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Pura Cup - QLD v VIC

Friday, November 14 2003

Pura Cup – Queensland v Victoria at Junction Oval (Melbourne)

The infrequently used Junction Oval in Melbourne was the venue for game 5 of the 2003/04 Pura Cup , played between Queensland & Victoria.
This encounter was billed as a grudge match of sorts as Victoria had broken their Gabba hoodoo only a week earlier against the same opponents.

Young Victorian skipper Cameron White predictably elected to bat after winning the toss on what was without a doubt the most batsman friendly pitch of the summer thus far , the experienced opening duo of Jason Arnberger & Matthew Elliott made slow but steady progress before Arnberger edged behind off paceman Joe Dawes with the score on 54.
Brad Hodge looked very much at home during his innings of 42 during a 92 run stand with Elliott , however just as he was looking set for a big score he chipped off spinner Chris Simpson into the safe hands of Clinton Perren.
Andrew McDonald then went the next over , however Elliott batted on & however scratchy his form looked he still managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over , registering his 36th first class hundred before edging behind off Dawes for 106(12 fours).
This brought allrounders White & Moss together , they valiantly survived until the final over of the day , only for White to edge behind off medium pacer James Hopes , leaving the home side 6/255 at stumps after an eventful first day.

The runs continued to flow early on the second morning as Moss & keeper Peter Roach added a stubborn 85 for the 7th wicket before Moss edged paceman Shane Jurgensen to keeper Seccombe for 80 (9 fours , 3 sixes).
The next 2 wickets , including Roach for a gutsy 47 , fell quickly before White declared the innings closed on a competitive 9/381.
Dawes was easily the best of the Queensland bowlers with 4-89 , while Jurgensen (2-57) leant valuable support.

The Bulls had a horror start to their innings , with out of form opener Daniel Payne bowled second ball by the rampant Mick Lewis , however they did not strike again until 3 overs before stumps as opener Clinton Perren & test hopeful Martin Love added 173 before Perren was trapped leg before by medium pacer Andrew McDonald for 95 (12 fours) , leaving Queensland 2-183 at stumps , with Love unbeaten on 82.

The Bulls needed a solid start if they were to push for first innings points on day 3 , initially this didn’t eventuate though as Stuart Law (5) & Lee Carseldine (9) were both sent packing within the first half hour.
However what followed was nothing short of brilliant , Love & allrounder James Hopes added a Queensland record 236 for the fifth wicket before Hopes was dismissed by part timer Dave Hussey for a carear best 97 (8 fours , 1 six) , however the carnage did not stop there as Love & keeper Wade Seccombe piled on the runs against a tired attack , taking the score to 5/526 at stumps , Love remained unbeaten on 256.

A result looked all but impossible going into the final day , and so it proved as Love carried on the record the first triple century in Pura Cup / Sheffeid Sheild cricket for 9 years , before declaring on 7/605 , he remained unbeaten on an even 300 (32 fours , 1 six).
All of the Victorian bowlers suffered on the lifeless surface , however Lewis was clearly the pick with 2-92 from 39 tireless overs , he impressed by maintaining his pace & accuracy well into day 4 despite the brutal batting & dead pitch.
Cameron White picked up 2 late wickets to finish with 2-123 , while fellow leg spinner Bryce McGain bowled 31 wicketless overs.

Only a woeful batting collapse could deny Victoria a draw , and despite the loss of Arnberger to Dawes for just 5 , some inspired batting by the in form pairing of Brad Hodge & Matthew Elliott got the Bushrangers out of trouble as they added 196 before Elliott was caught behind off Payne’s part time medium pacers for 79 (11 fours , 1 six).
Hodge & Andrew McDonald then batted out time for 2/208 with Hodge finishing unbeaten on 111 (13 fours).

Queensland take two first innings points from this encounter to move into 4th place , while the Victorians remain in 3rd thanks to their triumph at the Gabba.
Martin Love ensured that the selectors will have a tough decision to make in deciding whether to play Darren Lehmann , Simon Katich or himself in the test side on December 4 , while both teams criticized the batsman friendly nature of the pitch.

Summary – Victoria 9/381 (Elliott 106 , Dawes 4-89) & 2/208 (Hodge 111* , Elliott 79)
Drew with Queensland 7/605 (Love 300* , Hopes 97 , Lewis 2-92) at Junction Oval.
Queensland wins on first innings.
Man of the match: Martin Love


Posted by DavidH