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North hurt on bad night for Western Australia

An injury to Marcus North added to Western Australia's woes as they were out-muscled by Victoria

Cricinfo staff
14-Nov-2009
Victoria 5 for 304 (Hodge 113, Hussey 59) beat Western Australia 213 (Ronchi 58, Hastings 4-38) by 91 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
An injury to Marcus North added to Western Australia's woes as they were out-muscled by a classy Brad Hodge century and a ferocious burst from Matthew Wade in a 91-run defeat. North, the Test No. 6, hurt his right wrist when struck by a ball in the field and was sent for x-rays that showed bruising but no break.
"It hit me in an awkward spot and cracked a vein open and caused a lot of swelling," he said after the match. "It's not ideal, but all's good and hopefully it pulls up okay for Tuesday."
North, who has scored three centuries in his first seven Tests, is due to play for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield this week to fine-tune before the opening game against West Indies on November 26. There has been a push for the opener Phillip Hughes to return to the side, possibly leaving Shane Watson to fight for a spot in the middle order with North and Michael Hussey.
With his side in trouble, North went in at No. 8 and was the last man out for 19 as the Warriors were dismissed for 213 in 44 overs. Western Australia started solidly in their reply to Victoria's 5 for 304 as they aimed for a record-breaking chase. The opener Wes Robinson picked up 44 and Luke Ronchi swept to a half-century, but the required rate was more than eight an over when the Warriors took the batting Powerplay in the 32nd over.
Both the big hitters, Ronchi and Theo Doropoulos (18), departed in three balls as they tried to force the pace and suffered. Ronchi left with 58 off 73 and the momentum went from the chase, with Bryce McGain earning three wickets and John Hastings finishing off the game with his fourth by picking up North, who was caught behind trying to pull.
Victoria maintained their unbeaten start to the competition after Hodge's 113 and Wade's brutal 49 from 19 deliveries pushed them to a huge total. Hodge raised his 14th one-day century for his state, having combined in a 126-run stand with David Hussey (59), before Wade made sure the Warriors would have to move at more than a run a ball in their reply.
Wade bolted to 43 off 13, with four fours and three sixes, but was slowed by Ashley Noffke in the final over as he narrowly missed the fastest fifty in the history of the competition. The hosts struck 49 in three overs towards the end of the innings when Wade was at his most powerful. Brett Dorey, who grabbed the first two wickets, was the one who suffered most and went for 80 off his nine overs.