Hogan, Marsh keep Warriors' hopes alive

A brilliant spell of swing bowling from Michael Hogan, backed up by a faultless 93 from opener Shaun Marsh, has kept the Western Australia Warriors' Big Bash campaign alive after they crushed reigning champions the Victoria Bushrangers by six wickets with 17 balls to spare at the WACA.

Hogan stunned Bushrangers' Brad Hodge with an unplayable inswinging yorker, bowling the opener for a golden duck. He continued to trouble the visitors, taking a wicket in each of his four overs as the Bushrangers stumbled to 8 for 145 in their 20 overs, with Aaron Finch's 61 off 46 balls the only score of more than 25.

Recent Australian test debutant Michael Beer was economical with the ball, conceding just 21 runs off his four overs and picking up the vital wicket of Finch with some clever spin bowling, deceiving the diminutive opener in flight as he skied a ball to point.

Despite the Warriors losing Chris Gayle and captain Adam Voges early, the hosts never looked in danger while man-of-the-match Marsh was at the crease, the opener sharing a 99-run stand with Luke Pomersbach as they cruised to victory.

Marsh batted with a cool head, digging in when the wickets fell early before overpowering the Bushrangers attack in a brilliant counterattack with Pomersbach. His 93 came off just 59 balls, enhancing his claims to be the man to replace Michael Hussey in the Australia World Cup squad, should the veteran not recover from a hamstring injury in time.

With their poor net run-rate, the Warriors will need to defeat the Tasmanian Tigers in their final match in Bellerive on Jan 27 and rely on other results falling their way if they are to have any chance of making the finals. Meanwhile, the Bushrangers will host the New South Wales Blues on Saturday night, with only pride on the line for the Victorians.