Tigers v. Bushrangers - Pura Cup

[Donny]

Timing right for veteran Harvey

By Michael Horan - Fox


IAN HARVEY has waited more than a decade to win a Pura Cup for Victoria.

Ironically, in a season where the workload has been shared by others almost to his exclusion, he is poised finally to taste victory.

Harvey, 32 next month, is the first to realise his return from a tour of Sri Lanka with the national limited-overs side, is timed perfectly.

Back from the international circuit, he is a certainty to play in the Pura Cup final for the Bushrangers from March 12-16 at the MCG, despite having played only three games for the Vics this season.

That's why he'll head for Hobart today with the rest of the Bushrangers to prepare for tomorrow's start of the Pura Cup match against Tasmania at Bellerive Oval.

And it is why 22-year-old second-season all-rounder Andrew McDonald, despite having played nine of 10 Pura Cup matches this season and collecting 29 wickets at 26.69 each, will stay home.

"It's a bit hard to know at the moment what to feel," Harvey admitted yesterday.

"It's going to be a great feeling playing in the final, but I also feel very sorry for a person who has played all season and is going to miss out.

"The good thing on his side is he's young (and) playing good cricket at the moment. He's been very unlucky to miss out."

Harvey's output has been just 71 runs at 23.66 and seven wickets at 20.7 in his three Pura Cup outings and, despite a lot of cricket at one-day international level, he has had precious little exposure to the four-day game.

"I'm looking forward to getting to Hobart and having that one game with the boys before the final. Hopefully I can turn that (lack of first-class form) around in Hobart and then in the final," he said.

"I'm hitting them pretty well in the nets, but it's all about getting out and spending some time in the middle, getting some runs.

"I feel like I'm hitting the ball really well, but it's easy to hit them well in the nets."

Through the home one-day international series and the tour of Sri Lanka, the Pura Cup battle has been monitored closely by the Australians.

"Even though we've known we had the home final, because there are a few other teams who can get to the final, everyone has been keeping an eye on it," Harvey said.

"We'd talk about it on the bus in the mornings; who's doing this and who's doing that; who's coming after you and all that. So there's always a bit of banter going on."

Much talk has focused on who Victoria's opponent will be: the second-placed Tassie, or one of New South Wales and Queensland, which face off in their last game starting tomorrow, with each needing an outright win to be a chance of reaching the final.

"I don't think it really matters who we play," Harvey said. "I don't think you can say we don't want to play NSW because they've got all their players back. The (Victorian) players have been beating them, they're in really good form, so I don't think they should be scared of anyone.

"Whoever we get to play, it will be a great experience for our players. They haven't played in a final before.

"It would be a terrific experience to play NSW in the final, it would be great to play Queensland because we owe them a couple, but I don't think it matters. The boys will be going into the final with great confidence, knowing they've had a fantastic season."

A season that will culminate with the huge advantage of hosting the final at the MCG.

"That's such a big plus for us. We've got a great record there - and that's against all sides - so hopefully that will continue," Harvey said.

[Donny]

Tassie won the toss and will bat.

It's interesting to note Harvey is not in the team after all. Perhaps he's injured. McDonald has been named and it looks like Lewis is out. Joseland comes in.

Tasmania's team is unchanged.

Tasmania team:

J Cox, SR Mason, SR Watson, MJ Di Venuto, MG Dighton, *DJ Marsh,
+SG Clingeleffer, DG Wright, AG Downton, XJ Doherty, GJ Denton.

Victoria team:

MTG Elliott, MP Mott, BJ Hodge, DJ Hussey, BR Joseland, J Moss,
CL White, *+DS Berry, AB McDonald, MWH Inness, AB Wise.

[Donny]

Mason hits Wise for a six and then gets an edge to Berry. 1/12.
----------------------------------------

At a time when we wouldn't mind Tassie getting first innings points, they are losing wickets.

Wise, Inness and McDonald each have one and they're 3/55.

[Ev5Magpies]

Tassie are in trouble at 5/113

McDonald the destroyer with 3/38

[JLC]

Tasmania are an embarrasment to the Pura Cup if they make the final.

NSW are clearly the biggest threat to Victoria with McGrath, Waugh1 Waugh 2, Clarke and Mr Red Ink.

jlc

[Canberra]

Tasmania's troubles seem to be easing. Dighton and Clingeleffer put on a partnership of 127. At tea they are 5/210. Dighton is 114 no helped by a number of sixes compliments of C White's bowling.

[JLC]

Obviously Victoria want Tassie in the final

jlc

[Ev5Magpies]

stumps 9/310 or something close to that

[Donny]

A good knock from Dighton (152 with 5 sixes) gave the Tigers a reasonable first day score of 9/313 at Bellerive Oval, Hobart.

McDonald and Wise both have 3/59 and Inness, 2/52.

[Donny]

McDonald (4/69) took the last wicket as Tassie totalled 341.

They made their total look better with the early wicket of the Vics' run machine, Matthew Elliott. Wright had him caught behind for 1.
--------------------

Denton claimed Mott for 10 and at lunch, The Bushies are 2/47 with Hodge on 33 n.o.
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2/94 in the 27th. over with Hodge playing fluently on 67 n.o.
---------------------

Moss (22) falls to Watson and Hodge is 77 n.o.

[Donny]

At tea, it's 5/128 with Hodge playing a lone hand on 82 n.o.
-----------------------------

Denton (2/46) claims Joseland for 6. Hodge is 96 n.o.
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Another century for Brad Hodge. 100 n.o. and The Bushies are 6/153.

The likelyhood of Tassie taking first innings points is not good news for NSW as that would end any chance of them making the final.

[Donny]

The Vics are still 148 runs behind at 6/193.

Hodge is 122 n.o. and McDonald, 22 n.o.

[The Prototype]

Victoria are 6/196

Hodge 122 n.o
McDonald 22 n.o

[JLC]

The Vics are doing it beautifully.......A home final against Tassie is all but in the bag.

jlc

[The Prototype]

Victoria are now 7/199

Hodge out bowled by Shane Watson for 125.