More pain for WA as Vics win with ball to spare
VICTORIAN David Hussey’s dream 24 hours has ended with another
starring role in an important win, steering his state to a
thrilling two-wicket Ford Ranger Cup victory over Western Australia
at the WACA last night.
After helping Australia defeat world champions India in the
Twenty20 international in Melbourne on Friday, Hussey spent
yesterday on a plane and then back in the runs as the Bushrangers
chased down WA’s 9-225 with one ball to spare to go second on the
ladder.
And with Victoria ending WA’s one-day hopes as they had their
Twenty20 aspirations, Hussey again showed his all-round ability
with an important wicket, a catch and 45 runs to extend the
Warriors’ worst ever one-day losing streak to six matches.
It was not all about the 32-year-old though, with Darren
Pattinson’s early burst of 3-14 and Michael Klinger’s sensible 54
playing big parts in the Bushrangers’ continued assault on another
limited overs trophy. And as he was in the Twenty20 final last
month, Bushrangers keeper Adam Crosthwaite was a central figure,
heaving Victoria over the line when it appeared they had butchered
the win.
With fellow internationals Brad Hodge and Adam Voges also tipped
to make the trip from Melbourne to Perth, Hussey was left to make
the trip alone after his colleagues flew to Brisbane as cover for
the Australian one day squad.
Hussey’s day did not get any easier when he got to the ground,
with Victoria losing the toss on a near-white wicket with
temperatures reaching 37 degrees.
But after Pattinson and Peter Siddle prevented WA’s anticipated
fast start, Shaun Marsh and Justin Langer fell in successive
Pattinson deliveries and Luke Ronchi soon followed.
Luke Pomersbach was Hussey’s first victim of the day, caught off
Andrew McDonald for just two.
And then with WA rebuilding solidly, the younger brother of Test
star Mike again chipped in, bowling Matt Johnston to end a 53-run
partnership with WA skipper Marcus North.
North’s 71 and Theo Doropoulos’ 55 allowed WA to post a
creditable total, although it never really looked enough after
Aiden Blizzard and Klinger’s boundary-filled start.
After they both departed it looked as if Hussey would see his
state home, until an uncharacteristic mistimed pull looped to Steve
Magoffin with visitors still 70 runs short of the target.
Cameron White’s 46 again looked to have seen Victoria home,
until he was dismissed to a dubious lbw decision.
But needing 10 to win off the last over and clearly nervous,
Crosthwaite survived a skied chance, was dropped by Luke Ronchi who
parried the ball for four and then tied the scores off the helmet,
leaving man-of-the-match Pattinson to score the winning run.
AAP
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Sunday, February 3rd, 2008 at 12:06 am under