Sunday's final will be a thriller: Blizzard
Thu, 25 February 2010
Aiden Blizzard says Victoria's habit of winning from any position, with any combination gives the team great confidence approaching Sunday's showdown with Tasmania for this summer's Ford Ranger one-day title at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. "This is our fourth final in a row and we'd love to win one," says Blizzard. "We have made a habit of getting through and winning the important games along the way. Now we have to finish it off." Blizzard says Victoria has never before had a better opportunity of winning all three major domestic titles, despite Thursday's agonising one wicket loss in the impotant Sheffield Shield match against Queensland. "Our theme over the last four or five years has been to win from anywhere," he said of Sunday's approaching final. "Having Hodgey make four 100s on the way through has been a huge boost for us. If you have got him in your side you are always a big chance to win. "Our effort in Queensland (last week) was exceptional, especially the way we were able to defend our ground. Tasmania is sure to be coming at us hard. They have some good players like Xavier Doherty who is one of the best one-day spinners in the country right now. Hopefully we can handle the pressure when it counts." The Bushrangers are without internationals Cameron White and David Hussey as well as fast bowler Dirk Nannes for Sunday's final. All are involved in the current Twenty20 series in New Zealand. Tasmania's sole Australian representative is Travis Birt. The Bushrangers have won both games against Tasmania this summer, scoring 300-plus on both occasions. Blizzard says finals are invariably tight affairs with fielding an important factor in the spoils. "We always tend to play really close games against them," he says. "We've had some enormous crowds for the Ford Ranger and especially the KFC Big Bash this summer, so hopefully another good crowd will come in on Sunday night. "We are playing good entertaining cricket and will be hard to beat." Blizzard made 33 at the Gabba in his return to the one-day team and hopes to again be a key contributor on Sunday. Victoria has already won the KFC Big Bash against the South Australians in Adelaide this summer. With two rounds to go, it leads the Shield table, too, from Queensland, 30 points to 26, with a superior percentage, too. Sunday's game starts at 2.15 p.m.
by Ken Piesse
