Victoria add to South Australia's woes

Victoria 7 for 251 (Hodge 88, Moss 60) beat South Australia 6 for 222 (Lehmann 77*) by 29 runs
Scorecard

Victoria moved joint top of the table with a 29-run victory over South Australia in a day-night match at the Adelaide Oval.

The result means the Redbacks go into Christmas propping up both one-day and Pura Cup standings, and increases the pressure on Darren Lehmann, their captain, and coach Wayne Phillips.

Lehmann certainly pulled his weight with the bat, making 77 not out as South Australia reached 6 for 222 chasing Victoria's 7 for 251, but he lacked enough support to mount a serious challenge.

The Redbacks lost Matthew Elliott early for 10, and Mark Cosgrove (41) and Daniel Harris (47) then put on a breezy 57 before some inspired captaincy from Cameron White triggered the breakthrough - he brought on David Hussey for one over, and in it Hussey trapped Cosgrove leg-before. Callum Ferguson then holed out to midwicket, and Harris perished when he missed an attempted cut off White.

By then, the asking rate was climbing, and although Lehmann and Graham Manou put on 44 for the fifth wicket, Manou's run-out was followed three balls later by Ryan Harris's dismissal and the game was as good as over. Lehmann's belligerence at least enabled South Australia to gain a bonus point.

The early stages of the game had been far more promising for the Redbacks. An excellent spell from Jason Gillespie, whose ten overs cost only 20, pinned Victoria down, but the other bowlers failed to back him up. Gary Putland's opening over went for 14, although he removed Michael Klinger in his second, finishing with 2 for 60.

Man of the Match Jon Moss and Brad Hodge put on 104 for the second wicket, and after a brief wobble, Hodge and David Hussey gave the vital mid-innings acceleration, adding 71 off only 76 balls. Hodge perished within sight of a hundred when he causally flicked the ball straight to midwicket.