New South Wales v Victoria, FR Cup, Sydney

Hussey hustles to 60-ball hundred

Cricinfo staff

February 20, 2008

Victoria 8 for 352 (Hodge 116, Hussey 113, Quiney 62, Hauritz 3-54) beat New South Wales 6 for 288 (Haddin 52, Warner 50*) by 64 runs
Scorecard

	David Hussey hammered eight sixes in his 113 © Getty Images

David Hussey belted the second-fastest century in Australia's domestic one-day history as Victoria trounced New South Wales by 64 runs at the SCG. Hussey's milestone took only 60 deliveries, four balls slower than Luke Ronchi's record effort last season, and Brad Hodge's 116 was almost forgotten as the Bushrangers posted 8 for 352.

It was the third-highest total in the competition's history, behind Queensland's 405 in 2003-04 and the Blues' 397 in 2001-02, and Hussey's eight sixes were the most by any player in an innings. He finished with 113 from 64 balls and he could not have picked a more perfect time for such an amazing display - he was to be auctioned in the Indian Premier League just hours later.

The massive chase was far too much for the bottom-of-the-table New South Wales, who reached 6 for 288 but the game lost its sting midway through their innings. Brad Haddin and David Warner chipped in with half-centuries, however there was little to play for in the last match before the decider as the finalists were already determined.

There were few crowd catches in the home side's innings but spectators were ducking for cover during Hussey's blitz. He scored virtually no runs behind square and took advantage of a weakened New South Wales attack, repeatedly slogging cleanly over midwicket and long-on.

Aaron Bird suffered from Hussey's aggression and went for 87 from nine overs, and Dominic Thornely was no doubt glad to be rested after his three overs cost 32. Hussey backed away to give himself room over the off side and even when approaching his hundred he thought every ball had to clear the fence.

His century came when Daniel Smith, normally a wicketkeeper, could not grab a skied chance at long-off, and Hussey's second fifty had come in only 21 balls. Hodge was on 56 when Hussey came to the crease but such was Hussey's hurry he beat Hodge to triple-figures. Their partnership was worth 167 from 104 deliveries after Hodge and Rob Quiney (62) put on 102 for the second wicket.

Hodge played far more conventionally in his 119-ball innings, scoring strongly square of the wicket, and reached his second consecutive one-day century. Victoria could not have asked for a better result ahead of Saturday's FR Cup final against Tasmania in Hobart.

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