Phelps Hits 133 But Tail Collapses

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday January 19, 2006

Trevor Marshallsea and AAP

MATTHEW Phelps's home town hundred could not stop Victoria taking the only two points likely to be had from this match in Lismore amid a building logjam at the top of the Pura Cup table.

Returning to the Oakes Oval, where he watched his first big-time match - NSW against India - as a worker behind the bar 14 years ago, Phelps took his overnight 68 to his second hundred of the season, and his second score of 133.

When he departed after lunch on day three at 3-357, table leaders NSW were poised to claim first innings points in what had been a bat-a-thon to that stage, in pursuit of Victoria's 5-519 declared.

But a last-session surge with the ball led by Bushrangers captain and leg spinner Cameron White - who took 4-9 in 16 balls - turned the match abruptly. After Phelps was caught behind off luckless paceman Shane Harwood, NSW lost their last seven wickets for 80, and their last five for 24 runs in 6.5 overs to be all out 437.

Victoria were 0-10 off 3.3 overs when bad light stopped play. The Bushrangers lead by 92 with 112 overs scheduled to be bowled on the last day.

The two first innings points lifted Victoria to 18 points on the table, two behind NSW. South Australia are well poised to also reach 20 points against Tasmania today, with four rounds remaining.

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

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