WA reaches ING Cup final

PERTH - Western Australia have secured their place in the ING Cup cricket final with a thrilling 26 run win over Victoria at the WACA Ground tonight.

After posting a respectable 5-270 thanks largely to a whirlwind Murray Goodwin innings, WA then had to rely on the experience of Jo Angel (3-45) and Brad Williams (4-34) to get them into their 20th domestic one-day final.

The Warriors will play either Queensland or NSW in the final.

Chris Rogers and skipper Justin Langer also followed their contributions with the bat with some inspired fielding - but the result was in doubt until the penultimate over.

Opener Nick Jewell (60) made a blistering start to his and the Victorian innings, square cutting successive fours off Williams.

Son of Richmond AFL player and premiership coach Tony Jewell, the 25-year-old took to both Williams and Callum Thorp with pulls and cuts out of the top drawer.

Brad Hodge could not match his partner, and was first to perish as he edged thickly to Mike Hussey off Williams.

Jewell ploughed on, pulling Callum Thorp to the boundary twice in two balls, and then driving Paul Wilson for two fours in his first over to bring up a sparkling 47-ball fifty.

The pressure seemed to be getting to Langer, who took umbrage with umpire Bruce Bennett after he called a no-ball for having too few men in the circle.

Langer's comments in the middle could be heard at the back of the Lillee-Marsh stand - but his anger was soon turned to delight by the veteran Angel.

After having found the boundary eleven times in his 55-ball knock, Jewell attempted an injudicious drive to a full ball which pegged back his off stump, and Victorian hopes.

Andrew McDonald looked the next batsman likely to dash WA's final dreams, racing to 19 off 22 balls, before Angel struck again, nipping a ball back to win an lbw decision.

Once again, the Victorians fashioned a partnership to keep them well in the hunt, Brendan Joseland and Michael Klinger finding the gaps and the boundary to compile 50 in 61 balls.

But once again, a bowling change by Langer did the trick, with Shaun Marsh's second ball for the state being lobbed back to him for a sharp caught and bowled.

Four balls later a drive from David Hussey produced a superb full length diving stop by Langer, followed by an accurate throw to Campbell that saw Klinger run out by half a metre.

Hussey, younger brother of WA's Mike, did his best to prevent his sibling from appearing in the final, but as the run rate rose so did Victoria's desperation.

After 46 from 45 balls, Hussey was bowled by Williams and when White followed suit in the next over Victoria's hopes were dashed.

WA will now have to wait on the result of Queensland's match against Tasmania later today to see who will host the February 23 final.

If Queensland lose to the Tigers then the the WACA Ground will host the final for the second time in three years.