Hussey and McDonald push Victoria to top spot

Victoria 6 for 199 (McDonald 67, Hussey 66, Dorey 5-48) beat Western Australia 198 (Voges 78) by 4 wickets
Scorecard

Victoria lead both the Sheffield Shield and FR Cup competitions after half-centuries to David Hussey and Andrew McDonald set up a four-wicket victory over Western Australia. The hosts were in trouble at 4 for 52 in their reply to the Warriors' 198, but Hussey and McDonald combined in a 128-run partnership to help seal the success in the 46th over.

Western Australia struggled in their innings and were deflated in the first over by the loss of Luke Ronchi to Dirk Nannes' third ball of the game and a horrible injury to David Bandy three deliveries later. Bandy retired hurt and went to hospital for treatment for a fractured eye socket and a broken nose after the Nannes short ball missed his helmet and grille.

Nannes returned to pick up Shaun Marsh for 21 before Adam Voges, the stand-in captain, guided the Warriors with an important 78. However, when he left caught-and-bowled to McDonald the rest of his team-mates struggled to lift the pace. McDonald picked up 3 for 41 while Harwood finished the innings with back-to-back wickets, capturing 3 for 32.

Victoria were 0 for 36 before Brett Dorey removed Chris Rogers (14) and followed up next ball by bowling Brad Hodge. Rob Quiney and Cameron White also departed quickly, and Dorey went on to take 5 for 48, but he could not stop Hussey (66) or McDonald (67).