Vics clinch amazing win
Sat, 6 March 2010
A glittering century from Luke Ronchi wasn't enough to save Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield match at the WACA Ground on Saturday as the Bushrangers won by 54 runs despite conceding first innings points. The Warriors looked dead and buried in the chase of 304 when they fell to 6-82, 7-102 and 8-129 but then Ronchi got stuck in to score his third Shield century of the season. Ronchi's 115 came off 136 balls with 18 boundaries and a six. He received good support from No.10 Brad Knowles, but when he fell for 36 WA's chances went with it. After the 108-run partnership the hosts still needed 67 runs and Ronchi hit another six and tried to farm the strike off Michael Hogan, but in the end when on 115 he hit a ball down to third man where substitute fielder Michael Hill took the catch off the bowling of Darren Pattinson. Andrew McDonald was the chief destroyer claiming 4-66, while Damien Wright chipped in with 3-19 to consolidate his man-of-the-match performance after 3-72 in the first innings and 80 with the bat. The Bushrangers' win keeps them on top of the Shield table and the Warriors are stuck on the bottom with a game to finish the season to come at the Gabba against Queensland next week, while Victoria plays Tasmania. WA had the better of the early part of the match taking first innings points and then having Victoria 2-15 in its second innings, but things fell apart due to the Bushrangers' lower-order batting on the third day. Victoria ended up making 378 in its second innings thanks largely to 91 from Matthew Wade and 80 from Wright to set the Warriors a challenging 304 to win. By stumps on the third day, Wes Robinson (11) and Marcus North (three) had fallen with WA on 2-57. Liam Davis and nightwatchman Nathan Coulter-Nile looked solid early taking the score to 2-70 before a dramatic collapse of 4-12 left the innings in tatters. Ronchi and Steve Magoffin guided WA to lunch, but Magoffin fell soon after for 11 to leave WA 8-129. That is when Knowles joined Ronchi and the Warriors' leading wicket-taker for the season showed that he's no mug with the bat by contributing well to the partnership with 36 before being caught sharply by McDonald off the bowling of Wright. Davis was the first wicket to fall when he was trapped in front and adjudged lbw off Wright for 34. Three balls later, Wright also had a delivery that was too good for second-gamer Michael Swart and he was clean bowled without scoring. Coulter-Nile was doing well to hang around through the carnage, but none of his new partners would be sticking around and Mitch Marsh and Luke Pomersbach both fell in successive balls off McDonald. Marsh was out for one when he was brilliantly caught by John Hastings at cover and then the next ball, McDonald bowled a good full ball that Pomersbach couldn't get his bat near or pad out of the way of, and he was out lbw. Coulter-Nile's stand came to an end on 31 when he attempted a pull shot off of McDonald. Bryce McGain took a sharp catch at short mid-wicket to leave the Warriors in trouble at 7-102 requiring another 202 to win their first match at home this season. Victoria 1st innings 199 Western Australia 1st innings 274 Victoria 2nd innings 378 Western Australia 2nd innings Davis lbw b Wright 34 Robinson c McGain b McDonald 11 North c Quiney b Hastings 3 Coulter-Nile c McGain McDonald 31 Swart b Wright 0 Marsh c Hastings b McDonald 1 Pomersbach lbw b McDonald 0 Ronchi c (sub) Hill b Pattinson 115 Magoffin c Quiney b Pattinson 11 Knowles c McDonald b Wright 36 Hogan not out 0 Extras: 7 (3lb, 4w) Total: 249 (10 wickets; 83.1 overs) FoW: 1-31, 2-34, 3-70, 4-70, 5-82, 6-82, 7-102, 8-129, 9-237 Bowling Wright 15 - 9 - 19 - 3 Pattinson 17.1 - 3 - 66 - 2 Hastings 20 - 4 - 65 - 1 (3w) McDonald 20 - 5 - 66 -4 (1w) McGain 7 - 2 - 24 - 0 Hussey 4 - 2 - 6 - 0 Victoria wins by 54 runs. Man of the match: Damien Wright (Victoria)
Chris Pike, Sportal
