Hughes leads Redbacks in run chase

Updated October 03, 2012 19:48:22

South Australia will be relying on new recruit Phil Hughes on the final day of their Sheffield Shield match against Queensland after being set a massive victory target.

Chasing an unlikely 463 to win, Hughes ended day three unbeaten on 58 to take the Redbacks to 2 for 111 in their second innings at the Gabba.

Callum Ferguson is with Hughes at the crease on 31 not out.

It was the opener's second half-century of the match after being dismissed in the first over of the day for 95.

Looking as composed as he was during his first-innings knock, the left-hander was untroubled by the Bulls pace attack to further suggest the work spent refining his technique over the off-season has borne fruit.

"There are a couple of things I have tinkered with, I'm not going to lie, but I'm not going to talk about those things," Hughes said.

"When you have been putting hours in behind the scenes to score runs in the middle where it counts is a pleasing thing."

Bulls wicketkeeper Chris Hartley, who scored an impressive unbeaten 103 earlier in the day, believes Hughes has added variety to his game.

"He's playing the pull shot a lot more which I reckon is a great idea because he's only a short fella and he's going to get a lot of balls up around the chest and neck area," Hartley said.

"If the ball is in on his body, rather than try to fend it ... the fact he is playing [the pull] gives him a way to combat that.

Earlier, Hartley's seventh first-class century saved the Bulls from a precarious position.

Coming to the wicket after lunch with the score at 5 for 64, the gloveman hit his second successive century at Shield level following his hundred in last season's final against Tasmania.

James Hopes (42) and Ben Cutting (33) also made solid contributions before the Bulls prompted an early tea by declaring on 8 for 248 when Hartley reached his milestone.

Prior to the lower middle order firing, the Redbacks' inexperienced bowling attack opened up the game.

Chadd Sayers (3 for 66) bowled opener Andrew Robinson for a duck and later took the wickets of Peter Forrest (5) and Joe Burns (0) in consecutive deliveries.

Usman Khawaja (20) nicked behind to Joe Mennie (3 for 74) after looking in good touch and the paceman dismissed Wade Townsend (21) on the stroke of lunch.

Nathan Lyon continued his disappointing performance to end with match figures of 2 for 128 from 27 overs as he looks to be selected for the first Test against South Africa in Brisbane on November 9.

After resuming on 7 for 164, the Redbacks' first innings only lasted 9.1 overs on Wednesday as they collapsed to 184 all out.

Hughes fell without adding to his overnight score, nudging the second ball of the day from Hopes to Forrest at first slip. Hopes ended the innings with figures of 5 for 27.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, brisbane-4000, adelaide-5000

First posted October 03, 2012 19:23:48

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England wobble in Windies run chase

Updated May 21, 2012 07:08:07

Kemar Roach stunned England with a dramatic late burst to give West Indies hope of an improbable victory in the first Test at Lord's on Sunday.

Roach took two wickets for seven runs in eight balls, including England captain, and first innings century-maker, Andrew Strauss, to leave the hosts struggling at 2/10 at the close of the fourth day.

England will need a further 181 runs to reach their seemingly modest victory target of 191 on Monday's final day in the first of this three-Test series.

That West Indies - who started the day 35 runs adrift and in danger of an innings defeat - were still in the game owed much to Shivnarine Chanderpaul's second marathon effort of the match.

Chanderpaul, officially the world's best batsman, made 91 in a total of 345 that followed his first innings 87 not out.

The Guyana left-hander batted for 10 hours and 24 minutes in this match, scoring 178 runs for once out while facing 425 balls - a mammoth effort even by the 37-year-old's high standards.

Nevertheless, with the Lord's pitch holding up well, England will still be regarded as favourites for victory.

But if the tourists maintain their accuracy, and overhead conditions assist swing bowling, the West Indies - who came into this match having won just two of their previous 30 Tests - could yet claim a stunning success.

Roach had Strauss, who made 122 in the first innings, caught in the gully for just one and nightwatchman James Anderson caught behind for six.

After Anderson exited, Roach's next ball rapped Jonathan Trott on the pads and the tourists appealed for lbw, only for Aleem Dar to rule not out.

The West Indies reviewed the decision but as replays showed the ball only just clipping the stumps, the Pakistani umpire's original verdict was upheld.

Trott was nought not out at stumps, as was opener Alastair Cook.

Chanderpaul, downplaying his own effort, said he was looking forward to some final day fireworks from Roach and new-ball partner Fidel Edwards.

"Kemar stepped it up this evening and we're hoping Fidel can step it up also," Chanderpaul told Sky Sports.

"It's not bad (the West Indies' position). Hopefully they can put it in the right areas and get the wickets. It's pretty tough out there."

England's Graeme Swann insisted Roach's late double strike hadn't caused too many jitters in the home dressing room.

"To walk away at the end chasing 191...we'll take that," he said. "We'd have taken a chase of less than 200 and we deserved a chase of less than 200.

"It wasn't great losing the captain tonight but we have a very strong line-up."

Off-spinner Swann, who grabbed the key wicket of Chanderpaul when he had him lbw on the sweep, said of West Indies' star batsman: "Once again he's proving a thorn in our side. With such a crabby, unorthodox technique you think he must get out sometime but he keeps going.

"It's always annoying when you can't get a bloke out, but you can't take anything away from him," added Swann, who took three for 59.

Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels had shared a fifth wicket stand of 157 that rescued the West Indies from the depths of 4/65.

The 31-year-old Samuels was closing in on what would have been only his third Test hundred when, shortly after England had taken the new ball, he played a flat-footed drive off Stuart Broad and edged straight to Swann at second slip.

Samuels faced 172 balls with 12 fours in an elegant and gutsy innings of 86.

Broad, who took a Test-best seven for 72 in West Indies' first innings, followed up with four for 93 for a match haul of 11/165.

That meant the fast-medium bowler had become the first player to take 10 or more wickets in a Lord's Test since South Africa's Makhaya Ntini in 2003 and the first Englishman since Ian Botham took 11/140 against New Zealand in 1978.

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, united-kingdom, england

First posted May 21, 2012 07:08:07

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Aussie run chase down to the wire

Updated April 12, 2012 08:45:08

Australia needs 131 runs in the final session to claim victory in the first Test against the West Indies in Barbados.

Set 192 to win, Australia is 1 for 61 at the tea break on day five with Shane Watson (23 not out) and Ed Cowan (11no) at the crease.

A draw looks the most likely result, with it unlikely the full 41 overs left in the day will be bowled after rain delayed the resumption of play after the lunch break by 40 minutes.

David Warner is the sole man dismissed for Australia so far, caught behind off the bowling of Darren Sammy (1 for 10) for 23 when the score was 31.

Watson has lived dangerously at times, twice surviving LBW reviews after being rapped on the pads by fast bowler Kemar Roach (0 for 30) while Sammy also dropped the number three at gully off the Windies' quick.

Cowan, who has taken 61 balls to reach his 11, has also had a life, dropped on six when wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh was unable to hold onto a tough chance standing up to medium-pacer Sammy.

Earlier, Australia claimed the five Windies' second innings wickets in the morning session to dismiss the hosts for 148 despite Michael Clarke, Watson and Nathan Lyon all dropping catches in the session.

Ben Hilfenhaus finished the pick of Australia's bowlers with 4 for 27 while Ryan Harris took the final wicket to end up with 3 for 31 when he bowled Roach after the tail-ender had made a defiant 25.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, barbados

First posted April 12, 2012 06:07:31

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Warriors hold off Bulls in tight chase

Updated February 11, 2012 23:27:17

A magnificent century by Nathan Reardon was not enough to stop Western Australia grabbing a dramatic five-run victory that dented Queensland's chances of making the one-day final.

Reardon's 113-ball 116 - his maiden ton - was in vain as the Bulls were bowled out for 279 in the final over at the Gabba, chasing Western Australia's 9 for 284.

With Queensland needing nine off the final over, Reardon chanced his arm too many times and was caught on the boundary off the first ball by Nathan Coulter-Nile (1 for 84).

In the end, tail-ender Alister McDermott needed a six off the final ball to complete the highest successful domestic one-day run chase at the Gabba, but it was not to be.

It was the third straight loss for the Bulls and the first win for dead last Western Australia.

Third-placed Queensland must now pull off a big win over second-placed Tasmania in Hobart on Wednesday to be any chance of joining South Australia in the February 25 one-day final.

Reardon gave his side a chance with a 117-run fourth-wicket stand with Joe Burns (82).

Reardon hit 10 fours and two sixes in his knock that lasted almost three hours.

"It was good to get a hundred for myself. That's like a monkey off the back for me, but it doesn't really count for much if we lose," a devastated Reardon said.

Of his lusty hit on the first ball of the final over, Reardon said: "I thought I had enough on it - it was like it got caught up in the wind."

Reardon still backed the Bulls to pull off a bonus-point win over Tasmania next week and make the one-day final.

"We only have ourselves to blame if we don't make it," he said of the Bulls, who won their first four one-day matches this season.

Earlier, captain Marcus North (93) helped Western Australia reach 9 for 284 off its 50 overs after losing opener Shaun Marsh for 7.

He combined with Adam Voges (62) in a 141-run, fourth-wicket stand before Ben Cutting (4 for 68 off 13 overs) sparked a Queensland fightback with the ball.

Western Australia was cruising at 3 for 205 but stumbled, at one stage losing 5 for 47.

However, the Warriors were still able to post their biggest one-day total at the Gabba, eclipsing their previous best of 6 for 264 posted in the 1999-2000 season.

The stand between North - who hit 12 fours and a six - and Voges was sensationally snapped in the 38th over.

Voges - who was dropped on 59 - was sent back at the non-striker's end by North, only to be caught short by a direct hit from Queensland stand-in skipper Ryan Broad.

Alister McDermott - fresh from his 7 for 24 haul in Queensland's dramatic one-wicket Sheffield Shield loss to Western Australia this week - took 2 for 69 off 13 overs.

North's nerves were jangling with the one-day thriller coming just two days after the Warriors' one-wicket Sheffield Shield victory.

"Reardo batted beautifully today. That is the best I have seen him bat. He was nearly the difference," North said.

"At the end of the day, we were lucky enough to have snuck home."

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted February 11, 2012 22:51:00

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Renegades chase down Sixers

Updated January 02, 2012 22:50:59

Brad Hodge and captain Andrew McDonald guided Melbourne Renegades to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Sydney Sixers in their Big Bash League encounter at Docklands.

The result means both teams have two wins and two losses from their opening four matches in the Big Bash League.

Chasing the Sixers' total of 6 for 161, the Renegades made 2 for 164 from 17.4 overs.

The home side had struggled to 2 for 65 after 10 overs in their run chase.

But Hodge (72 not out from 51 balls) and McDonald (60 not out from 37 deliveries) started to take some risks and they paid off, as they shared an unbeaten 124-run partnership for the third wicket.

Man-of-the-match McDonald hit seven sixes and no fours, while Hodge blasted five fours and three sixes in a crowd-pleasing performance.

"Once we had a really good foundation we could go for broke," McDonald said of the hitting spree.

McDonald hit Sixers captain Steve Smith for three sixes in the 16th over to leave the Renegades in a comfortable position in the final four overs.

Hodge says the Renegades have regained their mojo after stringing together two consecutive wins.

"We both got bogged down a little bit, myself and Andrew," Hodge said.

"Then Andrew got one away (for six) and then we started to hit them.

"With wickets in hand, we both put the hammer down and we hit a few over the fence."

Hodge, 37, has scored 44 and 72 not out since returning to the side following a hamstring injury.

"I was confident it was only three weeks. I got back quicker than that," Hodge said.

Sixers pace bowler Josh Hazlewood took 1 for 19 off two overs before leaving the field for treatment to a foot problem.

He is expected to have scans on his foot injury on Tuesday.

Moises Henriques had top-scored for the Sixers with 41 off 30 deliveries.

Dwayne Bravo (7) was bowled by Dirk Nannes (2 for 36) in the second over before Nic Maddinson (29) and Michael Lumb (26) added 46 for the second wicket.

Henriques put on 63 for the third wicket with Smith (25) but Smith and Ben Rohrer (2) both fell to the bowling of Shane Harwood (2 for 28) in the 18th over.

Leg spinner Shahid Afridi claimed 1 for 23 off four overs in a solid effort, while Shaun Tait was only given two overs that cost 21 runs.

A crowd of only 10,818 attended Monday night's match, which began with the temperature hovering around 38 degrees.

Hodge says the Renegades are approaching Saturday's derby at the MCG against Melbourne Stars with plenty of confidence.

"If the Stars don't get up next game (against Perth Scorchers on Wednesday) then they're under the pump," Hodge said.

"We've got some real good momentum now."

Smith says he felt 6 for 161 was a reasonable score to defend.

"But it's pretty tough to contain Hodgey and Macca when they get going," Smith said.

The Sixers play Sydney Thunder at the Olympic stadium on Sunday in a derby clash.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, melbourne-3000

First posted January 02, 2012 21:51:12

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Bulls lose early wicket in run chase

Updated December 04, 2011 21:04:55

Victoria needs another nine wickets to claim victory and second place on the Sheffield Shield table after setting Queensland a target of 400 to win at the MCG.

The Bulls will resume on the final day at 1 for 35 in their second innings with Wade Townsend on 4 and Joe Burns on 27.

Clint McKay made the early breakthrough for the Bushrangers late Sunday by trapping Ryan Broad lbw for 4 in the third over.

But the Bulls boast a strong batting line-up and, on a placid MCG pitch, they are not without hope of pulling off a sixth Shield win from six starts this season.

The stage could be set for Bushrangers skipper Cameron White to play a starring role with the ball on Monday after the former Test spinner took 5 for 59 from 26 overs in the Bulls' first innings of 295.

The Bushrangers claimed a first innings lead of 203, as White notched his first five-wicket haul in a Shield match for nine seasons.

Skipper Chris Hartley top-scored for the Bulls with 62, adding 88 for the ninth wicket with Cameron Boyce, who made 57.

Resuming on 5 for 153, the Bulls lost Burns in the seventh over of the day for 59.

After two more wickets for White, the competition's leading wicket-taker Jayde Herrick (3 for 97) ended the innings after lunch on Sunday by having Hartley caught at slip.

The Bushrangers hit 3 for 196 (declared) from 38 overs in their second innings with David Hussey unbeaten on 76 after his 130 in the first dig.

Hussey and Aaron Finch (82) shared a third-wicket partnership of 129.

The Bulls were a bowler short after Test squad member Ben Cutting broke down with a side strain on Friday's first day.

White said Victoria would need its spinners, including Glenn Maxwell and Jon Holland, to lead the attack.

"It's a lot of runs but it's a fantastic batting wicket so it's going to be hard work to try to dig out nine more wickets," he said.

He says leg spin is a difficult art and describes his bowling as still a work in progress.

"I did go through periods where I lost confidence in my bowling. I'm still probably not that confident now," White said.

The Bushrangers skipper said he still had ambitions to return to the Test and one-day international sides as an all-rounder.

Meanwhile Queensland coach Darren Lehmann says 400 will be a tough run chase.

"But it's a good wicket so if we bat well and a couple of blokes make hundreds, we're going to go close," he said.

"We won't be shutting up shop."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted December 04, 2011 20:04:35

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