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

[Left_Hander]

Victoria have fallen off the tracks. Slats needs to get them back on track.

 

[Short Leg]

One-Day Tour Game (D/N)
Victorian Bushrangers Vs New Zealand
The MCG, Melbourne
7th December 2006

This time it?s Nathan Pilon to walk through the gates at the MCG who has become a valuable member of the team with the bat as much as with the gloves even since his shock inclusion into the team after the axing of young keeper Adam Crosthwaite. He poses a talent to hit over the infield, which is exactly what will be needed when it comes down to the crunch in this innings. The Victorian drop off stands at a collapse of 7/54 since the breathtaking opening partnership of 142 shared between Klinger and Moss who are long gone now. Despite the ineffectiveness of pace spearhead Shane Bond the kiwis have stepped up in the bowling ranks and performances from guys like James Franklin and recently Jacob Oram have the tourists well on top in this tour match.

​

You?d have to rub your eye?s to believe it but the Victorians have lost yet another wicket. Nathan Pilon this time is the man the Melbourne crowd is seeing the back of after an airborne flick of the pads landed in the hands of none other then the kiwi captain Stephen Fleming at square leg. As usual Fleming has his field placing spot on, as he hopefully will in the upcoming VB Series when they come up against the world champions. For now though the kiwis are proving that they have come along way since their test series loss just weeks ago and are now ready to play their best cricket in the shorter form of the game. Jacob Oram the man at the centre of it again as this is turning into an inspirational spell of one-day bowling.

​

Nothing new for me as again im in the middle when the tail emerges from the pavilion. The New Zealanders are firmly on top with plenty of bowling options to choose from. Us on the other hand have to save our wickets until a couple of overs from the close of innings otherwise we risk getting bowled out for a miserable total of 220 or so that wouldn?t be enough to challenge a well drilled international outfit like the kiwis.

Victorian Bushrangers 7/196
Run Rate ? 4.98
Projected Total ? 249
39.3 overs

Slatter 12(19)*
Pilon 1(4)

Bond 0/37 (4)
Mills 0/34 (10)
Franklin 0/58 (10)
Astle 1/41 (8)
Vettori 0/14 (5)
Oram 2/3 (2)

 

[Short Leg]

Thanks for the comments boys. I dont even think there's any tracks left now Leftie.

 

[Left_Hander]

Victoria have self-destructed. If Slats goes, bye bye big total.

 

[Mr. Kurns]

3 wickets until self destruct......

 

[Short Leg]

One-Day Tour Game (D/N)
Victorian Bushrangers Vs New Zealand
The MCG, Melbourne
7th December 2006

Allan Wise is the new man in still with 10 overs to go in the Victorian I innings. Wisey isn?t the worst of tailenders, as he possesses the ability to score freely and even hit straight over the top if the situation requires it. However I wouldn?t be putting the all rounder tag on him so we are definitely into the tail now. One of the biggest collapses in the Victorian Bushrangers one-day history means that I have to take control and farm the strike until those last few overs when it?s time to hit out. At the moment a total of 240-250 is possible as long as Wisey can stick around and pick up singles.

​

The kiwis may have underestimated the ability of Allan Wise as I did. The left arm quick found adapting to the situation easy as we both rotated the strike and doubled up on runs wherever possible to get the run rate up above 5 an over. At this rate 250 ? 260 is going to be a total that at leased gives us something to work with when it comes time to bowl. Even though we lost wickets regularly the run rate was still respectable and that wil be the most important thing to look back on after our innings.

Victorian Bushrangers 7/230
Run Rate ? 5.11
Projected Total ? 255
45 overs

Slatter 22(38)*
Wise 22(18)*

Bond 0/45 (5)
Mills 0/34 (10)
Franklin 0/58 (10)
Astle 1/41 (8)
Vettori 0/23 (7)
Oram 2/22 (5)

 

[Gilchrist]

Slater has hit good form now. How much of a collapse? Oh well, what do you expect from a team who conceded 900?

 

[Short Leg]

Ha ha geez when did you become a comedian Gilchrist. Come on that pitch was like batting on concrete as it always is at the Gabba. At the moment the collapse is 7/88 which is a very special effort.

 

[Left_Hander]

Victoria are in a reasonable position now. BTW Gilchrist, nice sig .

 

[Short Leg]

One-Day Tour Game (D/N)
Victorian Bushrangers Vs New Zealand
The MCG, Melbourne
7th December 2006

Just 2 balls into the 48th over after I had told Allan Wise that we have to start hitting out he departs trying to lift over the top straight to the boundary. Shane Bond picks up his first wicket in what has been a poor display by his standards. McCullum makes sure of it behind the stumps as the Victorians have now lost 8/100 since being set up perfectly by the opening partnership. The partnership was worth 46 with Wisey contributing 26 off 22 balls in a good little cameo that was required of him in the situation.

​

With just 16 balls remaining for the Victorians any extra runs can give them the boost they need to bowl at the New Zealanders. The home side can stake away the fact that they haven?t played their best cricket today but yet will probably reach 250 which is a great display of the depth they produce in their side and that?s what makes them the force they are in the Australian domestic competition.

Victorian Bushrangers 8/242
Run Rate ? 5.12
Projected Total ? 256
47.2 overs

Slatter 26(42)*
Wise 26(22)

Bond 1/53 (7)
Mills 0/34 (10)
Franklin 0/58 (10)
Astle 1/41 (8)
Vettori 0/23 (7)
Oram 2/26 (6)

 

[Short Leg]

One-Day Tour Game (D/N)
Victorian Bushrangers Vs New Zealand
The MCG, Melbourne
7th December 2006

Mick Lewis came in and immediately was unable to get even a single away, which can really be damaging to a team that is in the later overs like we are now. It suddenly turned to frustration on the second last ball of the 49th over I called through a single into forward square and a slight bit of hesitation from Lewis meant that he was run out by Franklin with daylight between his bat and the crease. This is the second run out of the innings that brings the overall loss to 9/104 since the 26th over.

​

Now it?s down to jack and the man with that honour is Shane ?Stickers? Harwood who makes his way to the centre with just 7 balls remaining in the Victorian innings. Although wickets mean nothing now as there is only one left we are losing one once every 16 balls on average with every batsman contributing 27.33 runs to the team total on average.

Victorian Bushrangers 9/246
Run Rate ? 5.07
Projected Total ? 253
48.5 overs

Slatter 26(44)*
Lewis 4(7)

Bond 1/56 (7)
Mills 0/34 (10)
Franklin 0/58 (10)
Astle 1/41 (8)
Vettori 0/24 (8)
Oram 2/26 (6)

 

[madmick96]

this is great stuff, love it can say anything else than that luv it...

 

[Short Leg]

Thanks mate for a second there i thought you were going to say you loved me.

 

[Short Leg]

One-Day Tour Game (D/N)
Victorian Bushrangers Vs New Zealand
The MCG, Melbourne
7th December 2006

With jut one over to go I have eventually been brought unstuck thanks to the bowling of Jacob Oram who has actually come good for the kiwis today. An attempted loft over extra cover just took the toe end of the bat and a surprisingly athletic catch from Scott Styris caps off what has been a successful 50 overs from the touring side. That means three wickets for Oram in just his 7th over which initially turned the innings in favour of New Zealand.

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Back into the pavilion we go now to reflect on an innings that could have gone better. However 248 is still a competitive total and we can win with it on the board. It is going to be an interesting run chase under lights at the MCG but the kiwiws should start favourites when they come out with the willow.

 

[madmick96]

.....so wat if i did....:love :whip :cheesy