26/11/2009 7:15 AM
It was the Marsh show on Wednesday at the WACA as older brother Shaun scored a classy hundred while 18-year-old Mitch hit an incredible 60 off 29 balls.
The Warriors were challenged to respond from a disappointing start to the season and did wonderfully by making 3-309 with the bat in the Ford Ranger Cup game with New South Wales, and then backed up with a terrific bowling effort to dismiss the Blues for just 180 in 38 overs.
Shaun made just his second one-day century for Western Australia as he responded to the challenge from coach Tom Moody to stand up and be counted with 116 off 141 balls.
It was on the back of a Sheffield Shield game in Melbourne where he recorded scores of just one and two, so he was delighted to help WA to a crucial win.
"Coming back from Melbourne not scoring runs I set myself to bat the day and to get a hundred was great. More importantly we had a great win after being under a bit of pressure and for the boys to come out and play how they did was fantastic," Shaun Marsh said.
"Moods (coach Tom Moody) had every right to be very frustrated because we'd played some very poor cricket over the last month and I knew in myself that I needed to stand up. I have been around a while now and I needed to lead this young group, and I did that and hopefully it can continue now."
Shaun was lucky to score even one run let alone 116 as David Warner dropped him when he was on zero. It gave him the wakeup call he needed to take advantage of the good pitch though.
Making the century all the more memorable was that Mitch was at the other end when he reached the milestone, and then Shaun witnessed some of his younger brother's amazing hitting.
"I was pretty pumped when I got the hundred and to have him up the other end was great. Hopefully we can do it again soon. It was really nice to bat out there with him," he said.
"To come out and do that as an 18-year-old was impressive and there's not too many kids that can do that. I was really proud of him. He came out and looked the part straight away, and 60 off 29 balls is just a great effort."
Mitch Marsh hit three incredible sixes and six boundaries that showed incredible power and range of hitting. At just 18, there's no doubt he is a star of the future but he was just happy to share the 68-run partnership with big brother Shaun.
"I said to Trevor Penney (assistant coach) that I wanted to bat with him ever since this dream had become a reality and it was awesome, and good to be out there when he got his hundred," Mitch Marsh said.
"It was good to get a couple in the middle early and it was a good win overall, it was awesome."
The shot of the day was without a doubt Mitch's six off Stuart Clark in the final over that ended on the roof of the first tier stand at the Lillee-Marsh Stand end of the WACA. He felt bad doing it to the 24-Test veteran though.
"I was almost about to say sorry to him, I didn't know what to do really. When you are out there in the heat of the moment you aren't really focused on who is bowling to you. It was good fun though," he added.
Clark didn't enjoy it and is hoping that Mitch now makes his Shield debut starting Friday so he can get a measure of revenge.
"I had never seen Mitchell bat before, but he hits the ball hard and very sweetly. For a young bloke he obviously plays a lot of shots and his technique will get better as he goes on, but he's perfect for that format of the game and everyone can see that he's probably a star of the future," Clark said.
"I hope he comes out and bats like that in the Shield game because it's a different game and we'll be more of a chance of getting him out."