Western Warriors v. NSW Blues - Pura

[Donny]

These two are creaming this Blues attack. They've just added 35 in 4 overs.

Hussey raced to 71 from 90 balls before playing on, to Bracken. Langer is 79 and W.A. is 1/157. The lead is 264.

[Canberra]

OK Donny,you know your cricket. What more can Hussey do to get a game with the big boys.

[Donny]

I suppose turning the good 70s into centuries would help.

He's not quite there yet but he's heading towards the Siddons/Law/Lehmann (for 10 years) position of always being just out of reach of the highest honours.
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Rogers didn't last long and also fell to Bracken, for 2. Langer is 84 n.o.
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Langer also becomes a Bracken victim. Bowled for 94. He has 3/19 in his 11th. over.

[Donny]

Bracken has taken 4 wickets in his last 6 overs to lift The Blues' hopes.

He has 4/23 from 12 overs.

Coming up to stumps, W.A. is 320 ahead with 6 wickets in hand. NSW can win this but they must crash through in the morning.
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Bracken takes another to finish the day with a very impressive 5/34 from 16 overs.

W.A. lead by 330. Could be an excellent last day.

[Donny]

Bracken decimates WA top order

Fox

LEFT-arm paceman Nathan Bracken lifted NSW's prospects of an unlikely win with a lethal display of swing bowling in a Pura Cup cricket match against Western Australia today.

The Test bowler (5-34) picked up WA's top five batsmen in the last session today to slow the Warriors charge towards setting an enormous fourth innings run chase.

The home side was 5-223 at stumps on day three, a lead of 330 runs, with John Taylor (23no) and Kade Harvey (0no) unbeaten on a placid deck.

Bracken claimed 5-26 in his second spell after Blues captain Steve Waugh illustrated his team's desire for outright points with an early declaration.

He closed the NSW innings at 7(dec)-367 after lunch, some 107 runs behind WA's first dig of 6(dec)-474 and double the Warriors' points tally this summer.

The Blues desperately need a victory to put their Pura Cup defence back on track and handed WA first innings points in the hope of a tempting last day run chase.

But WA captain Justin Langer will be wary not to give the Blues too easy a challenge after NSW comfortably made the 303 set off 52 overs in their four-day clash in Sydney last November.

WA's bowling attack has also failed to take 20 wickets in a match this season as it moves nearer to a first Pura Cup/Sheffield Shield wooden spoon in 40 years.

Openers Langer and Michael Hussey earlier put on 157 for the opening stand in quick time before Hussey (71) played the ball onto his stumps off Bracken's bowling.

Chris Rogers (2), who made 142 in the first innings, didn't last long in his second bat before Bracken had him playing on.

However Langer (94) still looked set to guide WA to a massive total after surviving a confident caught behind appeal on 90 off Stuart Clark's bowling.

But Bracken breached his defences four runs later and then had a ball dart back and catch the inside-edge of Murray Goodwin's (25) bat.

The lanky quick then trapped Marcus North (5) in front just before stumps to dismiss the top five batsmen.

WA quick Ben Edmondson (4-7 earlier impressed in the NSW innings by bowling with good pace and outswing.

He only failed to pick up more wickets courtesy of a dropped catch and a no ball on separate occasions.

The Blues resumed at 2-204 and it was departing paceman Jo Angel (2-42) who claimed the first scalp of the day by removing former club teammate Simon Katich (82).

Katich looked in fine touch before spooning a slower ball to John Taylor at mid-off after he and Dominic Thornely put on 101 for the third wicket.

Captain Steve Waugh entered and scored rapidly, reaching his half century off 53 balls before Edmondson removed him with the new ball.

The former north Queensland product dismissed Thornely shortly after lunch before Mark Waugh (44) had an entertaining 49-ball knock.

Edmondson claimed his wicket and the innings was closed following Nathan Pilon's (16) dismissal.

[Donny]

Nicholson (4/62) took 4 wickets to end the Warriors innings (Campbell was injured). They made 279.

The Blues need 387 from 83 overs @ 4.7 r.p.o.
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They are 1/44 in the 10th. over as Angel snares Mail for 16.
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Jaques made 56 from 41 balls. NSW are 2/80 at lunch and on target.
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[Donny]

NSW are going well in this chase for victory. They are 2/140 in the 26th.

Katich is 33 n.o. from 30 balls and Nicho is 30 n.o.

[Donny]

NSW in a bit of strife.

They're 5 down for 166 and still need 221 @ 4.64 r.p.o. but with the Australian of the Year at the crease with his little brother, on Australia day, there's still plenty of theatre left in this one.

[Donny]

The Waughs added 56 but both fell on 222 and the end wasn't far away.

W.A. won by 126 runs and took the 6 points.

Hussey was awarded Man of the Match for his 76 & 71.

Jo Angel took 5/109 from 31 overs in his last match.