The Bushrangers completed their series of intra-squad matches over the weekend at Wesley College.

With clear skies and a flat wicket, it was a weekend for the batsmen with plenty of runs scored.

Aaron Finch continued on from his 82 in last Tuesday's match with back-to-back hundreds while Bushranger rookie Peter Handscomb showed everyone his talent in Sunday's game with an unbeaten 114 (104 balls).

SATURDAY'S MATCH - White XI V Hussey XI

The successful partnership of Aaron Finch and Matthew Wade opened for the White XI and they made it to 35 with minimum fuss before Wade was dismissed by Scott Boland for 13.

Cameron White (8) and Glenn Maxwell (11) failed to get going, both falling to Essendon paceman Louis Cameron.

Finch then took control of the innings and with Alex Keath (55) at the other end hitting regular boundaries, the two put on 119 runs from 112 balls.

Finch brought up his century off 106 balls and was dismissed a short time later for 113. Cameos from Peter Handscomb (20) and Brenton McDonald (24*) upped the final score to 7-279. Cameron was the best of the bowlers, finishing with 3-54 from his 11 overs.

The Hussey XI got off to a good start with openers Michael Hill (46) and Ryan Carters (39) progressing well before Glenn Maxwell dismissed Carters caught and bowled.

Brad Hodge came in and played with typical eloquence, smashing four sixes and five fours in his 61.

After former Bushranger rookie Michael Topp claimed the wicket of Hill, David Hussey wasted no time in getting the scoreboard ticking over. He brought up his fifty in just 36 balls and retired a short time later.

After cruising at 2-209, the Hussey XI then lost 3-15, thanks to former NSW player Simon Keen. He took the wickets of Hodge, Will Sheridan and Daniel Salpietro in a brief five-over spell.

After the wicket of Salpietro, the Hussey XI required 56 from the last eight overs.

Clint McKay (40*) claimed some bragging rights over Bushranger skipper Cameron White by depositing him over the fence three times in four balls. McKay's rapid innings hauled in the target with five deliveries left.

SCORECARD

WHITE XI

A.Finch Caught Hussey, Bowled Rose 113 (112)
M.Wade Caught Carters, Bowled Boland 13 (30)
C.White Bowled Cameron 8 (15)
G.Maxwell Caught Carters, Bowled Cameron 11 (18)
A.Keath Caught Herrick, Bowled Boland 55 (59)
P.Handscomb Caught Sheridan, Bowled Cameron 20 (29)
B.McDonald Not Out 24 (24)
S.Keen Caught Cameron, Bowled Rose 6 (9)
M.Cleary Not Out 4 (10)
TOTAL 7-279

HUSSEY XI

J.Herrick 11 overs, 0-36
S.Boland 10 overs, 2-75
D.Salpietro 6 overs, 0-25
L.Cameron 11 overs, 3-54
J.Muirhead 5 overs, 0-37
C.Rose 7 overs, 2-44

HUSSEY XI

M.Hill Bowled Topp 46 (62)
R.Carters Caught and Bowled Maxwell 39 (39)
B.Hodge Bowled Keen 61 (87)
D.Hussey Retired 53 (39)
W.Sheridan Caught Cleary, Bowled Keen 7 (16)
A.Delmont Not Out 15 (24)
D.Salpietro Caught Handscomb, Bowled Keen 1 (7)
C.McKay  Not Out 40 (23)
TOTAL 5-280

WHITE XI

S.Reid 10 overs, 0-56
G.Maxwell 9 overs, 1-57
M.Cleary 6 overs, 0-17
M.Topp 6 overs, 1-28
B.McDonald 5 overs, 0-28
C.White 8.1 overs 0-66
S.Keen 5 overs, 3-24

SUNDAY'S MATCH - Carters XI V Maxwell XI

The Maxwell XI was in early trouble with Salpietro again striking with the new ball. He claimed the wickets of Simon Hill (2) and Maxwell (6) while Topp trapped Sheridan for 3.

With the side at 3-21, Wade (22) combined with new rookie Handscomb for a 59-run partnership. Handscomb was particularly severe on the spinners, using his feet well and lofting them over the top.

When the sides changed innings after 25 overs, Handscomb was unbeaten on 67 and Hussey had quickly got to 22. Maxwell XI 4-137.

After the early dismissal of Brett Forsyth (0) by Herrick, Carters (42) and White (35) had a solid partnership before a four over spell from Boland, in which he claimed 3-10 left the Carters XI at 5-115 at the change of innings.

Upon the resumption on their innings, the Maxwell XI quickly lost the wicket of Hussey for 29. Brenton McDonald joined Handscomb at the crease and began rotating the strike whilst Handscomb did the damage. He brought up his hundred off 90 deliveries and retired not long after for 114.

Same late order hitting from McDonald (62*), McKay (19) and Clive Rose (15*) pushed the score to 7-290 after 50 overs.

With the his side needing over seven an over to win, an in-form Finch took the bowlers apart in a brutal 70 minutes at the crease. He struck ten fours and four sixes before bringing up his century off just 71 balls. Over the three practice matches, Finch hit 296 runs at a strike rate of 120.32.

Salpietro (27*) and Keen (15*) guided the Carters XI to the winning score.

SCORECARD

MAXWELL XI

M.Wade Caught Gilmour, Bowled Finch 22 (46)
S.Hill Caught Carters, Bowled Salpietro 2 (11)
G.Maxwell Caught Keath, Bowled Salpietro 6 (3)
W.Sheridan LBW Topp 3 (9)
P.Handscomb Retired 114 (104)
D.Hussey Caught Carters, Bowled Reid 29 (26)
B.McDonald Not Out 62 (86)
C.McKay Caught Topp, Bowled Finch 19 (7)
C.Rose Not Out 15 (9)
TOTAL 7-290

CARTERS XI

M.Topp 4 overs, 1-10
D.Salpietro 11 overs, 2-55
A.Delmont 1 over, 0-4
S.Keen 9 overs, 0-66
M.Cleary 4 overs, 0-8
A.Finch 6 overs, 2-48
C.White 10 overs, 0-51
S.Reid 5 overs, 1-41

CARTERS XI

R.Carters Stumped Kight, Bowled Muirhead 42 (65)
B.Forsyth Caught Kight, Bowled Herrick 0 (4)
C.White Bowled Boland 35 (33)
A.Keath Caught Kight, Bowled Boland 5 (9)
B.Hodge Caught Kight, Bowled Boland 7 (10)
A.Delmont Stumped Kight, Bowled Muirhead 22 (32)
A.Finch Retired 101 (72)
D.Salpietro Not Out 27 (31)
S.Keen Not Out 15 (14)
TOTAL  6-273

MAXWELL XI

J.Herrick 6 overs, 1-58
C.Rose 5 overs, 0-40
S.Boland 9 overs, 3-34
L.Cameron 5 overs, 0-36
J.Muirhead 13 overs, 2-64
B.McDonald 6 overs, 0-34
S.Hill 0.3 overs, 0-5

The Bushrangers travel to Maroochydore on Wednesday to continue their pre-season. They will play two One-Day and a Three-Day practice match against Tasmania and there will also be two Futures League matches.

19 SEPTEMBER, 2011