Victorian all-rounder John Hastings made an instant splash in his return from injury but it was a trio of Warriors who stole the show as Western Australia posted a 25-run victory in Friday’s one-day clash at the WACA Ground.
Hastings, making his first competitive appearance for the Bushrangers in almost 18 months after recovering from his fourth shoulder operation, finished with 4-59 from 13 overs as WA posted a competitive 9-248.
Man-of-the-match Liam Davis was WA’s hero with the bat by posting 93 off 104 balls, before Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Coulter-Nile did the damage with the ball to help dismiss Victoria for 223 in 48.4 overs.
Victorian all-rounder Will Sheridan briefly threatened to steal the game away from WA by smacking four consecutive sixes, but Coulter-Nile brought an end to his bludgeoning by sending a delivery crashing into the stumps.
Johnson claimed the key scalps of Rob Quiney (5) and Chris Rogers (35) to finish with 3-43 off 11.4 overs, while Coulter-Nile snared 4-65 to go with two crucial run-outs.
Victorian all-rounder Will Sheridan briefly threatened to steal the game away from WA by smacking four consecutive sixes, but Coulter-Nile brought an end to his onslaught by sending a delivery crashing into the stumps.
Johnson was fired up from the get-go after copping a barrage of sledging from a rowdy Bushrangers supporter while warming up during the change of innings.
The 47-Test paceman handled the criticism well, and instead channelled his anger towards Victoria’s batsmen.
Quiney was the first to feel the heat, with Johnson cannoning a speedy delivery into the batsman’s stumps.
And after returning figures of 1-11 from his first four-over spell, Johnson returned in the 24th over to trap Rogers leg before wicket at a delicate stage of Victoria’s innings.
Even WA wicketkeeper Tom Triffitt was in the firing line, with the former Tasmanian hurting his hand attempting to control one of Johnson’s deliveries.
Victoria struggled to keep in touch with the required run-rate throughout their innings, and needed some big-hitting heroics after slumping to 4-108 after 31 overs.
Andrew McDonald (31 off 34 balls), Michael Hill (40 off 47) and Sheridan (25 off 8) did their best, but the Bushrangers’ slow start ended up proving too costly.
The Bushrangers entered the match minus five players on international Twenty20 duties, while pacemen Peter Siddle and James Pattinson were also left out in a bid to leave them fresh for the coming Sheffield Shield clash, starting Sunday.
