Vics on the back foot
Wed, 10 February 2010
Former Test openers Phil Jaques and Phillip Hughes put on contrasting displays of batting as New South Wales got off to a good start in Wednesday night's crucial Ford Ranger Cup clash against Victoria at the MCG. After winning the toss and batting in humid conditions and with thunderstorms threatening, the Blues reached 1-107 from 25 overs after Hughes and Jaques had combined for a 90-run first-wicket stand. But while Jaques looked superb in cracking a near run a ball half-century, Hughes batted painfully slow and was on just 35 at the halfway stage of the innings and looked anything but the player who not so long ago was anointed the great batting hope of the Australian team. When Jaques bought up his 50 in only the 15th over Hughes had scored just 14 with Jaques eventually contributing exactly two-thirds of the pair's first wicket stand before falling for 60 in the 20th over. Jaques, whose runs came off just 65 balls, fell when he tried to hit veteran Victorian leg spinner Bryce McGain for six but only succeeding in putting the ball down the throat of substitute fielder Aiden Blizzard at long-on. Earlier Jaques had been struck a vicious blow in the back of the helmet by Bushrangers quick Dirk Nannes in the fifth over as Nannes bowled with frightening pace in his initial spell. But Jaques soon recovered and struck two boundaries in the next over off James Pattinson to ensure the Blues got off to a flying start in a game both sides must win to have a chance of playing in this season's domestic one-day final. New South Wales innings Jaques c sub (Blizzard) b McGain 60 Hughes not out 35 Smith not out 6 Extras: 6 (1b, 2lb, 1nb, 2w) Total: 107 (1 wickets, 25 overs) FOW: 1-90 Bowling Nannes 4 - 1 - 8 - 0 J Pattinson 3 - 0 - 14 - 0 Hastings 4 - 0 - 23 - 0 (2nb, 1w) McDonald 5 - 0 - 22 - 0 McGain 5 - 0 - 22 - 1 Hodge 4 - 0 - 15 - 0
By Paul Gough at the MCG, Sportal
