By JARROD POTTER
VICTORIAN success was driven by a Dandenong duo as James Pattinson and Peter Siddle helped the Bushrangers hold aloft the 2014/15 Sheffield Shield.
Taking the final to Hobart – on account of the Cricket World Cup final this weekend at the MCG – a draw was good enough for Victoria (381 and 4/158) to win the Shield over Western Australia (421 and 2/293dec)
Fawad Ahmed (8/89) spun his way towards Test consideration after career best figures to take the best record in a Shield grand final.
Siddle (2/67) also chimed in for a couple of wickets in the first innings before Chris Rogers (112) starred with the bat, but the Victorians could not take first innings points away from the Westerners.
It left Adam Voges and his men little time to try and set a defendable tally and bowl out Victoria for the win.
Western Australian dynamo Voges (107 and 36 not out) and Marcus Harris (81 and 158 not out) proved exceptional for the visitors, but their efforts could not be replicated with the bowlers as Western Australia struggled to dismiss the Victorians.
The Victorians gritted their teeth and stuck to the crease as the retiring David Hussey (37 not out) had a fitting finish to his First Class career – batting in combination with Rob Quiney (53) and Matt Wade (9 not out) to see off 95 overs and take the trophy.
It wasn’t the only success Pattinson had this week as he was named Melbourne Renegades’ Player of the Season for his efforts during the summer’s Big Bash competition.
