Blues Join Bushrangers' Runfest

The Age

Wednesday January 18, 2006

By TREVOR MARSHALLSEA, LISMORE

IN LISMORE's only previous interstate first-class match, neither NSW nor Queensland could reach 250, balls refused to reach ankle height off a pitch playing either like a minefield or a mineshaft, and many a batsman declared he would never return.

In the town's second such game 26 summers later, the story could hardly be more different. Runs have been abundant - 239 of them to Victoria's Jason Arnberger and yet another century to NSW's Phil Jaques - as now it is the bowlers cursing their lot.

Victoria's skipper Cameron White closed his side's first innings after lunch on day two at 5-519 off a marathon 146 overs, with opener Arnberger carrying his bat for his highest first-class score.

In reply, NSW made the pitch look a little two-paced, in that they surged to 1-221 off only 44 overs to stumps. The Blues were led by a superb 109 off 127 balls from Jaques, who was well supported in an unbroken 156-run stand by Lismore boy Matthew Phelps with a sparkling 68.

Jaqueshas made five hundreds for NSW in the Pura and ING cups this summer. This century can only boost his hopes of making Australia's forthcoming tour of South Africa.

He had luck, being caught behind for one off Mick Lewis, only to see umpire Dave Orchard signal a no-ball. It has been a match of good fortune for the batsmen, with Victoria's Nick Jewell making 143 after being dropped on seven by Craig Simmons.

With seemingly everything running the way of the batsmen, Matthew Nicholson, who will captain the Blues today as Brad Haddin heads for one-day international duty, will have to decide the time for a declaration.

Conceding two first-innings points would lift Victoria to within two points of NSW, which heads the table. But declaring behind in the hope of a similarly sporting gesture from White in Victoria's second innings looks the most likely way to achieve a result.

At least Jaques - who put on 65 off 11 overs with his new opening partner Simmons, who was bowled by paceman Allan Wise for 35 - has helped ensure a result remains possible.

"We wanted to go after the big score in a positive manner and it's paid off," Jaques said. "I had a bit of luck with that no-ball, but we stuck to our guns and we're still right in the game."

Jaques was pleased with his knock in front of national selectors' chairman Trevor Hohns. "I suppose timing's everything, and to get a hundred before a national squad is picked is a good thing," he said. "I want to keep going and get a big one tomorrow."

Arnberger was delighted to eclipse his previous high of 214 against Tasmania, if a little shocked at NSW's scoring rate afterwards. "We thought it was hard to score, so we thought we'd score more than 500," he said.

After Victoria resumed at 2-312, the Blues finally landed some punches with three morning wickets. Nicholson had Jewell caught behind in the fourth over, ending Victoria's third-highest third-wicket stand at 284.

Arnberger and David Hussey progressed to 3-357 before Hussey was well caught by Nicholson at gully for 20. White added a brisk 27 before a mistimed pull off Doug Bollinger presented a simple catch to mid-on. Arnberger and Jon Moss made a quick 114 after lunch before the declaration came when Moss reached 50.

© 2006 The Age

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