Bulls take command in Perth

Queensland has taken command after day two of the Pura Cup match against Western Australia in Perth.

Despite losing three wickets, inside three overs, in an action packed first session, the Bulls moved comfortable to stumps at 7-480, an overall lead of 272 runs, largely due to the batting prowess of Martin Love (186), James Hopes (90) and Matthew Hayden (76).

Love was the standout performer with the bat and blasted the games’ highest score to date in an innings that included 35 fours and a six. On another glorious day for cricket he smashed 105 during the second session after struggling for most of the first session.

Called on as a first change bowler, Warriors’ spinner Brad Hogg finished the day with 4-95 from a marathon 30 overs.

Replying to Western Australia’s modest 208, the Bulls resumed today on 1-66. Matthew Hayden dominated the early proceedings, and was brisk in reaching his half-century, smashing Brett Dorey and Steve Magoffin’s bowling to the fence with relative ease.

Hogg made the first breakthrough when he trapped Hayden lbw. The Test aspirations of both Shane Watson and Andrew Symonds could be on hold after both failed with the bat today.

Watson’s innings lasted only two balls as Hogg snared his second, while Ben Edmondson tempted Symonds into big hits, completing the mini-rout before lunch with a thick edge that went straight into the gloves of keeper Adam Gilchrist.

At lunch, Queensland was 4-145 with Love (37) and Clinton Perren were the unbeaten batsmen.

Love raced to 100 during the second session, moving from 50 to the century milestone in just 39 balls. He shared a fifth wicket stand of 119 with Clinton Perren before Hogg returned and captured his third wicket - Perren lbw for 31.

Queensland went to the tea break at 5-304, Love unbeaten on 142, while James Hopes was not out 19.

The new ball was taken just before tea, but the most damage came after it with Love and Hopes taking to Dorey and Edmondson. Between them, they smashed 80 runs in the first 10 overs with the new red cherry.

Love was finally dismissed, in the 95th over, chasing a wide ball from Mike Hussey, while Hogg claimed his fourth scalp of the day when Hopes, 10 runs short of his century, pulled the ball to the waiting fieldsman at mid-wicket.

Queensland went to stumps with Chris Hartley (32) and Andy Bichel (26) unbeaten, having already shared a 52-run stand for the eighth wicket.

Another defeat looms for the Warriors, having already lost five of their last seven home matches outright. This time however day three could signal the end of the game.

Play on day three resumes tomorrow morning at 10:30am local time.

Western Australia - First Innings - 208

Queensland - First Innings
J MAHER lbw b Magoffin 22
M HAYDEN lbw b Hogg 76
M LOVE c Gilchrist b Hussey 186
S WATSON c Rogers b Hogg 0
A SYMONDS c Gilchrist b Edmondson 3
C PERREN lbw b Hogg 31
J HOPES c Hussey b Hogg 90
C HARTLEY not out 32
A BICHEL not out 26

Extras (2b, 2lb, 10nb) 14
Total: 7 wkts for 480

Fall: 1-42, 2-125, 3-125, 4-128, 5-247, 6-390, 7-428

Bowling: B Edmondson 14-3-95-1 (7nb), S Magoffin 25-6-82-1 (1nb), B Dorey 22-4-96-0 (1nb), S Gillies 12-1-43-0 (1nb), B Hogg 30-1-95-4, M North 7-0-40-0, M Hussey 7-1-25-1.

Batting time: 476 mins. Overs: 117

Toss: Western Australia
Umpires: B Parry, J Brookes.
Venue: WACA Ground, Perth
Summary: Day Two.

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