Stumps Day 2 - New South Wales 440 (Hughes 138, Katich 96, Rohrer 64no) v Tasmania 3 -160 (Cowan 80no, Copeland 2-52)
Sheffield Shield finals are rarely free-flowing, cut and thrust affairs. More often than not they are attritional, absorbing, last-man standing encounters.
And so it proved on day two of Australian cricket’s domestic showpiece in Hobart. Whilst day one featured the batting of two Test stars in Phil Hughes and Simon Katich, day two featured a battle of wills between hard-nosed Shield journeymen.
Ben Rohrer has played just 20 Shield matches in four years since scoring 163 on debut at Bellerive. The 29-year-old was preferred for this final over 19-year-old prodigy Nic Maddinson, and his experience was invaluable this morning.
With the second new ball still nipping around Rohrer made 64 not out in a positive display of stroke-play to help NSW reach their total of 440 by lunch time. Rohrer, who was well supported by cameos from nightwatchman Scott Coyte (25) and Trent Copeland (26), cracked seven fours and two sixes in a 91-ball stay. The Blues plundered 124 runs in 29.5 overs and the game charged forward at a rate of knots.
Ben Hilfenhaus put a poor day behind him yesterday when he took a wicket with his first ball this morning. It was little surprise it was his first ball to a right-hander for the innings. He bowled an impressive spell to remove the only two right-handed NSW batsmen in the top eight as he found prodigious swing on a cool and overcast morning. James Faulkner and Xavier Doherty both added to their tallies to finish with three wickets.
Whilst the Blues opening batsmen clattered 85 inside 19 overs yesterday Tasmania’s top four took 35 overs to reach the same mark. The middle session was a grind highlighted by a battle of wills between a former Blue, Ed Cowan, and former Bathurst wicketkeeper turned wicket-taking machine in Copeland.
Cowan bats for a living. He watches each ball like a hawk and plays to his strengths without trying to over-extend himself. Copeland is the bowling equivalent. He doesn’t try to bowl any quicker than 125kph. Instead he uses guile and patience to strangle his victims, delivering over after over with metronomic precision.
It was a fascinating duel over four absorbing hours. Cowan finished unbeaten on 80 from 177 balls, nothing less than he deserved. Copeland delivered 21 overs and claimed two wickets and perhaps deserved more.
There were other players who impressed aside from that duo. Pat Cummins bucked the trend of the day. The 17-year-old raw-boned quick was exceptional bowling 20 overs over genuine pace. His first ball of the day was 134kph, his last 142kph. In between he was far too fast for Nick Kruger trapping him in front for one, and troubled every Tasmanian he bowled to. No batsman was excluded from the barrage of high velocity short balls. George Bailey was troubled more than any but it was Copeland who was rewarded for Cummins’ work. He is the youngest player ever to play in a Shield final eclipsing the former record-holder Michael Kasprowicz. It will be no surprise if his career reaches the same heights as the Queenslander.
Alex Doolan also played a nice hand. His 46 oozed class and reminded onlookers of the uncomplicated style of Martin Love. But the 25-year-old fell to Copeland, edging behind attempting to score a rare boundary from the medium-paced scrooge.
Mark Cosgrove’s entrance unshackled Cowan with the pair adding 53 in from 13 overs. They will need a lot more tomorrow to eat into the 280-run deficit.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Hughes and Katich make NSW's day
New South Wales 5 for 316 (Hughes 138, Katich 96) v Tasmania Day 1 Sheffield Shield Final at Bellerive
Four years ago in the 2007-08 Sheffield Shield final Phillip Hughes announced himself as a future test player with his first Shield hundred to help New South Wales to victory. Four years on, with suggestions that his international career was at the cross roads, Hughes made arguably his most important century to anchor the Blues on day one of this decider.
It wasn’t the same Hughes that we’ve come to know and expect. It was a new and improved Hughes. A mature version who has shelved his dashing, flashing, style for a recalibrated technique that allowed him to survive 278 balls, and compile a classy 138 on a fresh day one surface in Hobart.
Tasmania fans might look at the stumps scorecard and wonder why George Bailey decided to bowl first when the coin fell his way. But the Blues captain Simon Katich admitted he would have done the same on a surface that had a lot of live green grass. Add to that the fact that the average first innings total in Hobart this year has been just 172, and that the side fielding first in all five matches at Bellerive this year has won, it was no surprise Bailey elected to bowl.
But the surface was harder than expected. Although it did plenty off the seam early, anything overpitched was driven without fear. Hughes and a rejuvenated David Warner set up the day with a wonderful opening stand. They put on 88 in the first 74 minutes. They played the lines and were unperturbed at being beaten on a consistent basis. But anything overpitched was punished. Warner was particularly savage on Ben Hilfenhaus. The Test bowler’s first seven overs cost 40.
Warner looked set for another big score before Xavier Doherty was introduced. Doherty didn’t produce consistent spin. But he spun two balls sharply and both claimed wickets. He enticed Warner to drive on 47 and ripped it back to through gate to rattle leg stump. The Test discard then forced a defensive prod from Usman Khawaja, yielding an inside edge which was claimed by Ed Cowan’s quick reflexes at short leg.
When James Faulkner trapped Phil Jaques in front just on lunch Tasmania looked to have reclaimed the ascendency. But the middle session belonged to Hughes. He had looked impressive but vulnerable at different times in the morning. He was 55 at lunch having been reprieved by the normally reliable Bailey on 48. But in the afternoon Hughes showed how far his game had come. He looked impenetrable. His movements were simple; his bat looked as wide as the Derwent. His previously unusual back foot movement to leg was now going to off. He covered off stump in defence. He drove magnificently straight when given the chance. He also cut responsibly and sensibly when offered width and struck one powerful slog sweep off Doherty for six.
He combined beautifully with his captain and, at times, test opening partner who was unusually batting at number five. Katich was dogged prior to tea while Hughes flourished. After tea Katich scored prolifically while Hughes dropped anchor. It was typical Katich. Anything short and wide was punished and anything straight picked off. Their partnership of 185 looked to set the game up before Tasmania took the new ball and showed the wicket still had plenty to offer for the bowlers. Katich was trapped four shy of a century by Faulkner. His 96 had taken him to fourth all-time for total runs scored in Shield Finals. Hughes fell to a beauty from Luke Butterworth who bowled better than his one wicket suggests. Butterworth consistently beat the bat all day but Hughes’ was the only edge that went to hand.
The Blues sent in nightwatchman Scott Coyte with Katich falling in the 87th over. But the man they were protecting, Ben Rohrer, batted anyway with Hughes departure. New South Wales will look to post 400 plus with Peter Nevill and Steve O’Keefe still to come. It will be a good platform for the away side that need to win to claim their 46th Shield. A draw will be good enough for Tasmania.
Four years ago in the 2007-08 Sheffield Shield final Phillip Hughes announced himself as a future test player with his first Shield hundred to help New South Wales to victory. Four years on, with suggestions that his international career was at the cross roads, Hughes made arguably his most important century to anchor the Blues on day one of this decider.
It wasn’t the same Hughes that we’ve come to know and expect. It was a new and improved Hughes. A mature version who has shelved his dashing, flashing, style for a recalibrated technique that allowed him to survive 278 balls, and compile a classy 138 on a fresh day one surface in Hobart.
Tasmania fans might look at the stumps scorecard and wonder why George Bailey decided to bowl first when the coin fell his way. But the Blues captain Simon Katich admitted he would have done the same on a surface that had a lot of live green grass. Add to that the fact that the average first innings total in Hobart this year has been just 172, and that the side fielding first in all five matches at Bellerive this year has won, it was no surprise Bailey elected to bowl.
But the surface was harder than expected. Although it did plenty off the seam early, anything overpitched was driven without fear. Hughes and a rejuvenated David Warner set up the day with a wonderful opening stand. They put on 88 in the first 74 minutes. They played the lines and were unperturbed at being beaten on a consistent basis. But anything overpitched was punished. Warner was particularly savage on Ben Hilfenhaus. The Test bowler’s first seven overs cost 40.
Warner looked set for another big score before Xavier Doherty was introduced. Doherty didn’t produce consistent spin. But he spun two balls sharply and both claimed wickets. He enticed Warner to drive on 47 and ripped it back to through gate to rattle leg stump. The Test discard then forced a defensive prod from Usman Khawaja, yielding an inside edge which was claimed by Ed Cowan’s quick reflexes at short leg.
When James Faulkner trapped Phil Jaques in front just on lunch Tasmania looked to have reclaimed the ascendency. But the middle session belonged to Hughes. He had looked impressive but vulnerable at different times in the morning. He was 55 at lunch having been reprieved by the normally reliable Bailey on 48. But in the afternoon Hughes showed how far his game had come. He looked impenetrable. His movements were simple; his bat looked as wide as the Derwent. His previously unusual back foot movement to leg was now going to off. He covered off stump in defence. He drove magnificently straight when given the chance. He also cut responsibly and sensibly when offered width and struck one powerful slog sweep off Doherty for six.
He combined beautifully with his captain and, at times, test opening partner who was unusually batting at number five. Katich was dogged prior to tea while Hughes flourished. After tea Katich scored prolifically while Hughes dropped anchor. It was typical Katich. Anything short and wide was punished and anything straight picked off. Their partnership of 185 looked to set the game up before Tasmania took the new ball and showed the wicket still had plenty to offer for the bowlers. Katich was trapped four shy of a century by Faulkner. His 96 had taken him to fourth all-time for total runs scored in Shield Finals. Hughes fell to a beauty from Luke Butterworth who bowled better than his one wicket suggests. Butterworth consistently beat the bat all day but Hughes’ was the only edge that went to hand.
The Blues sent in nightwatchman Scott Coyte with Katich falling in the 87th over. But the man they were protecting, Ben Rohrer, batted anyway with Hughes departure. New South Wales will look to post 400 plus with Peter Nevill and Steve O’Keefe still to come. It will be a good platform for the away side that need to win to claim their 46th Shield. A draw will be good enough for Tasmania.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)