Pura Cup final - Bushies v. Bulls

[Donny]

Elliott feasts on generous offering

By Andrew Ramsey - Herald-Sun

GENEROUSLY invited to bat on a breathtakingly benign MCG pitch, Victorian opener Matthew Elliott so overstayed his welcome that the final is effectively finished as a contest after its opening day.

Elliott made a mockery of Queensland's brave if misguided gamble on winning the toss yesterday and plundered an unbeaten 140 which etched his name in the record books and Victoria's all but on the much sought-after domestic trophy.

The Bushrangers, who need only to draw the five-day match to claim the title for the first time in 13 years, finished day one in an impregnable position at 1-322 with Elliott and Brad Hodge (85no) to resume their unbeaten second-wicket stand of 157 today.

Queensland captain Jimmy Maher chose to bowl first in the belief some heavy morning cloud and the hope some residual moisture in the pitch would grant his bowlers early access to Victoria's inexperienced middle-order.

"I had a gut feeling and consulted with some of the senior players, but Victoria batted very well," Maher said last night.

As it turned out, there was not a hint of deviation off the pitch or through the air. Or if there was, his bowlers could not find it.

But there was plenty of movement from the bats of Elliott and his opening partner Jason Arnberger who put together a 165-run stand for the first wicket, the highest opening partnership in the 21-year history of the domestic first-class final.

Elliott, who refused to concede his team is virtually over the line, admitted the MCG pitch has been difficult to read this summer but was delighted to be offered first use.

"In a couple of the one-dayers, it's really nipped and swung early," Elliott said.

"But certainly, that pitch lacked a bit of zip to hurry you up."

The flatness of the track was best illustrated by Arnberger, who pulled, cut and eventually clubbed his way to a sparkling 90 -- including 11 fours and two sixes -- in his first game for Victoria in two months. In that time, he had failed to reach 50 playing at grade level.

But his valuable contribution was easily overshadowed by Elliott, who cruised to his fourth consecutive century at the MCG shortly after he overtook former Victorian captain Graham Yallop's record of 1254 runs in a Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup season.

The 32-year-old sparred and missed at Andy Bichel in the morning's third over, but after that played just one false stroke as he became only the second player -- alongside Test opener Matthew Hayden -- to notch seven centuries in a single domestic summer.

That was shortly after lunch when the left-hander was on 61 and he charged off-spinner Nathan Hauritz. Lunging to hit over the infield, Elliott's hefty top edge flew to long-on where Bichel could lay nothing more than a fingertip on the catch as he ran back with the flight.

The dismissal of Arnberger -- hit on the back leg playing across the line to Hauritz -- failed to quell the run glut, although the arrival at the crease of Hodge briefly lifted the Bulls' verbal intensity.

Hodge, who waved a red rag by casting aspersions upon the Queensland bowlers earlier in the week, was greeted by several close-in fielders, including Stuart Law, who passed on his thoughts to the Victorian at length.

But Hodge had the final word after he was twice dropped from red-hot chances as he flayed the tired bowlers. The first was a return chance to off-spinner Chris Simpson on 42; the second late in the day at point by Clinton Perren off Bichel when he was 82.

By stumps, with a century beckoning, Hodge had vindicated his brashness as well as his assessment that an attack which boasted three nationally contracted players (Bichel, Hauritz and Ashley Noffke) was indeed "off the

[Donny]

"I had a gut feeling ..." Jimmy Maher on his decision to send The Bushies in to bat on their home turf.

Jimmy, try reading the wicket next time. That's one of the main reasons you're the captain.

I reckon Jimmy's feeling was a quite different gut feeling by stumps.

[Donny]

Overcast conditions again after early morning rain as Bichel opens with a maiden to Elliott.

[Donny]

Elliott and Hodge took their partnership to 171 before Hodge fell for 89 - a tantalising 16 runs short of the 1000 for the Pura Cup season although he went well over that mark for the first class season.

Elliott moved on to 155 before having a long appeal upheld for a catch behind, from Bichel.

In the 107th. over, it's 3/342.

[Donny]

The first hour went to The Bulls. They took 2/22. Wickets to Dawes (1/59) and Bichel (1/107) lifted their spirits somewhat.

Jonathon Moss and David Hussey must fight their way to lunch.
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The 350 comes up as both batsmen get off the mark with a boundary.
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It's steady as she goes as these two add 27 in 10 overs.
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Oops. Hussey caught behind for 16 from Noffke. 4/179. Looks like the movement they were after yesterday is there today for The Bulls as the 3 wickets have been edges.

[Donny]

After an early minor scare, The Bushies are now back in the swing of things as Moss (33 n.o.) and White (37 n.o.) take control. 4/434.
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Mossy goes to 52 n.o. with a towering six into the construction area. Lost ball. The partnership is 90 and White is 43 n.o. 4/459,

[Donny]

Moss races to 74 n.o. with 2 fours from the first over after tea. 4/491.
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4/503 with Moss on 85 n.o. and White, 54 n.o.
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White tries to cut Simpson and is caught behind for 54. The Partnership was 135.
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Moss goes to 98 n.o. and is facing Hauritz.

Dot. Out !! Caught by Law, close in. 6/516.

6 out - 1 century and 4 half centuries.

[Donny]

550 up. 6/550. Should be close to 600 by stumps.

Andy McDonald is 16 n.o. and Ian Harvey, 14 n.o.
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6/579 with 9 overs to come. McDonald is 32 n.o. and Harvey, 27 n.o.

[Donny]

At stumps, The Bushrangers are 6/592.

Can anyone explain why they only played 90 overs today ??

Other than being sent in on a batsman friendly wicket, partnerships have been the telling factor.

A record opening stand in a final of 165 from Arny and Elliott then Elliott and Hodge put on 171, Moss and White shared a 135 stand and McDonald and Harvey are 76 runs into another good one.

[Donny]

Vics victory a formality

Fox

VICTORIA's batsmen again put Queensland's bowlers through the wringers on day two of the Pura Cup cricket final at the MCG.

If yesterday's torture came in the form of lashings, today it was a more like a thousand cuts to prolong the Bulls' pain in the field.

Regardless it brought the same result, as Victoria batted Queensland out of the match by reaching an unassailable 6-592 at stumps on day two.

Jonathan Moss, with an entertaining 98, was the star of the day and was only denied a ton when he failed to get to the pitch of the ball for possibly the first time all day when he chipped Nathan Hauritz to short mid-on.

The enormous total means Victoria, needing only a draw to claim their first first-class title since 1990-91, is certain to be crowned this season's champions – it's just a case of whether it's via a win or a draw.

Having already batted for 12 hours and 186 overs, the Bushrangers are a good chance to continue again tomorrow with allrounders Ian Harvey (34 not out) and Andrew McDonald (37 not out) unbeaten at the close.

Today lacked the rattling pace of yesterday's run feast that Matthew Elliott, Jason Arnberger and Brad Hodge provided, but the Vics knuckled down to make their objective a formality.

The highlight came in the form of a 135-run partnership between Moss and Cameron White (54), which regained the Bushrangers' advantage after the Bulls claimed three wickets in the first session.

The pair batted without trouble throughout the second session and with the pitch providing nothing for Queensland's quicks, they also handled whatever Hauritz and part-time spinners Stuart Law and Chris Simpson offered.

Moss hit 13 fours and hit Law for a six which landed in the MCG construction site, which produced another delay and only drew out the Bulls' agony further.

Victoria started the day at 1-322, but Queensland pacemen Andy Bichel, Joe Dawes and Ashley Noffke all claimed a wicket before lunch to have Elliott (155), Hodge (89) and David Hussey (16) dismissed with just 59 added by lunch.

The Bulls bowlers gained some assistance in overcast conditions in the morning, but once the sun emerged, it dried up Queensland's hopes of running through the Victorian order.

Not even the third new ball late in the day could make any inroads, as Harvey and McDonald added 76.

[Donny]

Harvey carves Bichel for 3 fours in one over to race to his 50. McDonald made 42 before losing his wicket to Dawes. The partnership was 98.

Berry starts with two fours as The Bushies move on to 7/622

[Donny]

8/656 as Harvey plays on to Noffke for 62.
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Devil's number comes up - for The Bulls. 8/666.
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Darren Berry's enjoying himself. He just took 13 from a Hauritz over - one lofted over long off and the other was a two + 4 overthrows.

He's raced to 45 from 48 balls.
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Now 51 from 53. 8/691.

[Donny]

700 up.

It's 8/701 at the G.

Berry is cruising on 55 from 57 balls.
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9/708 as Lewis goes, l.b.w. to Noffke (3/104) Berry is 60 n.o.

[Donny]

All out for 710 as Berry falls for 61.

Hauritz took 3/145 from 50 overs and Noffke, 3/104 from 31.

Joe Dawes was their best with 2/97 from 38 overs and Bichel went for 170 from his 37 with 1 wicket.

The Bushies 710 included 1 century, 6 half centuries (including a 98 and an 89) and a 42. There were no ducks.

[Donny]

Victoria finally out for 710

Fox

VICTORIA'S epic first innings finally came to a close before lunch on day three of the Pura Cup cricket final against Queensland at the MCG.

The Bushrangers were bowled out for 710, a new record innings for a Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup final and one of the biggest team innings in recent memory.

Lunch was called early at the conclusion of the innings.

Given the innings lasted 834 minutes and 212 overs in total, the close was relatively swift with four wickets falling this morning.

Andrew McDonald (42), Ian Harvey (62), Michael Lewis (11) and captain Darren Berry (61) were the men out today.

The enormous total means there is no way Victoria can lose the match and needing only a draw to claim its first first-class title since 1990-91, the only question is now whether Queensland's batsmen can avoid defeat.

Victoria overtook the 664 Queensland made in the 1994-95 final in unusual circumstances.

Berry was struck on the helmet from Bulls quick Ashley Noffke and the ball ran down to the boundary for leg byes.

Queensland's fielders also gave a good indication they were going through the motions when a return came in from the deep and eluded the bowler and three fielders and ran for four overthrows.

Noffke finished with 3-104 from 31 overs and Nathan Hauritz 3-145 from 50 overs.