new captain, Jonathon Moss, won to toss and inserted The Warriors. They were dismissed for 151 by an excellent all round effort. 5 bowlers took wickets.

Elliott was on song early and batted at run-a-ball up to 40 or so. Arnie went early but that was the only success for W.A. as Elliott and Mott piled on 138 for the second wicket to take The Vics to a 17 run lead at stumps with 9 wickets in hand.

Elliott - 102 n.o. - brought up a punishing century from 124 balls and Mott is 54 n.o.

[Donny]

Elliott leads Victorian assault - Fox Sports


A MAJESTIC Matthew Elliott century led Victoria to an opening day slaughter of Western Australia in their Pura Cup cricket match at the WACA Ground.

The Bushrangers collected first innings points and raced two points clear at the top of the four-day ladder.

In reply to WA's 151, the visitors were 1-168 with Elliott (102no) and Matthew Mott (54no) at the crease at stumps.

Elliott's innings topped off a dominant display by the Bushrangers who illustrated why the two teams were at opposite ends of the competition table.

The former Test player pushed his side beyond WA's first innings total with a glorious pull shot for four before bringing up his 38th first class hundred.

He celebrated his ton off just 125 balls by turning a ball to square leg for two off Crag Simmons' bowling off the last over of the day.

The Victorian batsmen should sleep well tonight in the knowledge the pitch should flatten and WA has failed to take 20 wickets this summer.

Rookie paceman Ben Edmondson (1-55) made the only breakthrough by yorking Jason Arnberger ( before Elliott and Mott combined for an unbeaten second wicket stand of 138.

Debutant swing bowler Michael Thistle (0-35) had a costly miss, dropping a return catch with the elegant opener on 43 and the score at 1-73.

A disciplined Victorian bowling attack earlier exploited favourable conditions to bundle the WA out for 151.

Despite missing spearhead Mathew Inness, the Bushrangers backed up stand-in captain Jon Moss's decision to bowl first against a weakened WA batting line-up.

Ian Harvey (2-34) and Shane Harwood (1-23) made the early incisions but it was Andrew McDonald (2-26) and Allan Wise (2-35) who ripped WA's middle order apart after lunch.

After being 2-80 at lunch, the home side lost 8-71 in the middle session as it struggled to cope with the Victorian swing bowlers on a pitch with a strong green tinge.

The home side missed openers Michael Hussey and Chris Rogers, on duty for Australia A in Hobart, at the top of the order as debutant Simmons (7) and No.3 Murray Goodwin (4) fell in the opening half hour.

WA were teetering at 2-19 but had a let off with Andrew McDonald dropping a sharp chance at point off Harwood's bowling with Marcus North on three and the total at 27.

But the visitors seized control of the match after the break with McDonald more than made up for his earlier mistake by dismissing North (31) and Scott Meuleman (53).

Left-arm quick Wise then crashed through the middle order by dismissing an out-of-form Shaun Marsh (6) and Brad Hogg (0) in the one over.

The WA innings stagnated and turned into a comedy of errors with Ryan Campbell left desperately crawling for his crease without his bat after colliding mid-pitch with Peter Worthington.

The joke was on Worthington soon after with the allrounder hooking a Harvey bouncer down Wise's throat at fine leg.

The rot continued when Callum Thorp (1) was run out attempting a single which was not there before Lewis (2-19) finished off the tail with Campbell (28no) left unbeaten.

[Donny]

The Bushies have moved on to 2/209.

Elliott is 119 n.o. and Mott just went out for 78. Their partnership was 179 and the lead is 59.

[Donny]

At lunch The Vics lead by 93 with 8 wickets in hand.

Elliott is 143 n.o.