Warriors halt Victorian charge

Western Australia have denied Victoria taking a stranglehold on the second day of the Pura Cup match at the WACA Ground in Perth.

As expected, the Bushrangers claimed first innings points early. Cameron White, however, was out when he cut the ball to Brett Dorey, who was waiting in the gully region. That gave Brad Williams his second wicket of the innings. A Jonathan Moss boundary in the 45th over ticked the score over 143.

David Hussey notched up his 50 with a chip to gully, and after the first hour the Vics led by 31 runs. Hussey (63) was eventually dismissed with an edge to keeper Campbell, fortunate as his previous sliced shot, when he was on 56, in Campbell's direction was not taken.

At lunch Victoria were 6-205, stifling the Warriors by only losing two wickets. With the regular bowlers unable to break through WA captain Mike Hussey came on to bowl and was rewarded with a wicket in his third over, Adam Crosthwaite (20) with a cut shot straight to Chris Rogers at gully.

Moss and Harwood pounded the WA bowlers with both finding the boundary rope at relative ease. Harwood was a man on a mission as he raced to 20 and pushed the lead closer to 100. Moss played several classic shots early but was reserved with his stroke play after lunch.

Harwood made a solid contribution of 35 before he guided the ball down to Shaun Marsh at third man. Moss followed six balls later with a regulation edge to Campbell, and the innings of 271 was completed when Dorey collected his third wicket, that of Allan Wise.

Matthew Inness failed to add to his overnight tally of three wickets, while Williams and Dorey equalled, though both conceded more runs.

Western Australia began their second innings shortly before the tea break with Mike Hussey and Chris Rogers taking guard at the crease. Both took risky singles in 'tap and run' style cricket as the Warriors posted 24 without loss in the nine overs bowled to the break.

A further 40 runs were added in the hour after tea with Hussey moving his score to 40 and Rogers doubling his tea total. Rogers survived a confident appeal by the Bushrangers after he appeared to glove the ball into the slips.

Hussey powered on to a half-century with nine fours. Rogers leapt out of his shell and closed in on his own 50 smashing the bowling of Moss with three boundaries in four balls.

At the close the Warriors had taken a narrow seven run lead, with two days remaining this match is delicately poised for a result.

Full scorecard available here.

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