WA come out on top ... again

Western Australia 7 for 204 (North 71) beat Victoria 177 (Elliott 77, Casson 3-34) by 27 runs
Scorecard

For the second time in a week Western Australia defeated Victoria in a one-day match at the WACA. On Wednesday WA won Australia's first official Twenty20 gamne, and today they took the honours by 27 runs in the ING Cup, and closed to within two points of Victoria and Tasmania in the cup table, which Queensland lead by some 12 points.

WA recovered from a poor start to post a handy total of 7 for 204. After the early loss of the openers Justin Langer for 5 and Luke Ronchi for 6, which left WA 2 for 19, Marcus North rescued them with an innings of 71. North, who was born near Melbourne in Victoria, defied his native state by sharing a series of handy partnerships, even though the next-highest score was only 28, by Michael Hussey.

Ian Harvey, looking to reclaim his place in Australia's one-day side, took 1 for 32 in his ten overs, but Shane Warne took some punishment, his nine overs costing 51 runs for the wicket of Murray Goodwin, who made 24. Michael Lewis ended up with the best figures - 2 for 31.

Victoria made a poor start under the lights, as Darren Wates bowled Jonathan Moss for 15 and Brad Hodge for 5. Wates then ran out David Hussey for a single, to leave Victoria reeling at 3 for 43. Matthew Elliott dropped anchor for 77, putting on 42 with Graeme Rummans (25) - but both eventually fell to the slow left-armer Beau Casson, who finished with 3 for 34 as Victoria subsided to 177 all out.