Bushrangers in control
Mon, 1 February 2010
A timely unbeaten century from Victorian batsman Rob Quiney has helped the Bushrangers build a commanding lead after three days of their Sheffield Shield clash against Tasmania at Bellerive Oval. After slumping to 4-65, Quiney rescued the visitors with a superb 139 off 197 balls to lift the Vics to 8-321 at stumps on Sunday, an overall lead of 356. James Pattinson (one) is the other unbeaten batsman at the crease. Quiney was outstanding, crunching 19 fours - including one through mid-wicket to bring up his ton - and one six in his knock. He was well supported by debutant Aaron Finch (50) and Matthew Wade (47). Finch plundered 11 boundaries in his 73-ball knock before an attempted pull shot off Brett Geeves (1-39) went wrong, presenting wicketkeeper Tim Paine with the simplest of catches. Wade narrowly missed out on his half century when he was trapped lbw by Tim MacDonald in the 60th over. John Hastings crawled to six before he gave Jon Wells his first first-class wicket when he picked out captain George Bailey at mid wicket. Damian Wright then made nine runs before he was clean bowled by James Faulkner. Earlier in the day, the Victorians took just over five overs to secure first innings points, with the final three Tiger wickets falling for only 13 runs. Promising paceman Pattinson (4-52) was the first to strike in just the second over of the day as he had Geeves caught at slip by David Hussey for 12 after the pace bowler hung the bat meekly outside off stump producing an edge that flew into the cordon. And Hussey was again in the thick of the action in the very next over as Wright (3-52) had Faulkner (seven) fending at a ball outside off that found it way once again into the safe hands of the skipper. Pattinison soon wrapped up the Tasmanian innings when he made one jag back onto the pads of Jason Krejza (six) who was harshly adjudged lbw to the bemusement of the unlucky off-spinner. After taking a 35-run lead into their second dig, the Bushrangers quickly reached 50 without loss before a devastating four-wicket burst from Luke Butterworth (4-57) got his side back into the contest. He first had the dashing Chris Rogers caught behind for 38 and then trapped Lloyd Mash lbw the very next ball. Hussey then strode to the crease and immediately showed his intentions by spanking the hat-trick ball through point for four. But they were the only runs the former West Australian scored as Butterworth had him lbw two overs later, sending the Tigers players into joyous celebrations. Opener Nick Jewell (17) was next to go as he top-edged a pull shot to short midwicket for James Faulkner to take the easiest of catches and put the Vics well and truly on the back foot. That brought Quiney to the crease, who combined with Finch for a 98-run partnership and then with Wade for 97 runs to give the Vics a healthy advantage heading into the final day. Victoria 1st innings 297 Tasmania 1st innings 262 Victoria 2nd innings Rogers c Paine b Butterworth 38 Jewell c Faulkner b Butterworth 17 Mash lbw Butterworth 0 Hussey lbw Butterworth 4 Finch c Paine b Geeves 50 Quiney not out 62 Wade lbw MacDonald 47 Hastings c Bailey b Wells 6 Wright b Fulkner 9 Extras: 10 (4lb, 6nb) Total: 321 (8 wickets; 84 overs) FOW: 1-52, 2-52, 3-60, 4-65, 5-163, 6-260, 7-301, 6-316, 7-301, 8-316 Bowling Geeves 17 - 2 - 50 - 1 (6nb) Butterworth 16 - 5 - 57 - 4 Faulkner 15 - 2 - 62 - 1 MacDonald 13 - 3 - 51 - 1 Krejza 9 - 0 - 49 - 0 Marsh 5 - 0 - 20 - 0 Wells 9 - 1 - 28 - 1
Sportal
