Victoria v Queensland, Pura Cup, Melbourne, 2nd day

Hussey leads strong Victorian revival with 92

Cricinfo staff

March 8, 2008

Queensland 191 & 0 for 12 trail Victoria 9 for 322 dec (Hussey 92, White 73, McDonald 63*, Brant 4-59) by 119 runs
Scorecard

	David Hussey's half-century was crucial for Victoria as they recovered from a poor start at the MCG © Getty Images

Queensland's chances of climbing from the bottom of the Pura Cup table appear over after Victoria claimed first-innings points and kept their diminishing hopes of staging the final alive. The Bushrangers did all they could to maintain the pressure on the leaders New South Wales, who are dominating South Australia, and at stumps had a lead of 119 after Queensland finished on 0 for 12.

David Hussey's 92 and Cameron White's 73 were the most important innings for Victoria as they revived the side from 4 for 36 in the first session to the health of 9 for 322 declared. Queensland, who need an outright win to move ahead of the Redbacks, grabbed three early breakthroughs, with Ben Laughlin running out Nick Jewell (4) as he backed-up too far, Scott Brant bowling Rob Quiney (13) when he didn't offer a shot and Brad Hodge (15) playing Shane Watson to gully.

The Bulls would not get another wicket for 165 runs as Hussey and White combined in a vital stand. After working hard to move their team ahead, the batsmen departed in consecutive balls to miss what would have been deserved centuries. White, who hit ten fours and two sixes, gave Laughlin his first wicket on debut when he was caught behind and Hussey, who struck one fewer boundary than White, pulled Watson to mid-on.

By then the buffer over Queensland was ten and Victoria extended it to 131, mainly through Andrew McDonald's 63 not out. Brant collected a rewarding haul of 4 for 59 to lead the under-manned attack while Watson supported him with 2 for 42.

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