Victoria declares at 8-806 against Qld

Cut and paste from wwos.com.au

14:41 AEST Sun Mar 8 2009

Victoria have all the batting practice they need before the Sheffield Shield final, after declaring at 8-806 against Queensland in the last-round match at the MCG.

The Bushrangers waited until wicketkeeper Matthew Wade (100 not out) posted his second successive century this season before they called an end to their innings, early in the second session on the final day.

Queensland will now aim to get what batting practice they can, but will start their second innings 504 runs in arrears.

The Bulls are more interested in what happens in Adelaide, where South Australia must beat Tasmania if they are to play at the Junction Oval on Friday.

Victoria's mammoth total was the state's second-highest in Sheffield Shield cricket and the seventh-highest in the competition's history.

Excluding the final three years ago where Queensland declared against the Bushrangers at 6-900, Victoria's innings was the first team total over 800 since the South Australian side of 1939-40 posted 7-821 against Queensland at the Gabba.

This innings, which lasted just over 15 hours, contained 80 boundaries, six sixes and included four century-makers.

Aside from Wade, Chris Rogers made 123 on Friday, Brad Hodge reached 261 on Saturday and skipper Cameron White was out for 124 before lunch on Sunday.

It was only the 12th time in Shield history where an innings has contained four or more century-makers.

Rob Quiney should have joined the club but fell for 94, while David Hussey made 62.

If Queensland reach the final, they will have some leg-weary bowlers.

Captain Chris Simpson (4-194) bowled 65 overs of off-spin and quicks Ben Laughlin (2-223), Nathan Rimmington (0-183) and James Hopes (2-74) sent down 55, 44 and 34 overs respectively.

Its not too good if you are relying on other factors to get into the finals. As the ones they need to win may very well leave them high and dry.