ING Cup: New South Wales v Victoria at Sydney, 7 Oct 2001 www.baggygreen.com.au |
Victoria innings:
New South Wales innings: |
Nash, in particular, has produced an eye-catching performance. Utilising increasing signs of variable bounce from the Northern End, the ruggedly built right armer was on song from early in a seven-over spell that netted him three vital wickets.
Victorian captain Matthew Elliott (4) was the first to go, making an inauspicious exit in his first innings as the state's one-day captain when he drove loosely at a delivery holding its line just outside the off stump.
An overly aggressive Jason Arnberger (21) then lost his wicket two overs later after flailing wildly at a Nash outswinger and ballooning a catch to Michael Clarke at third man.
Victoria was 2/31 at that stage, and worse was to come for the visitors when star batsman Brad Hodge (8) was the victim of a brilliant low catch from Shane Lee at first slip. His sin was to defend down the wrong line at McGrath and send the ball spearing to Lee off a thick outside edge.
Michael Klinger (4) played one neat stroke behind point early in his stay but never really looked comfortable either. And the end for him, against a rampant Nash, duly came when an attempt at an off drive resulted in a second catch in the innings for wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
All-rounder Ian Harvey (24), clearly Victoria's best player to this stage of the match, sustained flickering ambitions of a recovery by producing a lovely cameo amid the crisis. His off driving, in particular, was a treat in a brisk stay that produced five stylish boundaries. But, from the moment he left the scene - after driving a slower ball from Clark uppishly to Lee at cover - all hopes of a Victorian win seem to have disappeared.
It was a prospect powerfully confirmed when all-rounder Ben Oliver (0) was comprehensively defeated by a classical yorker from Clark just two balls after Harvey's exit.
A side in particular need of good fortune, Victoria then suffered another grievous blow in the twenty-fifth over when Jonathan Moss (25) was shown the red light after an excruciatingly close run out decision. Third umpire David Brandon ruled that Moss had not beaten home a throw from point fieldsman Shawn Bradstreet to the bowler's end, but a brace of television replays suggested that he could consider himself unlucky to have met his demise in such a fashion.
From a position of apparent-parity at halfway, the wheels have come rapidly off the Victorian cart. Dubbed the 'bonus-point bunnies' at various times last summer, the Bushrangers will hand yet another one over at the start of a new season if they fail to muster the now distant-looking total of 204.
After winning the toss and batting under predominantly blue skies, New South Wales has ended the opening 50 overs of Australia's new domestic season at a total of 9/256 - a score which appears to leave the match evenly balanced on a ground possessing a true pitch, a fast outfield and relatively short boundaries.
The Blues made a blazing start to their innings - reaching a total of 44 in the sixth over - but adopted something of a wasteful approach thereafter and continued to fritter wickets away both regularly and needlessly.
The pattern was established when openers Brad Haddin (21) and Mark Waugh (21) each fell to mistimed attacking strokes inside the space of three deliveries.
Shane Lee (83) later miscued a swipe at an ugly Ian Harvey (3/38 off ten overs) full toss; Michael Slater (35) lost patience and impetuously hammered a catch to mid on; Michael Clarke (11) fished at a ball that seamed away; and, Don Nash (10) dragged his back foot out of his crease in attempting to drive. And, to make matters worse, there were as many as three run outs.
In short, if it had not been for a fine captain's innings from Lee, New South Wales would have been in desperate trouble. From very early in his hand, Lee was in command; timing the ball sweetly into and over the boundaries on both sides of the wicket. It was a study in concentration, too, given that he was forced to devote himself to the task of holding the innings together from an early point in his stay.
Not even the lure of a million dollar prize - which he activated on two separate occasions by hitting sixes in the early part of an over - swayed him from the job at hand.
For Victoria, there were positives aplenty after the poor start. Matthew Elliott's captaincy was efficient - and his bowling changes and field settings generally proved effective. The Bushrangers' fielding was also far more impressive than in a number of games last summer.
And, aside from a performance from Damien Fleming (0/50 from nine overs) that probably fell some distance short of his own expectations, the bowling was also tight for the most part. Harvey's trademark variation and concentration to bowling deliveries of full length, in particular, was excellently applied.
Through the early moments of the game, New South Wales looked intent on posting a huge total: openers Mark Waugh (21) and Brad Haddin (21) taking blazing toll of some loose bowling from Damien Fleming and Mick Lewis respectively.
The total had already reached 44 - in just the sixth over - before the Blues' first setback came in the form of a spooned on drive at Lewis that cost Haddin his wicket. Waugh followed him back to the pavilion that bears his name just two deliveries later, after chasing an Ian Harvey oustwinger and hitting it straight to Brad Hodge at point.
A further calamity arrived when Michael Bevan (7) chopped a delivery to point four overs later and decided to set off for a run that always looked suicidal. He was sent back urgently by partner Michael Slater (25*), but failed to beat Hodge's throw home.
Slater and captain Shane Lee (25*) have since joined forces in an unbroken half-century stand for the fourth wicket that has stabilised the cause. But their rate of progress has remained no better than leisurely for the most part.
Having won the toss and elected to bat on a pitch that has generally played quite truly, the Blues won't be totally contented with their start. For the Victorians by contrast, the last 20 overs in particular will have been reasonably satisfying.
© CricInfo
Date-stamped : 07 Oct2001 - 14:24