Victoria and NSW sent shockwaves through the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 cricket tournament in India, as their potent bowling lineups set up crushing first-up wins.
Australian domestic champion NSW scored 6-144 and restricted South Africa’s Diamond Eagles to just 9-91 to register a 53-run victory in a group B encounter on Friday.
Not to be outdone, Victoria produced just as emphatic a performance in their group D seven wicket demolition of Delhi Daredevils.
The Bushrangers limited Delhi to just 8-98 and reached their modest target with 3.2 overs to spare.
The Australian teams are well placed to progress to the secondary League Stage of the lucrative competition with just the top two teams from each three-team group advancing.
The Blues play English county Sussex on Sunday while Victoria takes on Sri Lanka’s Wayamba Elevens two days later.
A NSW team featuring eight Australian representatives were sparked by an accomplished player-of-the match performance from skipper Simon Katich (53 off 41 balls).
He struck six fours and two sixes and added 79 in just under 11 overs with David Warner (23 off 31) for the second wicket.
Moises Henriques (27 off 19) who swatted three sixes, and Ben Rohrer (22 not out of 15), steered NSW to what seemed a competitive rather than formidable total.
Katich then executed two direct hit run outs and a catch to back up an imposing bowling effort.
A Diamonds batting lineup lacking big name stars was reduced to 6-36 by a near Test strength Blues attack.
Stuart Clark (3-12) was the chief destroyer, but was well backed up by in form Brett Lee (1-14), Henriques (2-13) and spinner Nathan Hauritz (1-13).
Even the presence in the Daredevils lineup of Bushrangers paceman Dirk Nannes couldn’t help Delhi.
They paid Victoria for his services after he represented the Daredevils in the last IPL, but that move might well have backfired on the Indian franchise.
If Nannes had been available to play alongside fellow internationals Peter Siddle and Shane Harwood it might have squeezed out player-of-the match Clinton McKay (3-17).
Harwood (2-20) and Andrew McDonald (2-17) each hit the stumps twice.
Leftarm spinner Jon Holland (0-10), who was chosen in the Australian one-day squad for the upcoming series against India, bowled with impressive control in his three-over spell.
Rob Quiney (40 off 33) quickly removed any fears about the run chase as the Bushrangers openers raced to 55 inside nine overs.
He blasted big sixes over long on off paceman Ashish Nehra and spinner Amit Mishra and also hit the latter over midwicket before the Test tweaker rattled his stumps.
Fellow opener Brad Hodge (9 off 16) fell without any addition to the score, but David Hussey (7 off 13) was the only other casualty as he became the eighth batsman in the game to be bowled.
Captain Cameron White (22 not out off 23) and Aiden Blizzard (15 not out off 16) completed the demolition job with the latter ending the contest with a six.
Jameswm
Guest
And the kids really love them. They should target entertaining the kids pretty heavily.
prowling panther
Roar Rookie
I caught this on one HD and the quality of NSW and VIC should see them through to the latter stages I for one am going to attend KFC big bash games at ANZ stadium for NSW v VIC/QLD CA should promote this more heavily. They have potential to draw A league-ish crowds to these exciting games
drewster
Roar Pro
Nothing really surprising when you consider the amount of players with International experience in the two sides. Would not surprise if they were to play off in the final of this competition, If they don't met in a semi final.