NSW secure draw after Harwood gives Victoria hope

New South Wales 314 and 7 for 139 (Haddin 71*, Harwood 4-45) drew with Victoria 462 (Hussey 86, Jewell 85, Arnberger 67, Mash 62, Bird 4-80, Lambert 4-92)
Scorecard

Shane Harwood gave Victoria an outside chance of a stunning outright victory with four top-order wickets before New South Wales held on for a draw at the Junction Oval. The Bushrangers took a first-innings lead of 148 and the Blues finished at a wobbly 7 for 139 after Brad Haddin, the captain, steered them from the danger of 6 for 80 with an unbeaten 71.

Harwood and Allan Wise struck twice each as New South Wales slumped to 4 for 27 in their second innings to add some energy to the final afternoon of a match that lost its first day to rain. What should have been a comfortable session of batting practice turned into a desperate fight for a draw and the situation was at its worst for the visitors when Dominic Thornely fell for 11 and Grant Lambert became Harwood's fourth victim.

Victoria sealed first-innings points a run after losing Nick Jewell, who registered a career-best 85, in the first session after he had added 130 with David Hussey. Hussey, the stand-in captain for Cameron White, top-scored with 86 but Victoria did not attempt to expand their strokeplay after passing New South Wales' 314 and the extra time and runs could have proved useful later in the day.

The New South Wales bowlers Grant Lambert and Aaron Bird also registered personal bests as the Bushrangers were eventually dismissed for 462. Lambert took care of the middle order with 4 for 94 while Bird's 4 for 80 included the final three wickets to fall. Victoria are second on the Pura Cup table, four points behind the Blues.