Wright strikes early
Fri, 12 February 2010
Evergreen Victorian paceman Damien Wright has made early inroads into the New South Wales' batting line-up following a delayed start to Friday's Sheffield Shield clash at the MCG. Play did not get underway until midday - an hour after the scheduled start - after more than 30 millimetres drenched Melbourne during a freakish afternoon storm the day before, which left nearby Punt Road Oval partially flooded. And with play starting under more overcast skies - although there was no immediate threat of rain - acting Bushrangers' skipper David Hussey had no hesitation in sending the Blues into bat after winning the toss. And the move immediately paid off with New South Wales finishing a shortened first session at 2-53 after Wright removed out-of-form opener Phillip Hughes and Blues' skipper Simon Katich in the one over. The Vics may have gone into this game on top of the Shield table while the Blues in last place but the Bushrangers also went in with a badly depleted attack with quicks Peter Siddle, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, Dirk Nannes and Shane Harwood all unavailable due to either injury or other playing commitments. However 34-year-old Wright - playing just his second Shield match of the season after missing the pre Christmas action due to a calf injury - again underlined just what great fast bowling depth the Vics possess. After opening the bowling at the Southern Stand end, the former Tasmanian switched to the Members' End in the 12th over with the move paying immediate dividends. From the first ball of the over Wright had Hughes caught at first slip by Andrew McDonald for 14 while from the last ball of the same over he claimed an even bigger scalp when he picked up Test opener Katich for a duck - caught behind by Matthew Wade - after he edged a superb delivery which left him late off the wicket. Former Test opener Phil Jaques, who survived two confident LBW shouts early on, then steadied the Blues' innings to be not out 28 at lunch with Peter Forrest not out nine with play set to continue until 7pm on day one to ensure no time overall is lost following the delayed start to play. New South Wales first innings Jaques not out 28 Hughes c McDonald b Wright 14 Katich c Wade b Wright 0 Forrest not out 9 Extras: 2 (1lb, 1nb) Total: 53 (2 wickets, 23 overs) FOW: 1-26, 2-26 Bowling Wright 8 - 2 - 16 - 2 D Pattinson 5 - 1 - 13 - 0 McDonald 7 - 2 - 9 - 0 Hastings 3 - 0 - 14 - 0 (1nb)
Paul Gough, Sportal
