Bulls v. Blues - Pura Cup. Gabba

[Donny]

Waugh won't give up hope

By Jim Morton - Fox

A TIRED Stephen Waugh desperately wants to stand up and finish his stellar career off in typical fashion by leading NSW to an unlikely Pura Cup final's berth.

Waugh's out-of-sorts Blues outfit hasn't given up hope of a miracle and will take an attacking all-or-nothing approach into their crunch clash with Queensland, starting tomorrow.

Outright points are the only satisfactory result for both of last year's finalists who have Victoria (26) and Tasmania (22) to catch at the top of the table with three matches to play.

The Bulls, third on 16, have the chance to end the slim hopes of an out-of-sorts NSW (11) defending its title and nothing would make them happier after losing last season's final to the Blues.

The wheels have fallen off the NSW road train, which last year stormed into the Gabba decider, in the last three weeks as they have lost two four-day and three one-day matches on the trot.

Waugh had said the defending champions needed a "miracle" to make the final after falling to Western Australia in Perth, but he believes they still hold realistic hope of scoring three straight outright wins.

"It's our only option to win every game," he said.

"We just have to be positive and regroup, we've lost the knack of winning right now so we need someone to step up to the plate and put in a big performance."

Waugh admitted he was drained after playing in four matches in a week which has seen him fly from Sydney to Perth to Canberra to Brisbane, where he scored 16 in the 25-run ING cup loss to the Bulls last night.

"I am a bit tired, I've got starts every match and I'm disappointed I haven't gone on with the job," he said.

"I wasted another opportunity (last night) I really want to get amongst the runs and finish off strongly and not just go through the motions."

Test paceman Nathan Bracken, who has stitches in his bowling hand, is not expected to play tomorrow, with fellow left-armer Doug Bollinger the likely replacement.

Rookie all-rounder Aaron O'Brien has replaced Simon Katich, called into the Australian team for the VB Series, and is considered a likely starter.

Queensland enter the game looking to celebrate a hat-trick of milestones.

Classy wicketkeeper Wade Seccombe will play his 100th first-class game, while Stuart Law and Michael Kasprowicz can jump to the top of the Bulls Pura Cup batting and bowling lists.

Law needs 47 runs to pass Sam Trimble (9465) for the most first-class runs for the state and 115 to eclipse Trimble's 8647 Shield runs for Queensland.

Kasprowicz, the man of the match in last night's one-dayer with 3-38 from 10 overs, needs only two wickets to pass Carl Rackemann's mark of 383 Shield wickets.

Those two scalps would also give the 31-year-old 800 first-class wickets in his 15-year career.

Queensland: Jimmy Maher (c), Stuart Law, Martin Love, Clinton Perren, Craig Philipson, James Hopes, Wade Seccombe, Ashley Noffke, Nathan Hauritz, Michael Kasprowicz, Joe Dawes, Chris Simpson (likely 12th man).

NSW: Steve Waugh (c), Greg Mail, Phil Jaques, Dominic Thornely, Mark Waugh, Brad Haddin, Aaron O'Brien, Stuart Clark, Matthew Nicholson, Stuart MacGill, Doug Bollinger, Grant Lambert, Nathan Bracken (two to be omitted)

[Donny]

Bracken named for Cup clash

Fox

NATHAN Bracken is expected to start his comeback from injury in the Pura Cup clash with Queensland starting February 1.

Bracken strained a muscle in his left hip while fielding during the drawn fourth Test against India on January 6 which has kept him out of the current international one day series.

[Donny]

" .. start his comeback .. ??

Who was the Bracken in last week's Pura match at the WACA ?

You know, the one who took the first 5 wickets in W.A.'s second innings.

[Donny]

Injury rules out Bracken

Fox

INJURY has again struck down NSW fast bowler Nathan Bracken, ruling him out of the Blues squad to play Queensland in a Pura Cup cricket match at the Gabba starting tomorrow.

Bracken injured his hand during the recent Pura Cup match in Perth against Western Australia which the Blues lost outright by 126 runs.

[Donny]

An early wicket for The Blues as Clark claims Perren for 3.
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At lunch, The Bulls are 1/65 with Maher on 35 n.o. and Love, 27 n.o.
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Love went for 68 but Maher continues and is on 76 n.o. 2/155.
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Maher goes to 84 n.o. and The Bulls are 2/182.
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Maher is 115 n.o. and Law, 40 n.o. as The Bulls move on to 2/236

[Donny]

The Bulls declared on 5/431 with Stuart Law on 146 n.o. Clark took 3/71.

NSW were in a bit of bother at 4/96 when the rain set in.

Jaques hit 53 and Noffke took 2/41.

[Donny]

Play has finally got under way. The Blues are 4/107 in the 29th.

The Bulls best chance of victory seems to be to dismiss them for 280 or less and enforce the follow on.
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Well, it's on the cards as Joe Dawes just claimed Steve Waugh and O'Brien in one over. 6/118 with Mark Waugh on 18 n.o.

[Donny]

Play started on time.

Can the junior Waugh get a century in his last innings at the Gabba ? He's well on the way with 77 n.o.

He and Nicho (21 n.o.) have added 91 for the 7th. wicket.
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Junior didn't quite make it. Out for 90.
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NSW have declared at 7/229, over 200 behind. This is a strange one as Queensland could enforce the follow on but I'd say Waugh got an agreement from Maher that they wouldn't. Otherwise, no point.

[Donny]

Yes, The Bulls batted again and are in a hurry.

Jimmy Maher jumped down the track to O'Brien and was stumped for 20 from 19 balls.

Clinton Perren is 34 n.o. from 28 and Martin Love began with a four. They are 270 ahead with 66 overs left in the day's play. If they are going to set The Blues a target, and it looks like that's what's happening, it will be at least 6 r.p.o.

Interesting, because it's almost an all or nothing situation for The Bulls. A 6 point win would keep them in the running for second, a 2 pointer would still give them an outside chance but if NSW got up it would be 'goodnight Irene' for the Bulls.

[Donny]

It's game on. The Bulls declared after knocking up some quick runs.

In 18 overs, they scored 2/124 with perren leading the charge with 57 from 43 balls.

That leaves The Blues 54 overs to get 327 runs which is run-a-ball.

After 18 overs, they're 0/90 so they're only a bit off the pace. With 36 overs to come after tea, they need 6.4 r.p.o. to win. It will be a contrived result but when you lose time to rain either this happens or the game dies.

Should be fun.
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Mail (50) and Haddin (10) both fell to Kasprowicz (2/39 from 10 overs) and NSW are 2/135 after 27 overs. Jaques is 77 from 84 balls.
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Thornely went to Noffke for 1 and Steve Waugh is in. He already has 9 from 3 balls

[Donny]

The Blues could do this. They are cruising along with Jaques and Steve Waugh adding 50 @ 9 r.p.o. and now need 132 runs from 123 balls.

Jaques is 95 from 104 and Waugh, 27 from 18.
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Waugh out for 28. Mark Waugh in.
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Jaques goes to 100 n.o. from 114 balls and NSW need 120 from 100 balls.
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Waugh out for 5 to Kaspa (3/45) as The Bulls take the upper hand.

[Donny]

It's now 8 down and no hope for The Blues but The Bulls need 2 more wickets for the 6 points. Jaques made 146 from 147 balls.

There are 3 overs left.
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Bollinger and Clark survived. Draw. The Bulls get 2 points and are 4 behind second placed Tassie Tigers.