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Blues issue warning to Sussex

9 October 2009

Captain Simon Katich led from the front as New South Wales warmed up for Sunday’s meeting with Sussex by beating the Diamond Eagles by 53 runs in the Champions League Twenty20 in Delhi.

Katich top-scored with 53 off 41 deliveries as the Blues made 144 for six, and the skipper then engineered two run-outs as his experienced bowling attack restricted the Eagles to a paltry 91 for nine.

He elected to bat first but NSW were circumspect at the start and lost Phil Hughes cheaply, cleaned up by Victor Mpitsang.

However, Katich got things rolling with boundaries either side of the wicket and guided a another through point in the same Dillon Du Preez over, which cost 12.

Simon Katich led by example with 53 and two run-outs in NSW's emphatic victory

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Katich and opener David Warner clubbed Ryan McLaren out of the attack and, when Warner savaged fast bowler Shadley van Schalkwyk, Eagles captain Boeta Dippenaar was forced to change tack.

Off-spinner Thandi Tshabalala and medium-pacer Victor Mpitsang reined in NSW’s batsmen somewhat with an accurate line, backed by a strong showing in the field.

Katich reached his half-century, from 37 deliveries, with a six off Tshabalala but the momentum shifted when the batsman was sent caught almost immediately after Warner was bowled by Ryan Bailey for 23.

However, Moses Henriques, who struck three sixes in his 26, and Ben Rohrer, with a single maximum en route to 22 not out, ensured a competitive total.

The Eagles’ response was quickly reduced to a whimper by NSW’s superior bowling attack.

Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Nathan Hauritz picked up wickets in their first overs as the Eagles crumbled to 24 for five inside seven overs.

Lee trapped Rilee Rossouw in front, Clark had Morne van Wyk caught and opener Adrian McLaren – the only batsman in the top six to reach double figures - was brilliantly run out by Katich for 11.

When Clark, who finished with 3-12 from four overs, added the wicket of Dippenaar to his tally, the Eagles' fate was sealed.