Elliott steers South Australia to seven-wicket victory
Matthew Elliott guided his adopted South Australia to a seven-wicket victory over his former state Victoria with an unbeaten half-century at the Junction Oval
Cricinfo staff
29-Nov-2005
South Australia 389 and 3 for 166 (Elliott 63*, Ferguson 51*) beat Victoria 149 and 402 (Arnberger 149, Mash 94) by seven wickets
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Matthew Elliott guided his adopted South Australia to a seven-wicket victory over his former state Victoria with an unbeaten half-century at the Junction Oval. South Australia, who have now won successive Pura Cup matches, were set 163 for victory after dismissing Victoria for 402.
Victoria, who began the final day at 4 for 318, resisted for the first hour through Cameron White and Jon Moss, who made a pair of 30s, before the spinners Darren Lehmann and Dan Cullen collected two victims each as the home side dropped their last four wickets for nine runs. The Redbacks lost Shane Deitz and Greg Blewett cheaply before Elliott, who moved to South Australia in the off-season, steered his side towards the target with Mark Cosgrove (26) and Callum Ferguson.
Elliott and Ferguson eased any nerves from the visiting team with an 85-run stand, Elliott finishing unbeaten on 63 after hitting the winning runs and Ferguson reaching his half-century. South Australia's victory was their first over Victoria in Melbourne for seven years, but they remain two points behind the Bushrangers in third place.
The match was also noteworthy for the performance of Jason Gillespie, who added 2 for 90 today to his 7 for 35 in the first innings. "He's definitely as good as going around at the moment, he's in that good a form it's not funny," Lehmann told AAP. "I'm hoping we have him for a bit longer, but if we don't, that's fine. He's one guy screaming out to be picked at the moment. I think as soon as a spot comes back up, he's in, but that's the selectors' choice."