- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Victoria set up a final-day run-chase for England by grabbing an overall lead of 310 in their three-day match at the MCG.
Victoria reached 6-278 at stumps on Saturday following some lusty hitting by tailenders Clint McKay and Jayde Herrick against the gentle offerings of Andrew Strauss (1-51 from four overs) and Eoin Morgan (0-37 off three overs).
McKay’s 58 not out 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 wicket-less on Saturday as part-time medium-pacer Paul Collingwood claimed 3-19 and spinners Monty Panesar (2-83) and Strauss shared the wickets.
Alex Keath, the 18-year-old debutant who turned his back on an AFL career with Gold Coast, scored a stylish 46 after being promoted to No.3.
Panesar dismissed opener Aaron Finch caught at cover for 45 and 20-year-old debutant Ryan Carters was bowled by Collingwood for 68 at 2-147.
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 Keath was caught behind in lame fashion from a slow Collingwood bouncer at 5-176.
Victoria had lost 3-13 in a middle-order collapse as Keath threw away the chance to score his maiden first-class half-century on debut, hitting five fours in his 78-ball knock.
First-innings century-maker Michael Hill (4) was out in embarrassing fashion, lbw to England skipper Strauss who claimed only his third wicket in 205 first-class matches.
England had declared on Saturday on their lunchtime score of 2-184 on a slow-paced pitch in reply to Victoria’s 2-216 declared.
Strauss top-scored with a hard-hitting 66 before becoming left-arm spinner Jon Holland’s second victim. Holland took 2-53 from 12 overs.
Ian Bell was unbeaten on 60 with Paul Collingwood on 29.
Bell, who hit 192 in last month’s game against Australia A in Hobart, has made 500 first-class runs at an average of 125.00 in six matches on the Ashes tour, trailing opener Alastair Cook’s 696 at 99.42.
England’s regular Test wicketkeeper Matt Prior, who intended to play this game as a fieldsman with back-up wicketkeeper Steven Davies taking the gloves, was forced to get behind the stumps when Davies suffered a bruised hand.
Cook left the field with a back problem but returned in the final session.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.