Sunday Territorian 11 Dec 2011
Sunday Territorian; NewspaperNT
2011-12-11
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English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin.; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin.
Nationwide News Pty. Limited
Darwin
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Nationwide News Pty. Limited
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
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54 Sunday Territorian. Sunday, December 11, 2011. www.sundayterritorian.com.au P U B : N T N E W S D A T E : 1 1 -D E C -2 0 1 1 P A G E : 5 4 C O L O R : C M Y K SPORT sundayterritorian.com.au Territory in trouble against WA in two-day game By IAN BUTTERWORTH SCORECARD WESTERNAUSTRALIA 157 (J Clifton 62; T Andrews 4-59, L Griffiths 2-15, J Logan 2-27) and0-27 vNORTHERN TERRITORY8 (dec) 87 (J Weatherald 31; C Steel 3-20, J Johnston 2-13) WA lead by 97 runswith one day to play AFTER a strong bowling performance against WA, the Territory under-17 cricketers succumbed with the bat and trailed dismally at stumps last night, after day one of their opening two-day game at the National Championships in Tasmania. Coming off emphatic wins against SA and ACT, the NT looked on track for another memorable performance after bowling out WA for 157 in its first innings. A poor batting performance on a seaming wicket saw the Territory declare its inning at 8-87 and WA progressed to 0-27 at stumps an overall lead of 97 with a day to play. Batting first, WA started slowly and after 18 overs were at a precarious 2-36. But worse was to come for the sandgropers as NT captain Thomas Andrews (4-59 off 26 overs) weaved his leftarm orthodox magic, removing the next four batsman to leave the yellow caps reeling at 6-113. We played on a new wicket block and didnt know what to expect, but having said that, we just didnt bowl at the stumps enough in their first inning, NT coach Rob Elliott said last night. To add insult to injury, we dropped Jonathon Clifton (62) when he was on two, and he scored almost half their runs. The Territory failed to match WA with the bat and only Jake Weatherald (31) handled the conditions with any certainty. Batting is about partner ships and we didnt put any together, and that was the other disappointing aspect of our game today, Elliott said. Having declared puts the onus back on WA, because they will be keen for an outright win. Clearly we didnt knock one or two over, but there is still 100 overs left and the boys will fight till the end so its not over yet. Cowan under radar of selectors Ed Cowan HOW frustrated must Ed Cowan feel? Ed who? Exactly. Despite compiling his third first-class ton in as many matches, the Tasmanian opener would be forgiven for feeling like one of Australias most overlooked batsmen. And during a time when an Australian Test openers spot appears up for grabs. His frustration only looks set to grow after confusion surrounded whether Cowan would get a final chance to impress national selectors ahead of the four-Test series against India. Cowan, 29, has been named captain of a Cricket Australia Chairmans XI to tackle India in a two-day trial from December 15 in Canberra. It was a fitting reward after amassing 578 first-class runs this season at 64.22. But it was unclear yesterday whether Cowan would have to play for his Twenty20 side the Sydney Sixers and sacrifice a rare chance to shine in front of selectors. The uncertainty was created by the Chairmans XI match directly clashing with the Sixers Big Bash League opening game with Brisbane Heat at the SCG on December 16. Adding to Cowans confusion was the wording of a Cricket Australia statement that implied only players in a second Chairmans XI clash with India from December 19-21 in Canberra would be in Boxing Day Test calculations. Under-pressure opener Phil Hughes, who was caught behind for the 20th time in 30 Test innings on the opening day of Australias second trans-Tasman clash on Friday, is playing in that second game and Cowan is not. So it seems no matter what happens in Hobart, Hughes gets one last chance to press his Test claims. The scholarly Cowan wrote in his highly acclaimed diary of last summer In the Firing Line that he sometimes felt invisible as a state cricketer. Time will tell whether he gets a chance to finally change that. Richardson helps Redbacks secure victory in Perth A 111-run opening partnership was the catalyst for South Australias bonuspoint victory over Western Australia in their one-day clash at the WACA last night. The Warriors, who are still searching for their first victory in the competition after six attempts, were always on the back foot as SA comfort ably chased down their total of 8-252, easing to victory at 4-253 in the 40th over. Territorian Kane Richardson (3-43) was named man of the match for the Redbacks. The platform for the win was laid by openers Michael Klinger and Dan Harris, whose first-wicket stand was put on off 125 balls in 83 min utes. After a patient start, both batsmen went on the attack, with the WA bowlers struggling for consistent line and length. Harris in particular went on the offensive, hitting two sixes and eight fours in an aggressive knock. He was dismissed for a well-made 58 from 72 balls when he skied an attempted hook shot and was caught and bowled by Mitch Marsh. Klinger followed soon after for 46 from 55 balls, topedging a pull shot to keeper Luke Ronchi, who took a good diving catch to make the score 2-116. SA promoted keeper Adam Crosthwaite up the order in a bid to score quick runs and chase the bonus point but the move didnt pay off. Crosthwaite departed for eight, to leave the Redbacks at 3-124. It was then up to middleorder stars Dan Christian and Callum Ferguson to fight and guide their side toward victory. Blacks Caps in box seat to claim Test Ricky Ponting may be looking for another way to hold his spot in the Australian team, bowling the last over yesterday By LAINE CLARK THE message from Michael Clarkes men to a New Zealand daring to dream of ending a 26-year hoodoo on Australian soil, was clear we can chase anything. The Black Caps are in the box seat to notch their first Test win in Australia since 1985 after moving to 3-139 in their second dig by stumps on day two of the second Test, holding an overall lead of 153. Captain Ross Taylor (42 not out) stood tall in an unbroken 66-run stand with Kane Williamson (34no). And New Zealand have already made an impact on the record books after routing Australia for 136 in Hobart yesterday the Aussies lowest Test innings total on home soil against the Kiwis. But Australian quick Peter Siddle did his best to deflate any confidence the Black Caps took from their best day of Test cricket in years. I think with our batting line-up and the way the wicket played this afternoon we can chase anything, Siddle, who top scored with 36, said. He fancied Australias chances with the ball despite working with a wicket that is no longer a raging green top. Hopefully we can skittle them for as little as possible, he said. If it is overcast like it usually is out there, that is going to help us out. We have to get stuck in tomorrow and move on. Kiwi quick Chris Martin, who celebrated his 37th birthday yesterday by claiming 3-46, said New Zealand were determined to cash in on their big chance, especially after being rolled by nine wickets in the first Test in Brisbane. To put it in perspective, for us to bounce back after the way we played in Brisbane would be massive for us, he said. I think that has been a key focus for us in this game to show that we are not as poor as we looked in Brisbane. Martin was coy when asked about New Zealands chances of breaking their Australian drought. Any time you roll Australia for under 150, I think that youve felt that youve had a good day, he said. I do not know how many runs are needed (to bat Australia out of the game), so we will just have to see how we go tomorrow. Barely a month after collapsing for 47 to South Africa in Cape Town their lowest Test total in 109 years Australias batsmen again put on a procession yesterday. Reduced to 7-75, Australia looked on course to re write their lowest overall Test total against the Kiwis 103 set in Auckland in 1986. But Siddle and James Pattinson (17) put on 56 for the eighth wicket before Australia fell just 14 runs short of New Zealand. It was their third lowest overall total against the Kiwis in 52 Tests.