Hussey Shows All-round Form

The Age

Saturday October 14, 2006

By LYALL JOHNSON, PERTH

WHEN David Hussey intimated during the week that a potential win in last night's Ford Ranger Cup match at the WACA Ground would be set up by the Bushrangers' batsmen, what he could not have known was that the batsman who would have the biggest impact would be masquerading as a bowler.

While Shane Harwood was the pick of the bowlers on the scoreboard, capturing 5-40 off 9.4 overs against the Western Warriors, it was Hussey who changed the shape of the game with the wickets of Marcus North and Justin Langer when the Warriors looked like consolidating an impressive start.

But having bundled WA out for 260, when it had looked like posting more than 300, Victoria crumpled under the weight of expectation.

Michael Klinger was first to go, caught behind off Brett Dorey for one, and was followed back to the dressing room in the seventh over by Cameron White, who made 12 after going in at No. 3 following his impressive England county season, before a Steve Magoffin delivery held up on his cover drive.

Hussey joined Brad Hodge with the Victorians floundering at 2-28 and made 26 of the next 60 runs before cutting a ball off Ben Edmonson to Adam Voges at point. The partnership had been solid, with the pair sneaking plenty of quick singles.

Hussey's stint with the ball came when WA was sitting comfortably on 3-143 from 28 overs. He strolled in from the northern end for his second over of off spin and enticed North down the pitch.

His lofted drive found Gerard Denton at long-on, and four overs later Hussey executed the Victorians' trap to get Langer sweeping, the top edge being snapped up smartly by Harwood at backward short leg. The WA skipper was back in the dressing room for six and the Warriors were 5-160.

In between, had it not been for a beautifully timed, accidental, block by Langer at the non-striker's end, Hussey would have had Voges caught and bowled when he was on 24. Voges went on to top score with 82 - Hussey catching him off Harwood in the 48th over - then claimed wickets with his left-arm spin.

After 35 overs, the Bushrangers still needed 117 to win with only four wickets in hand.

? Shane Warne yesterday flew into Perth to join the Bushrangers ahead of the Pura Cup match starting tomorrow.

© 2006 The Age

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