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Australia’s stand-in captain Ricky Ponting has said he is still worth his place in the ODI team despite a run of four consecutive single-digit scores to begin the triangular series

Daniel Brettig at the SCG17-Feb-2012Australia’s stand-in captain Ricky Ponting has said he is still worth his place in the ODI team despite a run of four consecutive single-digit scores to begin the triangular series. Following an outstanding Test series against India, Ponting has struggled for touch in the limited-overs matches, and is now saddled with the extra responsibility of captaincy while Michael Clarke recovers from a hamstring strain.Despite his poor run and horrid night for the hosts against Sri Lanka at the SCG, Ponting said he was still an important component of the team as one of the senior players from whom a transitional squad must learn.”I think I am, but you’d better ask the selectors what they think about that,” Ponting said. “My last four games have not been what they would have liked, but I guess if the selectors were thinking that way already then they probably wouldn’t have picked me for the start of the series.”There are still a few senior players around the side and they made it clear to the younger guys at the start of the summer that it was vital they gain a little bit of experience around them. But saying that, it’s not just reputation that going to get you picked. You have to score runs, that’s what it’s all about. I know that as well as anyone.”When asked whether or not he was entering another extended difficult patch, having waited 33 Test innings between centuries prior to the New Year’s match against India in Sydney, a look of exasperation flashed across Ponting’s face as he considered the possibility.”Hopefully I’m not starting again with that,” he said. “I can’t run away from what’s happened. It’s been four single-figure scores in four games. If I look at the way I’ve trained in the last few weeks, yesterday is the best session I’ve had in a long time.”I felt as sharp as I have all summer, but I’ve got to find a way to get some runs. If I’m out cheaply we’re 2 for 20-odd and we’ve been that in just about every game we’ve played.”Ponting’s team rounded off a poor night by confirming that Clarke would not be fit in time for Sunday’s match against India in Brisbane. The Tasmania captain, George Bailey, has been pulled out of a Sheffield Shield fixture against Queensland in Hobart in order to join the squad as batting cover.Mickey Arthur, the coach and selector, said Bailey’s inclusion was necessary after Mitchell Marsh was forced out of the squad by back stress fractures, and to ensure Clarke was given adequate time to recover.”While it is not ideal having to take George away from the Sheffield Shield match currently underway in Hobart, we feel it is important we have sufficient batting cover in our squad,” Arthur said. “This selection is reward for George’s excellent form with Tasmania this season and recognition that the National Selection Panel consider him the next batsman in line for Australian one-day selection.”The Victoria left-arm spinner Jon Holland is being kept with the squad alongside Xavier Doherty, following the latter’s struggle with back spasms leading into the Sydney ODI.

Steven Croft’s second successive century and some devastating new-ball bowling helped Lancashire seize control of their Championship match against Worcestershire at Blackpool

17-Aug-2011
Scorecard
Steven Croft’s second successive century and some devastating new-ball bowling helped Lancashire seize control of their Championship match against Worcestershire at Blackpool. Returning to his home club, Croft made 107 off 111 balls as Glen Chapple’s batsmen scored 282 in their first innings. That total looked formidable as Worcestershire slumped to 21 for 5 before Aneesh Kapil and Gareth Andrew guided their side to 77 for 5 at the close.In a dramatic last 90 minutes of the day, Chapple took three wickets and Kyle Hogg two more as the visitors’ top order had no answer to late swing and sharp movement off the Stanley Park wicket. Matt Pardoe, Vikram Solanki and Alexei Kervezee all fell to slip catches whileMoeen Ali was lbw first ball and skipper Daryl Mitchell played on.The performance of the Lancashire seamers almost overshadowed the achievementof 26-year-old Croft, who had come to the wicket with his side on 62 for 3. He soon lost Paul Horton before adding 87 with Farveez Maharoof, who made 29, and 90 in under 14 overs wicket with his sixth-wicket partner Gareth Cross.Croft dominated both stands, reaching his 50 in 60 balls and then hitting four big sixes as he reached his century off only 38 further deliveries. The Worcestershire spinners came in for rough treatment, Ali being dispatched for two leg-side sixes and Shaaiq Choudhry conceding 25 runs off two overs as Croft reached his hundred with a six over long on.Croft’s destruction of the Worcestershire bowling left Mitchell’s team deeply regretting the escape they had given him on 33 when the sun’s reflection off a window prevented substitute fielder Nick Harrison even getting a hand to a straightforward chance at long leg off Alan Richardson.The Worcestershire attack eventually got their man when Croft fended a vicious Kapil delivery straight to Mitchell at slip and that wicket sparked a collapse as Lancashire lost their last five wickets for 26 runs in just 53 balls. Richard Jones finished with 3 for 62 and Andrew 3 for 47.The afternoon’s rapid dramas were in sharp contrast to a tough morning session in which Mitchell’s bowlers had made reasonable use of winning the toss to reduce Lancashire to 97 for 4 at lunch. On a wicket offering the visitors’ attack plenty of early help, Horton made a watchful 47 but the opener was fourth out 10 minutes before lunch when he edged Ali to Mitchell at slip.The Worcestershire seamers had controlled the rest of the session, Jones taking two wickets and Richardson the other as the Red Rose top order sought to see off the new ball.

The PCB has raised serious questions about the ICC Pakistan Task Team’s (PTT) report, pointing out a number of factual errors in the report and calling it “a scholarly exercise” rather than being a Pakistan-specific document

Osman Samiuddin13-Jul-2011The PCB has raised serious questions about the ICC Pakistan Task Team’s (PTT) report, pointing out a number of factual errors in it and calling it “a scholarly exercise” rather than being a Pakistan-specific document. In an unusually long and fairly withering press release, the board said a detailed response to the 38-page report and 63 recommendations had been sent to the ICC; only some of the responses were being made public.The PTT report, released last week, had recommended what amounted to a root and branch reform of the game in Pakistan, calling on a range of macro and micro changes to how the game is run there. The report recommended changes to the board’s administration, to the process of selection, managerial appointments, the central contracts pool and even the kind of ball used in domestic cricket.At the very outset of their response, the PCB raises one of the main criticisms of the report and the work of the PTT. “The entire report has been prepared without PTT ever visiting Pakistan (except for a brief chat of a few hours that Dave Richardson [ICC general manager and PTT member] had with a few ex-players during his visit to Karachi in January 2011 or perhaps some input to PTT from Ramiz [Raja, PTT member]),” the release says. “This raises serious questions on the observations given in the report.”Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, also visited Pakistan before the 2010 World Twenty20, a visit during which issues related to international cricket in Pakistan were discussed with board and government officials.The broader recommendations of the report centred on the powers of the chairman and expressed particular concern at the manner in which he is appointed – by the country’s president, the patron of the board. The board treads a careful line in its response, mindful of the governance changes the ICC wants implemented over the next two years, and merely explains the reasons behind the system. “The circumstances in Pakistan are unique and cricket administration requires and deserves government support, without which international cricket may not be able to return to Pakistan. Keeping in view the extraordinary security situation in the country, having the president as patron of the PCB adds tremendous value and comfort. It should be appreciated that a system that has propelled Pakistan to the top of the cricket world has been in place for approximately 60 years and cannot certainly be labelled as faulty.”The response also takes on what is seen by the architects of the report as the most central issue to Pakistan’s future: the resumption of bilateral ties with India. But the PCB believes both the BCCI and the PTT/ICC have effectively failed to act on good intentions, questioning whether the ICC has even approached the BCCI on this matter. “We feel that perhaps the PTT/ICC should have taken a lead role in ensuring that all bilateral tour commitments are honoured by India vis-a-vis Pakistan,” the release states. “In fact this was also within the ambit of TOR’s of PTT. We do not have anything to suggest on record that PTT/ICC made any efforts to engage with the BCCI or the government of India in this regard.”The roles of Mike Brearley and Greg Chappell as ambassadors of Pakistan cricket are also highlighted in the response, for the apparent lack of involvement they have had. While appreciating the appointment, the board says “we are yet to observe any endeavours from their side. Although, with their standing in international cricket, they could have gone a long way in supporting cricket in Pakistan. We still welcome them to come to Pakistan and expect that they will now play a proactive role in supporting the return of international cricket to Pakistan.”This observation, on the return of international cricket, is likely to be the source of growing contention between the ICC and Pakistan. In the original terms of reference of the PTT, the focus was on ensuring that Pakistan didn’t suffer in the absence of international cricket at home. Reference is made to the recommendations of a security task force with regards to playing cricket in Pakistan. Since then the parameters of the PTT have grown to take in integrity and governance issues, to the extent that in the report only three of the 63 recommendations even referred to the revival of international cricket in Pakistan.But in the wake of the release of the report, senior PTT and ICC officials have implied privately that the revival of international cricket is not the primary concern of the work; the PCB referring to it implicitly in their release, with reference to the roles of Brearley and Chappell, suggests they believe it is.On the more micro issues, such as selection, the PCB “points out a number of recommendations that are incorrect, superfluous or redundant.” The number of centrally contracted players in the PTT – as ESPNcricinfo pointed out initially – is incorrect, the board says. The board also argues that the selection committee is independent and free from outside interference, thus rejecting outright the report’s recommendation that it should be.”Regrettably, PTT did not meet the chairman of selection committee to get his views,” the board says before detailing the process of selection and the board chairman’s role in it. “We therefore feel that the recommendations of the PTT that the PCB chairman has the right of veto are not based on facts. The process of selection is a time tested one and has worked for Pakistan. The view that there is interference in selection matters is therefore factually incorrect, devoid of reality and henceforth rejected.”The suggestion that the selection committee and not the board chairman recommends a captain, which is then approved by the governing board, is also rejected. “We respectfully disagree with this recommendation. In Pakistan the system of selecting a captain is different. No reason has been given by PTT in support of its recommendation that selection committee is the best judge of who the captain of Pakistan should be. If this recommendation is based on what other countries follow, it may not work for Pakistan. Again the authority to nominate the captain has been delegated by the governing board to the chairman.”The report had also advised the PCB to appoint team managers on a full-time basis, for longer periods instead of the current system where they appoint one on a series-by-series basis. The board dismissed this as well, asking why, if other countries also appoint in this way, should they change. “These recommendations are probably given by PTT as ‘best business practice’ rather than Pakistan specific. To our knowledge, there are other countries that nominate managers on a tour-by-tour basis and the system works well for them. Same in the case with other support staff who are appointed by the boards. In the absence of any plausible argument in favour of change, such recommendations cannot be accepted nor implemented.”The board concludes by hoping that amendments will now be made “for the report to reflect the true facts and reality.” Ijaz Butt, chairman of the PCB, expressed his appreciation for the work of the PTT and reiterated that the recommendations are not binding on the board. “I am grateful to the PTT for their work. While the intent cannot be questioned, few discrepancies can be identified in the report, which the PCB consider duty-bound to rectify. I wish to reiterate the assurance of the ICC to us that recommendations in the report are not directives to the PCB and that it is entirely up to the PCB to accept and implement these. Having consulted members of our board of governors, we decided to send a detailed response to ICC. I hope that it will be taken in a positive spirit.”

West Ham United manager David Moyes is now planning to sign a Premier League star who’s tormented his side before, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Busy summer ahead?

GSB and head of recruitment Rob Newman could be set for a busy summer as the Hammers board allegedly aim to give Moyes serious West Ham backing.

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Claret & Hugh claim that the Scotsman could be handed a bumper £150 million transfer kitty to seriously upgrade the West Ham squad and build upon what has been another memorable campaign.

Moyes’ side reached the semi-finals of this year’s Europa League in what was an extraordinary feat for the east-Londoners and supporters will be hoping that isn’t the peak of their climb.

New signings will be needed for 2022/2023, perhaps most crucially an alternative striking back-up to Michail Antonio, with The Sun and reliable reporter Jack Rosser now sharing some interesting news.

The Latest: West Ham ‘planning transfer’ for Broja…

According to what they have learnt, West Ham are eyeing a bid for Chelsea striker Armando Broja with Moyes now ‘planning transfer’ to sign the Albania international.

This comes after his impressive loan spell at Southampton, where he has even ‘tormented’ the Irons at various points over 2021/2022 – including a phenomenal solo goal to knock them out of the FA Cup.

Moyes and his squad have apparently ‘been impressed’ by Broja’s performances against them as West Ham now plot a summer swoop.

The Verdict: Get it done?

His parent club will apparently command a huge price tag to let go of their rising star forward.

TUTTOmercatoWEB claim Chelsea value Broja at a pretty seismic €70 million (£60m), coming as a pretty substantial fee for a player who’s scored just six goals in 19 top flight starts at St. Mary’s Stadium this season.

The 6 foot 3 colossus, however, can more than hold his own as a target man – winning 2.7 aerial duels per 90 under Ralph Hasenhuttl in the league according to WhoScored.

By comparison to Moyes’ squad, only Tomas Soucek and Craig Dawson have managed a higher number, but for a whopping £60m it is arguably wise to first consider other striking targets.

In other news: ‘Something special’ – Journalist says ‘massive player’ could now be open to joining West Ham, find out more here.

Cricket Kenya has announced that it will begin an extensive recruitment campaign focussing on all levels of cricket in the country

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Apr-2011Cricket Kenya has announced an extensive recruitment campaign focussing on all levels of cricket in the country in the aftermath of a wretched World Cup campaign. The news came less than 24 hours after coach Eldine Baptiste stood down.Apart from hunting for replacement for Baptiste, CK will also look to employ more coaches at elite, regional and development levels and a full-time finance manager.”This will be a major step forward for cricket in Kenya,” Tom Sears, CK’s chief executive said. “To ensure we have a structure in place that creates opportunities for Kenyans to play cricket at every level, ensure we provide meaningful competition at all levels and identify those talented players who have the potential to represent their provinces and ultimately Kenya in the future.”In addition the recruitment of a full-time finance manager will help us ensure we can maximise the return on the investments we make in the game, implement best practices both nationally and regionally and make the funds we have go further.”The new positions that have been created include a Head of Elite Development, who will co-ordinate talent identification, elite coaching and national teams’ programmes, further elite level coaches who will focus on specialist coaching at all levels and in what is a first, regional provincial managers in Nairobi, Rift Valley and Coast to work on the development of the game at the grassroots level.”The emphasis is on a stronger coaching structure and creating clear pathways for both players and coaches to progress,” Sears said. “We need more people playing the game and we need to make sure the players with the necessary talent receive the support they require to succeed.”

Plays of the day from the 1st day of the 5th Test between Australia and England at Sydney

Andrew Miller and Peter English at the SCG03-Jan-2011Boundary-free Watson
The opener Shane Watson delivered a fine demonstration of leaving during his uncharacteristically patient 45. Watson usually aims to attack but he settled in and batted through the first session for a boundary-free 19. After the break he started to wind up, hitting his first four, a flick in front of square, in the second over back. His pace increased but when he reached 45 he departed to an edge off Tim Bresnan and walked with his 11th score between 34 and 62 in 14 Test innings against England.Hungry eyes
This is an important Test for Phillip Hughes, who can prevent Simon Katich’s return from injury with a big score. Hughes looked his most composed of the series as he played straight and mostly avoided wild slashes outside off while creeping to 31. Chris Tremlett had four balls left before lunch when he delivered one outside off and Hughes was finally tempted, with the edge racing to Paul Collingwood at third slip. Hughes walked off slowly, dipping his head and tapping his bat against his helmet as he left. It was a disappointing end after such hard work.Khawaja’s cool arrival
The timing of Hughes’ dismissal meant Usman Khawaja had precisely forty minutes in which to visualize his first ball in Test cricket. To judge by the trio of offerings he served up in the final three balls of Tremlett’s interrupted over, he used the time as wisely as any old pro. Tremlett’s first ball was on the pads; Khawaja tucked a comfortable two to get himself off the mark. The second ball was short again but outside off this time, and Khawaja rocked back to play Australia’s most assured pull stroke since Michael Hussey’s epic at the WACA. The third ball, however, was arguably the best of the lot – a fuller length, nipping away, to which Khawaja shouldered arms with the flourish of a left-handed Ricky Ponting. Throughout his innings of 37, he looked thoroughly at home at Test level – more so, arguably, than most of his top-order colleagues.Home captain’s curse
Ricky Ponting spent the first four Tests struggling for a significant contribution and Michael Clarke suffered the same fate on his opening day as captain. Clarke entered under gloomy skies in the afternoon and arrived not long before a rain break. When the teams returned he started by playing straight, but changed his method when Bresnan dropped a short ball just outside off. It was too close to cut but Clarke had a go, finding James Anderson in the gully. He walked off with 4, taking his tally for the series to 152 in eight bats.Bresnan bundled
Bresnan was once again England’s unsung hero with the ball. Though his first five overs went for a relatively costly 22, he returned to his parsimonious best later on in the afternoon, to shut down an end and force two vital breakthroughs either side of the rain delay, as first Watson edged low to Andrew Strauss at slip, before Anderson in the gully made a fizzing chance off Clarke look simple. Before Bresnan could take his rightful place in the celebratory huddle, however, he was tap-tackled by the in-rushing Kevin Pietersen, leaving both men in a tangled heap on the turf, and Matt Prior doubled up with laughter.New caps
Clarke’s first day as Test captain began with Shane Warne and Mark Taylor being asked to present the caps to Australia’s two debutants. Warne handed one to Michael Beer, the left-arm spinner, who the legspinner had tipped to be part of the Perth squad a week before the selectors named him. Beer, who now plays with Western Australia, used to represent St Kilda, Warne’s old Melbourne club. Khawaja received his baggy green from Taylor, the former New South Wales left-hander, who started his career at the SCG against West Indies in 1988-89. Clarke, looking smart in his captain’s blazer, then won the toss and batted.

As Shaun Marsh basked in the glow of a century for Australia on Test debut, he admitted that as a precocious teenager he had taken for granted the amount of application required of a Test cricketer

Daniel Brettig in Pallekele10-Sep-2011As Shaun Marsh basked in the glow of a chanceless and near-nerveless century for Australia on Test debut, he admitted that as a precocious teenager he had taken for granted the amount of application required of a Test cricketer.In 2003, when he was 19, Marsh cracked 119 for Western Australia against Steve Waugh’s New South Wales in Newcastle, and assumed that all the garlands and overseas trips of an international career would soon follow without any great obvious effort. Instead it took another eight years and plenty of hard lessons before Marsh could finally debut, and his appreciation was clear in glistening eyes.”Definitely, there’s no doubt about that [I thought it would come easily],” Marsh said. “I probably took it for granted, playing at a young age for WA. I just thought it was going to happen, playing a lot of junior cricket growing up. I didn’t know, didn’t realise how hard it was to play first-class cricket and I’m glad I did work hard enough and turned it around.”It’s very surreal at the moment. A very proud day, I still can’t believe it really, just to be even playing Test cricket, to be given an opportunity and to go there and get a hundred in my first innings was, you dream of that sort of stuff and I’m so happy.”I was [intent on a long stay], I just wanted to stay out there for as long as I could. They bowled pretty well yesterday and especially early I couldn’t get away. I knew if I could just keep sticking to my guns I could hopefully get on top later in the day. It was just an amazing feeling, to be out there playing a Test match for your country is just something I’ve dreamt of my whole life and I can’t believe it really.”Batting at No. 3 in place of the absent Ricky Ponting, Marsh walked out to the crease with a simple objective: bat as long as he could. In the end he was there for seven hours, perhaps the most significant 420 minutes of his cricket life. He spent most of it with his fellow West Australian Michael Hussey, who crafted his own innings of substance with a meticulous 142.”It was just amazing, I said yesterday when I went out there, I wanted to stay out there for as long as I could,” Marsh said. “What you dream of doing is playing Test cricket, and just having that chance was so surreal. I had a lot of fun out there.”It was tough out there early, they bowled very well, and we had to respect that. I knew if I could just hang in there I could get over the line. I really enjoyed batting with Huss as well, especially today. To be out there with him when we both scored our hundreds was a very special day. He’s a good man and he’s certainly helped me out a fair bit since I’ve been playing international cricket.”Every ball of Marsh’s innings was worried over by his father Geoff in the stands, and Shaun spoke of how emotional their reunion had been when the younger man was finally out. Tom Moody, the coach who gave Marsh the hard word to be serious about his cricket, was also valued company.”It was pretty emotional to be honest with you,” Marsh said. “[Dad] was very happy I could see and it was very emotional for him and I was trying to hold it back in, out there with Huss … just crazy really. I spoke with Tom before this Test and what Tom’s done for me the last three years, to have him and my dad here was pretty special.”Marsh’s efforts make him close to a certainty for the third Test in Colombo, despite Ponting’s return, but the man himself was not daring to look beyond the next two days, when rain may threaten Australia’s push for a series victory.”It’s out of my control,” Marsh said. “All I’m worried about is playing this Test, that’s all I can control and I’m loving every bit of it. We’ve got two days left and all I’m focusing on is trying to win this Test.”I’m not too sure what Pup [Michael Clarke] is going to do, I think he’s got a few ideas, whether we bat on for a little longer and try to push for that 270-280 lead or he declares straight away we’ll just have to wait and see.”[The weather] is not great at the moment, but we just have to wait and see, we can’t worry about the weather. We’ve just got to worry about what we can do, and if we go out there and play some good cricket and get ourselves in a winning position that’s all we can worry about.”

The Pakistani legspinner Fawad Ahmed, who was recently granted asylum in Australia, has joined the Melbourne Renegades for the Big Bash League

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Nov-2012The Pakistani legspinner Fawad Ahmed, who was recently granted asylum in Australia, has joined the Melbourne Renegades for the Big Bash League.Ahmed, whose application to remain in Australia was initially rejected, played ten first-class games in Pakistan from 2005 to 2009 and has been bowling to Australia’s Test players in the nets over the past couple of weeks to help them prepare for their series against South Africa.”Fawad has faced and overcome so many hurdles to arrive at this point of his life,” Stuart Coventry, the Renegades chief executive, said. “He’s now ready to explore the depths of his talent without the stress of hanging on for a decision to be made regarding his refugee status. We’re pleased to provide him an avenue to play high-level cricket in Australia and believe he is a genuine talent.”Ahmed will be joined at the Renegades by the Tasmanian batsman Alex Doolan, who has also signed with the side. The eight BBL sides have until November 30 to finalise their full squads.

As per allnigeriasoccer.com, a contract claim has come out of Tottenham Hotspur involving yet-to-be-seen starlet Tobi Omole.

The Lowdown: Nuno blown away…

Since the Nigerian-born defender signed for Spurs’ academy from north London rivals Arsenal in 2020, the 22-year-old has been making waves behind the scenes, according to reports.

Football Insider claimed in October that ex-Lilywhites manager Nuno Espirito Santo had been blown away by the centre-back at Hotspur Way, apparently taking a liking to Omole and regarding him as capable of winning a new deal.

New Spurs boss Antonio Conte is yet to hand the player his senior debut after Nuno only selected Omole for the bench against Crystal Palace last September though, so Spurs fans are still waiting to see him in action for the first time.

Regardless, he appears to have now done enough at N17 to earn a new deal.

The Latest: Omole offer made…

As per allnigeriasoccer.com, Omole has now been offered a new contract at the club with Conte selecting him for Spurs’ main Premier League squad over the remainder of 2021/2022.

The Italian has called him up to countless training sessions with the first team despite not playing him yet with Omole now doing enough to earn possible fresh terms.

The Verdict: Exciting news…

Tottenham insider John Wenham, who regularly breaks news on his Lilywhites Rose account, certainly rates the youngster after what he’s seen.

Speaking to Football Insider, the club source claimed that Omole is on his list of prospects to watch at Spurs and has also called him a ‘top young talent’ at the end of last year.

Among Spurs’ growing crop of talented youngsters coming out of N17, Omole could also be one to keep an eye on.

In other news: Agent offers Tottenham out-of-window chance to sign £220,000-per-weel star! Find out more here.

Tasmania beat Victoria by nine wickets in a rain-reduced match thanks to a half-century on debut by Jonathan Wells, and superb late-over bowling by Jason Krejza and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan

The Bulletin by Alex Malcolm 11-Jan-2011Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsJonathan Wells scored a half-century on his Big Bash debut as Tasmania reached Victoria’s total with 21 balls to spare•Getty ImagesTasmania have demolished the reigning champions by nine-wickets in a rain-reduced clash at the Bellerive Oval to go to the top of the Big Bash table.Standing in for the absent Tim Paine, 22-year-old debutant Jonathan Wells thumped an unbeaten 51 from just 33 balls to guide Tasmania to their target of 108 in just 11.3 overs.Play was delayed initially by 40 minutes of persistent drizzle, reducing the contest to 15-over-a-side fixture, but once the covers were removed, George Bailey had no hesitation in inserting Victoria when the coin fell his way.It proved a masterstroke when the visitors lost Glenn Maxwell and acting captain Brad Hodge in the opening two overs. They slumped to 3 for 20 when Matthew Wade fell to Rana Naved-ul-Hasan. They could have, and perhaps should have, been four down if Ashes hero – turned Victoria signing – Matt Prior was held at slip by Mark Cosgrove, but the Englishman made the most of the life producing an entertaining 29-ball 51 to push the Bushrangers towards a competitive total.But superb late-over bowling by Jason Krejza (3 for 13) and Naved (3 for 18) restricted the total to just 8 for 107.It looked like a tough chase was in store early as Dirk Nannes zipped the ball around at 140kph-plus. But once Wells and Rhett Lockyear gathered the pace of the wicket they raced to 49 from 6.1 overs before Lockyear was caught behind off John Hastings.It would be the only breakthrough for Victoria as Man-of-the-Match Wells continued to find the middle of the bat, striking seven boundaries and a wonderful lofted off drive for six in his half-century on debut, while his captain Bailey cashed in on anything short, cracking three of his five boundaries through midwicket to see his side home with 31 not out.Tasmania now rocket to the top of a very even Big Bash table, while Victoria have an uphill battle to progress to the last three, particularly without their two regular leaders in Cameron White and David Hussey who, like Paine, are absent on national duty.