Pura Cup final - Bushies v. Bulls

[Donny]

Elliott approaching Yallop's record 1254 runs for a season.
--------------------------------

He's on 83 n.o. and equal.

It's 1/183
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200 up. 1/203 with Elliott on 90 n.o. and Hodge, 19 n.o.

[Donny]

Congratulations Matthew Elliott.

10 runs from a Bichel over takes him to a magnificent 7th. century for the season.

It's now 1/222 as Hodge moves fluently to 28 n.o.
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That's tea. An excellent session for The Bushies. 124 for the loss of 1 wicket.

[JLC]

Good to see Bichel is being dispatched to all parts of the ground. Stick to being the camera man on tour Bich.

jlc

[Donny]

1/256 with Elliott on 114 n.o. and Hodge, 48 n.o.
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1/266 at drinks. Elliott on 121 n.o. and Hodge, 50 n.o.
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300 up. Elliott is 138 n.o. and Hodge, 70 n.o. 1/304

[Donny]

At stumps, it's 1/322. What a great day for Elliott and the Bushies.

They'll be happy to bat all day tomorrow, as well.

[Donny]

Elliott sets run-scoring record

By Adam Cooper - Fox


MATTHEW Elliott became the most prolific run scorer in a Pura Cup season as he moved Victoria into an almost unbeatable position by tea on day one of the final against Queensland at the MCG today.

Elliott hit a superb unbeaten 100 to steer the Bushrangers to 1-222 at tea.

He and Jason Arnberger (90) put on 165 for the first wicket after Queensland captain Jimmy Maher won the toss and sent the Vics in.

Needing an outright win to claim Queensland's fourth four-day title in five seasons, Maher's gamble for early wickets backfired as the Victorian openers were untroubled on a lifeless pitch.

Arnberger, in his first first-class match since January, was out 10 runs short of a century when he was lbw to Nathan Hauritz (1-55) halfway through the second session.

[Fradam]

Go Bushies. Keep it going Bushies, keep grinding them into the dirt

[piedys]

Yep, paybacks a bitch. Hurt them and end their reign of terror.

Dyso

[Donny]

Elliott smashes records

Fox


VICTORIAN opener Matthew Elliott launched a double-barrelled attack on Queensland's bowlers and the record books as the Bushrangers took an iron-grip on the Pura Cup trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground today.

Elliott's superb, unbeaten 140 was his record equalling seventh Cup century this season and along the way, the 32-year-old broke former Victorian Graham Yallop's 21-year-old record of 1254 runs in a Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup season.

His innings and some brilliant support from Jason Arnberger (90) and Brad Hodge (85no) took Victoria to 1-322 at stumps on day one and to an almost unbeatable position after Queensland captain Jimmy Maher gambled and lost by sending the Victorians in.

Needing only a draw to claim their first four day title since 1990-91, Victoria could also bat all day tomorrow on a dead pitch.

In a day-long record feast, Elliott became the second man after Queensland's Matthew Hayden to hit seven Shield/Cup hundreds in one summer.

He also passed 9000 first class runs for his state, struck his fourth successive century on the MCG and equalled Dean Jones' record of 31 Shield/Cup centuries for Victoria.

There was also a fine comeback from Arnberger, in his first first class match since January, and another breezy innings from Hodge, who tomorrow should reach his fifth Cup century and pass 1000 competition runs for the season (he's on 975).

Elliott, named the Pura Cup player of the season on Wednesday, now has 1311 runs in the four-day game this season and enjoyed bringing up his century with a boundary off Andy Bichel just before tea by waving to family among the crowd of just over 7000. "It meant a lot to me, yeah," Elliott said.

"I was close a couple of years ago (he scored 98 in the 2000-01 final, also against Queensland) and just batting first I realised the importance of just getting off to a good start today.

"I really wanted to enjoy the moment and enjoy the crowd and carry on like a pork chop for 10 seconds."

Elliott said he would appreciate his milestone but said Victoria were not yet over the line.

"When teams are scoring fast it opens the game up as proved this summer," he said.

Elliott gave a difficult chance to Bichel in the deep on 61 and Hodge offered two lives, but aside from that the Bulls' bowlers received no favours on a lifeless wicket.

Maher backed his hunch the wicket would offer something but his bowlers never got the swing they needed to trouble the Bushrangers' top order.

"We're in a position where you've got to take 20 wickets and win the game and if we can get Elliott, Hodge and Arnberger out early then we'll make some big strides towards winning the game," Maher said.

"But we were in a position in the ING Cup final (against Western Australia) where I thought it was impossible to lose from, so this game never stops amazing me and never will, so we're there's a will, there's a way."

[couragous cloke]

geez vics, i wanna see some play on monday! dont belt them too hard

[Donny]

Well. I've heard some famous last words in my 45 years of following sport but it's gonna be hard to beat these:

" ..... if we can get Elliott, Hodge and Arnberger out early then we'll make some big strides towards winning the game,"

- Jimmy Maher on winning the toss in today's big match at the MCG.

[JLC]

I hope Victoria makes around 600 - 700 declares and then bowls QLD out twice pretty cheaply and make Hooksy proud.

jlc

[London Dave]

bollox to that JLC ... bat for 5 days...

Hey Donny, have you had your hair done?

[Donny]

Yeah, mate, but I'm a bit disappointed you didn't notice the breast enhancement after what it cost me.

When they quoted me, I thought it was a bit bloody exy but that was nothing to the shock I got after the op to find out the quote was for one side only.

[LeonMcS]

We should bat for four days, 2 sessions, 1 hour and 45 minutes and let them face one over. That would teach them for letting their fans spit on our boys.
Seriously though, hope we do em slowly, bat through and take our time. Elliot 1500 runs in a season? If anyone can, Matty can!