Victoria set up England last-day run chase
Sunday, 12 December 2010
MELBOURNE, Dec 11 (AFP): Victoria set up a final-day run chase for England, holding an overall lead of 310 in their three-day match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday.
Victoria reached 278 for six at the close following some lusty hitting by tailenders Clint McKay and Jayde Herrick against the innocuous offerings of Andrew Strauss (1-51 from four overs) and Eoin Morgan (0-37 off three overs).
McKay's unbeaten 58 from 27 deliveries was his highest first-class score and Herrick smashed 40 from 19 balls in his debut innings for Victoria.
The pair added 81 in 32 deliveries of big hitting with 12 fours and five sixes between them.
England are trialling Chris Tremlett, Ajmal Shahzad and Tim Bresnan to replace the injured Stuart Broad for Thursday's third Test in Perth.
But all three went wicketless Saturday as part-time medium-pacer Paul Collingwood claimed 3-19 and spinners Monty Panesar (2-83) and Strauss shared the wickets.
"It's always nice for them to get a couple of wickets. But it has been a hard wicket for the (pace) bowlers to be fair," England's Ian Bell said.
"It's so slow out there and they've toiled away.
"It's a great thing for us going to Perth that all three of them had a really good workout in batting-friendly conditions."
Panesar dismissed opener Aaron Finch caught at cover for 45 and Ryan Carters was bowled by Collingwood for 68, leaving the home side at 147 for two.
Collingwood chipped in again 16 runs later to have Matt Wade (1) caught at cover.
John Hastings (7) became Panesar's second victim and next over Alex Keath was caught behind off a slow Collingwood bouncer.
Victoria lost 3-13 in a middle-order collapse.
First-innings century-maker Michael Hill (4) was out lbw to skipper Strauss, who claimed only his third wicket in 205 first-class matches.
Victoria reached 278 for six at the close following some lusty hitting by tailenders Clint McKay and Jayde Herrick against the innocuous offerings of Andrew Strauss (1-51 from four overs) and Eoin Morgan (0-37 off three overs).
McKay's unbeaten 58 from 27 deliveries was his highest first-class score and Herrick smashed 40 from 19 balls in his debut innings for Victoria.
The pair added 81 in 32 deliveries of big hitting with 12 fours and five sixes between them.
England are trialling Chris Tremlett, Ajmal Shahzad and Tim Bresnan to replace the injured Stuart Broad for Thursday's third Test in Perth.
But all three went wicketless Saturday as part-time medium-pacer Paul Collingwood claimed 3-19 and spinners Monty Panesar (2-83) and Strauss shared the wickets.
"It's always nice for them to get a couple of wickets. But it has been a hard wicket for the (pace) bowlers to be fair," England's Ian Bell said.
"It's so slow out there and they've toiled away.
"It's a great thing for us going to Perth that all three of them had a really good workout in batting-friendly conditions."
Panesar dismissed opener Aaron Finch caught at cover for 45 and Ryan Carters was bowled by Collingwood for 68, leaving the home side at 147 for two.
Collingwood chipped in again 16 runs later to have Matt Wade (1) caught at cover.
John Hastings (7) became Panesar's second victim and next over Alex Keath was caught behind off a slow Collingwood bouncer.
Victoria lost 3-13 in a middle-order collapse.
First-innings century-maker Michael Hill (4) was out lbw to skipper Strauss, who claimed only his third wicket in 205 first-class matches.