25 November, 2009
Chris Pike at the WACA Ground, Sportal
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A century to Shaun Marsh and a cameo from younger brother Mitch has helped Western Australia post 3-309 to set New South Wales a difficult run-chase to win the Ford Ranger Cup match at the WACA Ground.
With WA's batting put under the pump to perform following three-straight losses in the competition and a disappointing collapse to lose the Sheffield Shield game to Victoria last week after claiming first-innings points, Shaun Marsh, Wes Robinson, Adam Voges and Mitch Marsh all responded.
Shaun Marsh top-scored with his second domestic one-day century for WA as he made 116 from 141 balls with 11 fours and a six. His ton was all the more memorable given 18-year-old brother Mitch was at the crease when he reached the milestone.
It was his younger brother that stole the show late in the innings with his incredible hitting. He had to choose between a cricket or AFL career, and certainly showed he made the right choice with 60 off just 29 balls with six fours and three incredible sixes.
Some of his hitting defied belief with a flat drive over mid-off and a pull shot off Stuart Clark that went over mid-on. He helped WA to score 162 off the last 20 overs, 133 off the last 15 and 111 off the last 11 in a terrific batting display on a placid pitch.
The Blues' bowlers copped a pasting after Burt Cockley was forced from the field injured after four overs. Steven Smith did well for 1-51 (off 10 overs) while Josh Hazlewood 1-40 (7) and Stuart Clark did reasonably for 0-49 (9), but Moises Henriques 0-56 (6) and Grant Lambert 1-67 (10) copped it.
Shaun Marsh was living dangerous early and while still yet to score a run, popped up a sitter of a catch to David Warner at cover. It proved costly as Marsh and Robinson got going with Robinson getting after Henriques when he came on hitting three boundaries from his first over.
The big shot-making continued from Robinson in particular and he took a liking to the leg-spin bowling of Steven Smith, hitting a well-timed six off him over long on. He kept the shots coming including a classical reverse sweep before chopping one on off Lambert for 70.
Voges and Marsh then combined for an 87-run stand before Voges fell for 46 again chopping on, this time off Hazlewood. The Marsh brothers then came together for a memorable and quick-fire 68-run stand with Shaun bringing up his century before being caught off the top off Smith.
Mitch kept going taking 13 off an over from Smith, 20 from Lambert and 16 from Henriques. He then hit a massive six over mid-on off Clark in the final over before trying to hit one too hard and losing his bat in the process. The ball landed safely just behind the bowler and the bat out at square leg.
WA's total of 309 is strong, but the Blues have a strong batting line-up consisting of Phillip Hughes, Warner, Phil Jaques, Steven Smith and Henriques, and the pitch is perfect for batting.