Victoria v South Australia, FR Cup, Traralgon

Hussey overhauls sorry Redbacks

Cricinfo staff

January 27, 2008

Victoria 6 for 160 (Hussey 47) beat South Australia 159 by four wickets
Scorecard

Victoria completed a set of four victories against South Australia in both state competitions with a four-wicket win in the FR Cup to help their finals campaign. In the process they leapt from bottom to fourth, picking up a bonus point as well, and still have two games in hand on the Redbacks, who they left only a small chance to reach the decider.

This could be the game that swung the momentum for Victoria. The leaders Tasmania, who were beaten by Queensland, come to Adelaide for the last group match and should South Australia win that, Victoria only have to succeed in two of their remaining three games to qualify.

The visitors had been beaten at home solidly in a disastrous start to their season, but they had begun to turn their fortunes around and were in second place heading into this match. They stay there for now but their bogey team, Victoria, led by David Hussey's 47, gained precious ground.

Hussey's efforts helped chase down the required 160 with more than 12 overs to spare, while three wickets for Shaun Tait couldn't make the difference. South Australia's batsmen had hoped to put their Twenty20 disaster behind them, but they carried their poor form with them into this competition.

It took a 41 from the in-form Graham Manou to lift the Redbacks from 5 for 56, and he was joined by the besieged captain Nathan Adcock, who made a steady and relieving 31. Ryan Harris also picked up 39 in an otherwise forgettable display, with Victoria's bowlers working well as a unit to share the wickets around. Jason Gillespie struck early and then came a clump of wickets as the Bushrangers slipped from 1 for 52 to 5 for 65, but Hussey didn't look troubled and steered his side to the brink of victory.

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