Hussey: It's payback time
Wed, 20 January 2010
Fresh from leading the Bushrangers to victory over Queensland in the Big Bash Preliminary Final, David Hussey has warned the Victorians will be out for revenge against the Redbacks in Saturday's decider at the Adelaide Oval. With great composure and even better long-hitting, David Hussey surged into form to score an unbeaten 60 off 40 balls, guiding the Victorians past the Bulls' total of 5-149. In doing so, the Bushrangers not only qualified for their fifth final in a row, but also booked their place in the lucrative Champions League Twenty20 in India later this year. The Victorian middle-order star felt his side 'owed' South Australia some payback and credited a new-found determination within his side as the catalyst for its recent improvement. "They embarrassed us last time in Adelaide, so you'll see a Victorian team very determined to turn the tide. I think you'll see another great, great display for us," he said. "(Tonight was) another opportunity for Victoria to get in the final - we've done that and come Saturday we owe South Australia one." "A few boys put a line in the sand after our disappointing road trip to Adelaide and Perth. We came out against Tasmania with a mission to achieve and we did that.: "(Then) we came up here on a mission," Hussey continued. "You could see when the boys walked out there was determination in their eyes." Though he was happy to praise his side for playing 'pretty much perfect cricket', Hussey modestly put his own match-winnng knock down to good fortune. "Twenty20 is a funny game, you need a bit of luck and it just so happened I got the luck tonight," he said. "Through the tournament I probably haven't been striking the ball as well as I'd have liked, but you play to the situation as well." Bulls skipper Chris Simpson, whose side was left ruing a middle-order batting collapse and early missed chances, gave Hussey plenty of praise for his dig. "Huss played a very good innings. He played some very big pressure shots at the end and they all went for six. Another day they could go straight to a fielder, but I think credit has to go to Dave Hussey," Simpson said. "He took a lot of risks under pressure and they came off. That's why he's played a lot of Twenty20 cricket and done very well." Although the Bulls have crashed to their second consecutive preliminary final loss to the Bushrangers and missed out on a shot at the title as well as a trip to India, they can take some solace from the rise of exciting young wicket-keeper batsmen Ben Dunk. Dunk, filling in for regular Bulls gloveman Chris Hartley, had been better than solid throughout the series before proving himself an exceptional prospect with an unbeaten 70 from just 40 balls against the Bushrangers. When the left-handed Dunk entered the contest the Bulls were on the edge of disaster at 5-54, but the cool-headed 22-year-old showed great confidence and ability to guide the Bulls to their respectable total. While experienced Australian all-rounder James Hopes languished at the other end, his strike-rate below 70 at one point, Dunk took control of the innings and punished the Victorian attack with a combination of powerful leg-side strokes and clever placement. Although Hartley is assured of keeping his spot as first-choice wicketkeeper, Simpson was thoroughly impressed by Dunk and excited by his potential. "For a young player in his first real big game to come out and be able to take the reins from James (Hopes), I think it's a wonderful effort. I'm really excited to see how his career progresses," Simpson said. "Chris Hartley's keeping is second to none at the moment, in my opinion. Ben will have to go back and keep working as hard as he does. Already he's got a reputation as being a very hard worker. No doubt if he continues he'll keep pushing Chris." While Dunk was proud of his own performance, the Bulls' exit from the competition ensured the likeable young cricketer's coming of age would be a night of mixed emotions. "I guess it would have tasted a lot sweeter if we'd got the win, but it was nice to contribute substantially for the first time in the series," said Dunk. "It was great to get a taste of cricket at this level."
Liam Daly, Sportal
