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Pura Cup - NSW v TAS

Saturday, November 15 2003

Pura Cup – Tasmania v New South Wales at Bellerive Oval , Hobart.

What was billed as one of the less inspiring clashes of the season saw the giants of Australian domestic cricket , the New South Wales blues , pitted against one of the weaker sides in the Tasmanian Tigers at picturesque Bellerive Oval in Hobart.

Blues skipper Steve Waugh won the toss & elected to bat on a typically good Bellerive pitch , however both openers were sent packing relatively cheaply by in form paceman Damien Wright , Waugh & Simon Katich (both arguably in the form of their lives) came together with the score on 2-52 with the Tigers bowling looking enthusiastic & dangerous.
When the pair were finally separated 55 overs later , they had added a hefty 270 , Katich ensuring he remained the frontrunner to bat a number 6 in the test side with a scintillating 171 from just 189 deliveries (22 fours , 2 sixes) , he was eventually run out by Andrew Downton shortly before drinks in the final session. The Blues then lost Phil Jaques for 4 & Steve Waugh for 157 (16 fours , 5 sixes) to close on 5/408.

The Blues looked set for a massive total going into day 2 , however Steve Waugh surprised onlookers by declaring the innings closed on 5/453 , Mark Waugh & Brad Haddin both unbeaten in the 40’s.
Wright with 3-86 was easily the pick of the Tigers bowlers , while Downton (1-118) was the only other bowler to take a wicket.

The Tigers began poorly , loosing Jamie Cox to Matthew Nicholson for naught , however a 90 run stand between Shane Watson & Scott Mason put the game back on an even keel , Michael Di Venuto & Michael Dighton both made starts before throwing their wickets away while skipper Dan Marsh made an authoritative 68 from just 82 balls.
However a woeful collapse , instigated mainly by test leg spinner Stuart MacGill saw the Tigers loose their last 5 wickets for 31.
MacGill finishing with 5-79 in his first match back from injury , while Nicholson bowled well without much luck to finish with 2-44.

New South Wales began their second innings early on day 3 , loosing Michael Slater & the terribly out of sorts Phil Jaques to paceman Adam Griffith.
Steve Waugh then toyed with the batting lineup , promoting wicket keeper Brad Haddin & allrounder Grant Lambert , neither offered any real resistance as the Blues fell to 4-69 , Mark Waugh & Greg Mail then came together for a 101 stand , Mail batting in uncharacteristically aggressive fashion to bring up his 3rd first class hundred , eventually finishing unbeaten on 107 (10 fours , 1 six).
Steve Waugh , in an attempt to set up an outright win , declared the innings closed on 8/208 , setting the Tigers 386 in 3 & a half sessions.
Damien Wright was again the pick of the bowlers with 4-50 , while Adam Griffith (2-44) & Andrew Downton (2-60) provided solid backup.
The Tigers lost Mason leg before for just 2 before Cox & Watson saw the Tigers to 1/26 at stumps.

Tasmania were heavy underdogs going into the final day , despite the near perfect batting conditions , and the losses of Cox for just 18 & Watson for a scratchy 42 , both to MacGill , lengthened the odds of a home victory.
Michael Dighton slammed 2 sixes before being trapped in front by Stuart Clark , leaving Tasmania 4-166 & in serious trouble.

Dan Marsh & Micheal Di Venuto went about their work in cautious fashion , wary of the huge task ahead of them against a formidable attack , however as their confidence swelled so did the score , Marsh in particular was particularly brutal against MacGill , while Di Venuto’s back foot stroke play was highlight material.
By midway through the last session what had seemed a challenging total was surmounted with relative ease.
Micheal Di Venuto (175 , 18 fours , 1 six) & Dan Marsh (107 , 10 fours) sharing an unbeaten 220 run partnership.

For the second time in a week New South Wales were involved in a thrilling runchase , only this time they were on the wrong end of the result.
The Tigers take 6 points from this encounter to move into 2nd place on the ladder , while the Blues take 2 for their first innings win & will remain in first position.

Summary- Tasmanian Tigers 276 (D.Marsh 68 , S.Mason 58 , S.MacGill 5-79) & 4-386 (M.Di Venuto 175* , D.Marsh 107* , S.MacGill 2-135) defeated New South Wales Blues 5-453 (S.Katich 171 , S.Waugh 157 , D.Wright 3-86) & 8-208(G.Mail 107* , D.Wright 4-50) by 6 wickets at Bellerive Oval , Hobart.
New South Wales take first innings points.
Man of the match- Micheal Di Venuto


Posted by DavidH