Victoria grabs the six to keep second spot

Victoria has wrapped up six points and consolidated its position in second place on the Pura Cup table with a five wicket win over South Australia here at the Adelaide Oval today. Set 191 to win, the Bushrangers reached their target with 6.2 overs to spare, thanks mainly to a fine innings from young right hander Michael Klinger, who remained unbeaten on 66.

The Vics were in early bother at 2/29 just after lunch, but Matthew Mott (40) and Bradley Hodge (36) steadied things, adding sixty-five runs for the third wicket. Later, Klinger found Mott to be an able partner as they knocked off another forty for the fourth wicket and then joined with all-rounder Ian Harvey (19) to add a further thirty-eight for the fifth wicket and take the Bushrangers to within nineteen runs of victory.

The Victorians now move to twenty-six points on the table, two behind Queensland and ten clear of third placed New South Wales. Thus it seems we are set for a repeat of last year's Final, albeit that the venue is not yet clear-cut this time.

Klinger played with the experience of a man beyond his years and his familiarity with first-class cricket on a pitch that was keeping low and giving considerable assistance to leg spinner Peter McIntyre. McIntyre ended up being the pick of the South Australian bowlers, returning figures of 4/62 from twenty-four overs.

Earlier, Victoria disposed of the last seven South Australian second innings wickets for just twenty-two runs as they routed the Redbacks in just under an hour and a half in the morning. It would have been worse if Chris Davies (9) hadn't made a gutsy appearance, coming in at the fall of the seventh wicket of the innings to join Greg Blewett (95) and then proceeding to bat on one leg for nearly half an hour. He could barely move while at the crease yet made nine out of the nine runs while he was there and played a memorable hook shot off the front foot while facing the lively Michael Lewis (2/37). It was a pity a few of his more able-bodied teammates couldn't muster the same sort of contribution.

Jeff Vaughan (13) started the rot this morning when he failed to add to his overnight score, padding up to Paul Reiffel (2/45). Graham Manou (1) fared little better, being bowled between bat and pad by the effervescent Harvey, the first in the all-rounder's haul of 4/4 from his 9.2 overs today. Reiffel trapped Brett Swain (0) in front then Lewis had Paul Wilson (3) caught at the wicket, before Harvey mopped up the rest including the valiant Blewett just five short of the milestone of a hundred in each innings. This left the visitors requiring the score of 191 to win from a minimum seventy-four overs.

Lunch was reached without any major dramas but, after the break, McIntyre struck a double blow in his fourth over, having Jason Arnberger (9) caught at slip and Matthew Elliott (19) bowled between bat and pad to reduce the Bushrangers to that mark of 2/29.

Mott and Hodge, who had added ninety-five runs for the third wicket in the first innings, combined again at a crucial time to add sixty-five in ninety-nine minutes, taking the run chase past tea before Blewett (1/18) found some reverse swing to trap Hodge lbw. This was after Blewett had dropped him off Mark Harrity (0/44) at first slip when his score was at 19 and the Victorians' total at 66 - a catch he would probably have taken on every one of another ninety-nine occasions.

Klinger emerged with Mott to add forty, before the latter was caught at silly mid on off McIntyre. Then Harvey supplied his aggressive contribution with the bat to take the visitors well within sight of victory.

For a time, 191 seemed to be a satisfactory target for the Redbacks to defend. But once Klinger settled in, the Victorians were always headed for a win that keeps them nicely within reach of Queensland as the battle for the Pura Cup continues in earnest.