Siddle's six sets up Victoria win

Victoria 220 and 181 beat South Australia 100 and 267 (Ferguson 71, Cooper 62, Head 57, Siddle 6-43) by 34 runs
Scorecard

Peter Siddle has spent most of the summer helping Australia to Test wins and he kept his successful season up by bowling Victoria to victory on the third day against South Australia. Siddle collected 6 for 43 from his 24 overs and his work ensured that half-centuries to Callum Ferguson, Tom Cooper and Travis Head would be in vain as the Redbacks again failed to bring up their first win of the Shield campaign.

South Australia were chasing 302 and they began the day in trouble at 3 for 55, but Ferguson and Cooper compiled a strong partnership that gave the Redbacks a genuine chance. But their 134-run stand ended soon after lunch when Siddle got rid of both men, Cooper lbw for 62 and Ferguson caught behind cutting loosely outside off for 71.

That left a mountain of work for the 18-year-old Head, who was playing his second first-class match and was the last of South Australia's recognised batsmen. But after Adam Crosthwaite was bowled by Jayde Herrick for 16, Head and Chadd Sayers put together a 55-run partnership that kept the match alive until Sayers (21) was bowled by Jon Holland.

The loss of Joe Mennie, who edged Siddle to slip, in the last over before the second new ball arrived hurt South Australia, who still needed 53 for victory at the time. The new ball helped Andrew McDonald get rid of Head, who top edged a pull for 57, and Siddle finished the match by trapping Peter George lbw for a duck to give Victoria a 34-run win.

The success pushed Victoria up to third on the Shield table with two matches to play, but the first- and second-placed Queensland and Western Australia each have three games in hand. South Australia remain on the bottom with five losses, three draws and only two points from their eight matches.