20 / 20 Final

[LostDoggy]

Has anyone seen hitting like what Blizard did tonight ?

[LostDoggy]

Re: 20 / 20 Final

Big score by the Vics so WA must get a move on early. Anyone else watching it ?

[LostDoggy]

Re: 20 / 20 Final

Vics won but possibly a couple of dodgy decisions?

[hujsh]

Re: 20 / 20 Final

Hussey must be in line for a T20 spot With his fielding and bowling added to the package he is the perfect player for Australia. To get into the other squads he will need to be patient but he could be in the T20 against India

[GVGjr]

Re: 20 / 20 Final

Bushrangers triumph

YET more umpiring controversy has dogged one of the big games of the summer, as Victoria claimed a trio of Twenty20 titles in beating Western Australia by 32 runs at the WACA Ground in Perth yesterday.

With Australia's Test series against India already mired in claims of racism and gamesmanship, it was the Warriors who bore the brunt of some questionable decisions as they floundered in pursuit of the Bushranger's 8-203.

In-form WA opener Luke Ronchi was dismissed first ball by an Adam Crosthwaite catch, which television replays suggested might have bounced before it entered the wicketkeeper's gloves.

With no third umpire, umpires Ian Lock and Bruce Oxenford had no choice but to accept Crosthwaite's word.

David Bandy also seemed unlucky to be adjudged run out, but by then, WA's hopes had gone. The Warriors were eventually dismissed for 171 despite Shaun Marsh's stylish 86.

The controversy took the gloss off an otherwise polished Victorian performance. David Hussey again displayed his all-round ability with 38 runs, two wickets and two run-outs, and Aiden Blizzard's brutal early hitting was worthy of the man-of-the-match award. Blizzard smashed 47 off 20 balls, including four sixes in one over that cost Danny McLauchlan 28 runs and nightmares in the years ahead.

The brutal treatment of the WA quick's second over did nothing to ease his pain from an apparent groin injury received in his first over.

Two sixes from the first two balls were followed by a dot ball, which apparently angered Blizzard into striking one of the biggest sixes ever seen at the ground. The midwicket swipe cleared the grassed spectator bank by metres, eventually landing on the roof of the marquee near the practice wickets, more than 100 metres away.

A fourth maximum in the over followed, and a fifth was only millimetres away as McLauchlan hobbled from the ground with 37 taken from his first 12 balls.

After an opening stand of 69 in just 32 balls, WA took wickets in three successive overs, including Aaron Heal having Blizzard stumped to keep Victoria in range.

While Bandy's unbelievable one-handed catch to dismiss Rob Quiney ensured endless TV replays, late hitting from Rob Hastings and Shane Harwood finished the Victorian innings the same way it started.

WA's disastrous start got worse when skipper Adam Voges skied a catch to Hussey, and when Luke Pomersbach was bowled by Bryce McGain's first ball, the Warriors knew lady luck was not with them.

Victoria:
B HODGE c Ronchi b Edmondson 23
A BLIZZARD st Ronchi b Heal 47
C WHITE c Heal b Bandy 1
D HUSSEY c Ervine b Bandy 38
A MCDONALD st Ronchi b Heal 17
R QUINEY c Bandy b Edmondson 3
A CROSTHWAITE run out 16
J HASTINGS b McLauchlan 20
S HARWOOD not out 20
B MCGAIN not out 1 (2)
Sundries (5b, 4lb, 8w) 17
Total (8 wkts) 203
Fall of wickets: 69, 74, 74, 134, 135, 139, 176, 181
Bowling: B Dorey 4-0-40-0 (1w), D McLauchlan 4-0-50-1 (1w), B Edmondson 4-0-42-2 (5w), A Heal 4-0-25-2 (1w), D Band 4-0-37-2.

Western Australia:
L RONCHI c Crosthwaite b Nannes 0
S MARSH c White b Nannes 86
A VOGES c Hussey b Nannes 22
L POMERSBACH b McGain 3
D BANDY run out 5
S ERVINE b Hussey 0
T DOROPOULOS c and b Hussey 43
A HEAL run out 5
B DOREY b Nannes 0
D MCLAUCHLAN b Harwood 2
B EDMONDSON not out 0
Sundries (4lb, 1w) 5
Total 171
Fall of wickets: 0, 36, 49, 58, 59, 151, 168, 169, 169, 171
Bowling: D Nannes 4-0-23-4, S Harwood 3.3-0-43-1, J Hastings 4-0-39-0, B McGain 4-0-37-1 (1w), D Hussey 4-0-25-2
Result: Victoria won by 32 runs.
Man of the match: A. Blizzard

[LostDoggy]

Re: 20 / 20 Final

Hussey or Nannes should of been MOTM.

[GVGjr]

Re: 20 / 20 Final

Hussey or Nannes should of been MOTM.

Tend to agree but Marsh didn't do too much wrong either.

[mjp]

Re: 20 / 20 Final

Ronchi decision was a disgrace. Crossthwaite is a good cricketer, but his actions did neither himself or the game any favors. When the player everyone has come to watch is given out to a half volley first ball, it kind of takes the shine off it.

That said, Blizzard was pretty impressive. Hastings, Hussey and Nannes all bowled well.

[GVGjr]

Re: 20 / 20 Final

Ronchi decision was a disgrace. Crossthwaite is a good cricketer, but his actions did neither himself or the game any favors. When the player everyone has come to watch is given out to a half volley first ball, it kind of takes the shine off it.

That said, Blizzard was pretty impressive. Hastings, Hussey and Nannes all bowled well.

I agree that it was shocking that he claimed the catch. It might not go over too well with the selectors either.

[mjp]

Re: 20 / 20 Final

I agree that it was shocking that he claimed the catch. It might not go over too well with the selectors either.

Mind you, I have no idea what Ronchi was trying to do...it was a 'get out' shot and, like Ervine and Pomersbach, he really didn't seem ready to play. Marsh was, and despite his short-comings was able to make a pretty good fist of things.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 20 / 20 Final

Mind you, I have no idea what Ronchi was trying to do...it was a 'get out' shot and, like Ervine and Pomersbach, he really didn't seem ready to play. Marsh was, and despite his short-comings was able to make a pretty good fist of things.

I keep hearing that Marsh is hghly regarded by the Australian selectors which surprises me. His innings last night was a good one but he is inconsistent.

[GVGjr]

Re: 20 / 20 Final

Has anyone ever seen a bigger hit that Blizzards? I can't recall anything being hit that far before

[GVGjr]

Re: 20 / 20 Final

I keep hearing that Marsh is hghly regarded by the Australian selectors which surprises me. His innings last night was a good one but he is inconsistent.

I have a couple of mates in WA who think he is a good player but have Rogers, North, Pomerbasch and Voges well ahead of him and neither of them think he is a candidate for a test spot.

[hujsh]

Re: 20 / 20 Final

Has anyone ever seen a bigger hit that Blizzards? I can't recall anything being hit that far before

Maybe Lee at the Gabba vs the Windies, Symonds in India (don't remember which match), or just about any shot in the World Cup.