Tasmania’s finals prospects suffered a bad setback and Victoria’s hopes of even remaining in the race were just as adversely afflicted
John Polack20-Feb-2002Tasmania’s finals prospects suffered a bad setback and Victoria’s hopes of even remaining in the race were just as adversely afflicted. That was the wash-up, literal and metaphorical, as poor weather caused the teams’ Pura Cup clash to end in an unfulfilling draw here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground today.After some sleepy cricket at times over the last four days, it was probably inevitable that rain should cut short the dreams of outright points for both sides. But it remained a bitter pill to swallow for them all the same.What was initially a sunny and humid day underwent a transformation shortly after lunch. With the match almost certainly bubbling toward a conclusion that would have delivered an outright verdict, it meant that the heavens opened at a miserable time for both teams – and a propitious one for each of the other four states in the competition.Even with the addition of further overs at the end of the day’s play, as many as 27 overs in total were still wiped out.Faced initially with the eminently reasonable victory target of 250 from a minimum 59 overs, the Tasmanians were no chance once overs began to be reduced. They found themselves courting further frustration when they slumped to be 2/4 by the time that the rains sent the players and the umpires scattering for the first time from a soon-to-be-drenched MCG.Ironically, the first interruption occurred just as the game appeared to be exploding into life after 10 straight sessions of fundamentally risk-averse cricket.Another burst of seven overs then reduced the Tigers to 3/22 before Daniel Marsh (40*) and Michael Di Venuto (38) returned – in front of a crowd optimistically numbered at 18 – to stave off any possibility of an unlikely Victorian win.Play was eventually brought to a merciful halt at 7:29 pm. But outright points were not even vaguely under threat by then, and the chances of the Tasmanians making it to the airport to catch a flight home tomorrow were probably as much in danger.It all left Tasmania in fourth place on the competition table with two rounds to be completed, equal on points with Western Australia and two behind second-placed South Australia. The Victorians, six points adrift of their southern cousins, meanwhile find themselves in fifth spot and needing a miracle to play off for the title late next month.At 1/120 overnight, and with senior batsmen Brad Hodge (109) and Matthew Elliott (72) at the crease, the Victorians had held high hopes of injecting life into the game with brisk scoring on the way to an eventual second innings declaration at 7/252.Yet, much like the pitch, the outfield and the pace of the scoring through long periods of the match, the Bushrangers’ progress was generally slow. Just 87 runs were gleaned from 31 overs in a dreary morning session before the anticipated acceleration finally arrived amid a clatter of wickets to Marsh (4/70) upon the resumption after lunch.Elliott spiced the early going with evidence of trademark cover drives and cuts but, once he edged to slip, the Bushrangers found it difficult to score quickly. Though Hodge ultimately notched his third Cup century of the summer, he attained it at a far slower clip than expected. Ian Harvey’s absence on account of a strained ligament in his back also mitigated against the Bushrangers.But there was almost a look of forlorn resignation about the Tasmanians’ pursuit even as the last innings of the match began. Under charcoal-coloured skies, the task of surviving against the lively swing and seam of debutant Will Carr (3/34) was not one to savour – and Jamie Cox (2), Scott Mason (0) and Michael Dighton (4) all underlined that problem in playing down the wrong line at the Dandenong right armer.Admittedly, Cox received his second dubious decision of the match – this one an lbw appeal that was upheld by umpire Tony Soulsby as he assessed the merits of a delivery that struck the Tasmanian captain high on the pad as it cut sharply toward leg.Mason’s dismissal, which arrived as he speared a full outswinger off the edge to third slip, was less contentious and even more exultantly greeted by the Bushrangers.And first innings century maker Dighton, dropped three times on the way to that score, was snapped up at the first bite this time when he brushed at a ball well away from his body to hit a catch to Elliott at second slip.Yet the home team’s fifth dropped catch of the game – this one a caught and bowled offering to Mick Lewis (0/30) as Di Venuto, on 30, spooned back a drive – soon arbitrated against any lingering idea that something, anything even, might be extracted from the ruin.