Story Dream To Wear The Baggy Green ? A C2007 Career Story

[Short Leg]

I wouldn't be using Mick Lewis and batting lesson in the same sentence i reckon it was just more ass then class.

 

[Short Leg]

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Pura Cup ? Game 4
Victorian Bushrangers Vs New South Wales Blues
The MCG, Melbourne
29th November 2006

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The bails have been removed for tea on the third days play with this match looking like it?s heading for a draw unless there are some real heroics in this next session to turn the game in favour of either the Blues who are gripping the willow or the Bushrangers with the ball.

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Stickers in action​

Mail was first to go at 1/17 as ?Stickers? Harwood got the edge to Klinger at 3rd slip to get us on top early. Unfortunately for us Phelps and Katich got the visitors to the break just one down with a small lead. With such class batting to come it will take a special bowling effort for us to have enough time to win this one.

New South Wales Blues 1/69
Tea - Day 3
30 overs

Phelps 33(81)*
Katich 19(79)*

Lewis 0/22
Harwood 1/19
Wise 0/8
Hodge 0/13
White 0/4

New South Wales Blues lead by 55 runs

 

[Short Leg]

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Pura Cup ? Game 4
Victorian Bushrangers Vs New South Wales Blues
The MCG, Melbourne
29th November 2006

The final session of day 3 always looked to be an interesting one, as this 2-hour period will determine who is attacking for the win and who is trying to hold off for the draw on day 4. Cameron White had made his point clear that he thought spin was the way to go on this pitch that hadn?t deteriorated all that much to this point but he decided to bring himself on anyway.

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Whitey decided spin was the way to go​

It didn?t take all that long before Phelps was the sacrifice of a mix up out in the middle and was run out for 33 to make it 2/69. Thornely now joined Katich for what the Blues would be hoping for a repeat of their first innings partnership, which was the reason for their big score.

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Phelps was unlucky to get run out after a solid start​

It became a reality again for the Blues as Thornely joined in and scored quicker then his partner Katich scoring 50 off just 80 ball whilst Katich knocked his way into the 40?s. The skipper decided on a change of bowler turning to me and giving the signal to warm up for a spell of right arm medium pace with half an hour left before stumps.

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Dom Thornely in form....again​

The pitch is still playing well for the batsman so it will set up an interesting half hour before stumps where the Blues will look to score runs to put pressure on the Victorians. We may see a declaration tomorrow and the home side needing a quick run chase on a worn down wicket against the New South Wales attack.

New South Wales Blues 2/143
5:24pm - Day 3
55 overs

Katich 41(144)*
Thornely 51(83)*

Lewis 0/29
Harwood 1/25
Wise 0/29
Hodge 0/13
White 0/43

New South Wales Blues lead by 129 runs

 

[Left_Hander]

The Blues have set-up themselves with a good platform.

 

[Short Leg]

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Pura Cup ? Game 4
Victorian Bushrangers Vs New South Wales Blues
The MCG, Melbourne
29th November 2006

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The time has come for Slatter to be thrown the ball in a period of time before stumps that will allow him 4 or 5 overs at the established partnership of Katich and Thornely. Cameron White is on for the other end although he is wicket less but the vibe is that if the Blues go to the close of play just 2 down they will have the best chance of winning this match and setting themselves up to declare with a good lead tomorrow morning.

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Unsure of what frame of mind the Blues batsman are in I decided to keep a steady line and length for the first couple of overs and a field that given enough protection so that my figures aren?t destroyed like the first inning.

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A tame first over a good start to the two in form batsman but little could prepare you for what Cameron White did at the other end. A sharp leg spinner went straight through Dom Thornely sending the bails flying and his celebration sent a message to the NSW dressing rooms that this is game on.

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Our skipper once again single handedly turned the game on it?s head when he had the new batsman Aaron O?Brien given out LBW. A questionable decision might have seen the umpire caught up in the moment but it goes into the scorebook as a wicket to White none the less to make it 2 for the over and all of a sudden it?s a ball game up for grabs again.

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There is still 25 minutes remaining in the day?s play for the NSW batsman to get through before they can think about the tactics they will undertake for tomorrow. What kind of impact would another wicket have on the match now? If the Blues can manage to get over 250 they will be favourites but im sure Cameron White?s Victorians will have something to say about that.

New South Wales Blues 4/145
5:33pm - Day 3
57 overs

Katich 42(146)*
Thornely 52(89)
O?Brien 0(4)

Lewis 0/29
Harwood 1/25
Wise 0/29
Hodge 0/13
White 2/43
Slatter 0/2

New South Wales Blues lead by 131 runs

 

[Short Leg]

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Pura Cup ? Game 4
Victorian Bushrangers Vs New South Wales Blues
The MCG, Melbourne
29th November 2006

25 minutes remain in today?s play and the team objective is to capture one more wicket before the bails are removed which will put us in with a real sniff tomorrow morning. Katich as been joined by Lambert who you could probably guess isn?t going to be playing to many shots with not long left.

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A good over from the Blues point of view as Katich is holding the innings together after a small collapse in the middle order with Thornely quickly being followed back to the pavilion by O?Brien.

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Just one over remains now for this partnership to get to stumps unbeaten. Simon Katich has been the stand out all match from a New South Wales point of view after resisting the attack from the hometown bowlers. The attack launched tomorrow will have to base itself around Katich scoring some runs early otherwise it is doubtful that the lower order will score enough runs quickly.

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Now that the bails have been removed and we headed back to the dressing rooms Cameron White asked what I thought we could chase and I told him that we had to keep it under 250 on a wearing pitch and of course we just wouldn?t have enough time to get the runs with only one day remaining. All is set for an interesting final day where the NSW Blues will be keen to win their first points of the season.

New South Wales Blues 4/164
Stumps - Day 3
64 overs

Katich 54(166)*
Lambert 2(22)*

Lewis 0/29
Harwood 1/25
Wise 0/29
Hodge 0/13
White 2/47
Slatter 0/12

New South Wales Blues lead by 150 runs

 

[Mr. Kurns]

good work by the skip to get SOMENIC Thornely

 

[Cricket_60]

Good start with the ball for Slats, maybe a wicket will come tomorrow.

 

[Short Leg]

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Pura Cup ? Game 4
Victorian Bushrangers Vs New South Wales Blues
The MCG, Melbourne
29th November 2006

A new day meant a new bowling attack from pace spearhead Mick Lewis but he was faced with the tough task of breaking the Katich and Lambert partnership. Camo White had made the point clear that we need an early breakthrough to put the pressure on the NSW lower order which will help us bowl them out for a resonable total. The Australian contract player Katich was in superb form building on his overnight score freely and in no time the 50 partnership was up.

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Camo just wants a breakthrough​

It may have been slow progress for Katich but he ventured into the 90?s comfortably and brought up his hundred to the sound of little applause from the Victorian crowd. Lambert was also in no hurry to score as the 100 partnership came up in fine style further frustrating our bowlers and denying us any chance at having them all out early.

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Maybe Lambo needs thicker glasses to see the ball​

A 111 run stand was finally brought to an end when Katich was caught by Hodge off the bowling of Lewis for 110 featuring 14 boundaries and one that went for maximum bringing the score to 5/256.

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Katich in fine touch​

Lambert chipped a catch back to the bowler Moss for 41 to bring the Blues to 6/271 not long after the lunch break and that?s when the Blues decided to call it a day and declare. The Victorians now need to score at rapid fire to get the 258 runs required for victory with just under 2 sessions to play. The Blues need to bowl out the home side to take points away from this match and it will take a few early wickets to achieve that however it looks doubtful that a result will be reached in this match with little time remaining.

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Victorian Bushrangers require 258 runs to win

 

[Gilchrist]

Come on you Blues you'll win easily.

 

[Short Leg]

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Pura Cup ? Game 4
Victorian Bushrangers Vs New South Wales Blues
The MCG, Melbourne
29th November 2006

Just like old times it was Jason Arnberger and Michael Klinger that ventured out onto the MCG for the final time in the match with a big task ahead. Time is of the essence, as all the boys know that we need a good start to score the runs required in such a small period of time. Unfortunately it wasn?t the start we were after as Jason Arnberger edged one to the keeper for single figures to make it 1/7.

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Cheesey is out early​

Jon Moss was next in with form on his side and an attacking flare he progressed along nicely with younger partner Klinger. The breakthrough would come 110 runs later as Klinger was caught one short of a solid half century for 49 off 104 balls. Brad Hodge then made his way out to the centre with only the optimists in the dressing room having hope in a victory for our boys now.

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Kling gone when he was needed​

Nicholson picked up his second in Moss for 68 off 107 caught by Lambert to make it 3/134 with only a draw or an unlikely Victorian win looking like the odds now. Dave Hussey hasn?t looked himself since reaching the crease and his job has been made harder now that he must take the leading role with Hodge departing caught behind for 30 off 50 balls.

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Nicholson says "you beauty" picking up his second​

It?s now my turn to make my way onto the MCG with time ticking away quickly. The equation is 86 runs in 44 minutes to complete a memorable victory in front of the home crowd. Only one thing is for sure and that is that I need to settle quickly and score quicker if Huss and me are going to guide the boys to a big race chase but can we do it?

Victorian Bushrangers 4/172
5:16pm ? Day 4
52.5 overs

Hodge 30(50)
Hussey 12(42)*

Nicholson 2/48
Bollinger 1/24
Thornely 0/31
Krejza 0/13
Katich 1/53

Victorian Bushrangers require 86 runs to win

 

[woosaah]

yes you can... or if not you should at least hold on for a draw

 

[Short Leg]

Isn't the draw kinda pointless though because you dont get any points for it? The Vic's are the only one's to take points away from a draw as they won the first innings. Probably shouldn't matter anyway as we'll go the smash and see if the Vic's can get the runs.

 

[surendar]

Isn't the draw kinda pointless though because you dont get any points for it? The Vic's are the only one's to take points away from a draw as they won the first innings. Probably shouldn't matter anyway as we'll go the smash and see if the Vic's can get the runs.

i feel 86 runs in 44 minutes is possible... but beaware of wickets as already four gone...

 

[Gilchrist]

Slater should go for it, no use just blocking it out.