Warriors stun Bushrangers
Sat, 5 December 2009
Western Australia has clinched an unlikely six-wicket victory over the Victorian Bushrangers with just three balls remaining, thanks to a stunning innings from Luke Ronchi in their Ford Ranger Cup match on Saturday. The Bushrangers set the Warriors what looked like an unassailable target of 278 for much of their innings, before Ronchi cut loose with four fours and four sixes from his 57 off 35 balls. At one stage the Warriors required 57 off the final six overs before Ronchi turned the game on its head. The Warriors' turnaround meant they needed just nine runs from the last 13 balls and Ronchi saw the game off in style with a towering six. Earlier, an even batting performance from the Bushrangers, including 60 from Cameron White, helped the visitors to a healthy total of 8-277 at Hands Memorial Oval in Bunbury. After being sent in to bat, opener Andrew McDonald's 52 off 53 balls set the wheels in motion for the Vics with the lanky redhead blazing six fours and two sixes in the process. White's 60 off 80 balls consolidated the visitors' position after Brad Hodge, fresh from his first-class retirement, had added 42 only to depart shortly after McDonald. Ashley Noffke took 3-43 from his 10 overs but the Warriors couldn't mount any sort of sustained pressure. McDonald lost his wicket when a chipped stroke off the bowling of Brad Knowles landed in the hands of Mitch Marsh at short cover. But with the Bushrangers providing an opening for the Warriors at 3-114 it was White that answered the call along with David Hussey, who contributed 36. In reply, the Warriors looked out of touch. A 61-run opening stand from Shaun Marsh (30 runs off 48) and Wes Robinson (38 off 46) came to a halt in the 14th over when a thick edge off the bowling of John Hastings signaled the end for Robinson. Hastings claimed his second wicket with Shaun Marsh departing caught and bowled, for figures of 2-28. At that stage the home side was well off the pace with the required run rate creeping up to nearly seven an over. An 87-run partnership off 105 balls from skipper Adam Voges (64 from 71) and Mitch Marsh (60 from 80) gave the Warriors a fighting chance. But Voges was caught shortly after and it wasn't until wicketkeeper Ronchi entered the fray that the damage was done. Hastings' 3-43 for the Vics wasn't enough with the Warriors going on to claim a memorable victory, their third of the campaign. Victoria Innings McDonald c M Marsh b Knowles 52 (53) Rogers c Robinson b Hogan 12 (27) Hodge c Hogan b Heal 42 (51) Hussey c Knowles b Voges 36 (32) White c Robinson b Noffke 60 (80) Finch c Ronchi b Knowles 37 (37) Wade c Ronchi b Noffke 19 (10) McKay c Voges b Noffke 2 (3) Hastings not out 7 (8) Holland not out 0 (0) Extras: 10 (5lb, 1nb, 4w) Total: 277 (8 wickets; 50 overs) FOW: 1-31, 2-100, 3-114, 4-179, 5-237, 6-250, 7-253, 8-276, Bowling Hogan 10 – 2 – 56 – 1 (1w) Noffke 10 - 1 – 43 – 3 (1w, 1nb) Knowles 10 – 0 – 49 – 2 (1w) Coulter-Nile 7 – 0 – 46 – 0 Heal 10 – 0 – 59 – 1 (1w) Voges 3 – 0 – 19 – 1 Western Australia Innings Robinson c Wade b Hastings 38 (46) S Marsh c & b Hastings 30 (48) Voges c Hodge b Hastings 64 (71) M Marsh c Rogers b Pattinson 60 (80) Doropoulos run out 12 (12) Ronchi not out 57 (35) Noffke not out 2 (6) Extras: 16 (6lb, 4b, 5w, 1nb) Total: 279 (5 wickets; 50 overs) FOW: 1-61, 2-93, 3-180, 4-197, 5-269 Bowling McKay 9 – 1 – 52 – 0 (1w) Pattinson 8.3 – 0 – 54 – 1 – (1w, 1nb) Hastings 10 – 0 – 42 – 3 McDonald 10 – 0 – 56 – 0 (2w) Holland 9 – 0 – 45 – 0 (1w) Hodge 3 – 0 – 20 – 0
