Vics set 305 to win
Sun, 28 February 2010
Victoria will have to complete a record run chase to avoid a fourth consecutive Ford Ranger Cup final loss after a century from wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine put Tasmania in the box seat in Sunday's 2009/10 decider against Victoria at the MCG. Paine (100) couldn't have picked a better time to hit his first ton of the season to help the Tigers to an imposing total of 6-304 on a batsman-friendly pitch to leave the Bushrangers' dream of an unprecedented domestic treble in the balance. Paine's century only included nine boundaries - the highlight an audacious flick around the corner off Andrew McDonald which carried just wide of fine leg - but it was a chanceless and potentially match-winning knock. The Tigers were also aided by valuable contributions from Michael Dighton (80), who shared in a 132-run opening stand with Paine, and Ed Cowan (61 off 55 balls), who put on 111 runs for the third wicket with Paine off just 95 balls. The Tigers were 2-201 after 40 overs before they plundered 103 off the final 10 overs, including 10 fours - six scored by Cowan - and two sixes. McDonald (3-59) and John Hastings (2-67) were the only wicket-takers for Victoria, in what is its eighth consecutive domestic final, and both bowled 10 overs each. Hastings conceded 16 runs in the last over of the innings as Rhett Lockyear (28 not out off 13 balls) finished the dig in style with a huge six over mid-wicket on the final ball to go with his three boundaries in what was a very handy late-innings knock. Dighton was the early aggressor for Tasmania, which is after its fourth one-day title, with 36 of his first 38 runs coming from boundaries. But the match could have taken on a much different complexion had Dighton not been dropped twice by Matthew Wade (on nine) off Darren Pattinson and Aiden Blizzard (on 42) off Hastings in what could prove to be match-defining moments. Pattinson bore the brunt of the early Dighton onslaught as the Tasmanian hit five of his first seven fours off the 30-year-old to leave the paceman with the unflattering figures of 0-36 from just four overs. Hastings finally got the breakthough in the 27th over when he clean bowled Dighton who ended up with nine fours and two sixes, which were both thumped off Brad Hodge (0-25 off three overs), to his credit. Hastings struck again in the 29th over when he had George Bailey caught behind for six despite the Tasmanian skipper appearing to claim the ball had hit his arm rather than his glove. That dismissal brought Paine and Cowan together and while the first nine overs of their partnership saw them both predominately work the ball around for twos and singles, Cowan broke the shackles when he smacked a huge straight six of Bryce McGain in the 38th over. Cowan then had his sights on Damien Wright who came back on in the 42nd over after recording an economical 0-20 off seven overs in his first spell including the only maiden of the innings. But Cowan hit three boundaries off Wright in his second spell to help batter the former Tasmanian's figures (0-51). Cowan's innings came to an end when he was caught at mid-off by debutant Glenn Maxwell off McDonald. Paine was also sent back to the pavilion by McDonald 12 runs later when he was caught behind by Wade. The two fielding highlights of the innings came when Wade brilliantly stumped Jason Krejza (eight) off a McDonald wide and Blizzard scored a direct-hit run out from deep square leg to dismiss Brendan Drew (nine). Tasmania innings Dighton b Hastings 80 (91) Paine c Wade b McDonald 100 (118) Bailey c Wade b Hastings 6 (9) Cowan c Maxwell b McDonald 61 (55) Lockyear not out 28 (13) Krejza st Wade b McDonald 8 (7) Drew run out (Blizzard) 9 (4) Marsh not out 3 (3) Extras: 9 (3b, 1lb, 5w) Total: 304 (6 wickets; 50 overs) FOW: 1-132, 2-140, 3-251, 4-263, 5-278, 6-287 Bowling Wright 10
Ronny Lerner at the MCG, Sportal
