Fiery Harwood sets up big win for Victoria

Victoria 4 for 204 (McDonald 55*, Haberfield 3-42) beat South Australia 200 (Ferguson 89, Harwood 4-33) by six wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Callum Ferguson made a well-timed 89 two days before his likely ODI debut but his South Australia side went down to Victoria by six wickets at the MCG. Andrew McDonald, who is hoping for a spot on the Test tour of South Africa, guided Victoria home after Shane Harwood's four wickets restricted the Redbacks to 200.

The Bushrangers earned a bonus point after securing the victory in the 38th over and it all but confirmed a spot in the FR Cup final. The only positive for South Australia in the second innings was the 3 for 34 picked up the fast bowler Jake Haberfield in his third game.

He found some swing and it was especially useful against the left-handers Rob Quiney and Chris Rogers, who were bowled and lbw from deliveries that moved back in. Cameron White made 33 after being left out of Australia's past couple of ODIs but the key was McDonald, whose unbeaten 55 made the victory a certainty.

McDonald likes to bat at his natural pace and a small target meant he could work the ball into the gaps and he timed his drives superbly. Things picked up in the finish when he was joined by Aaron Finch, who ended up on 25 and brought up the win with a six slammed over midwicket off Haberfield.

However, the real star for Victoria was the Man of the Match Harwood, whose outstanding new-ball spell reduced the Redbacks to 4 for 32 and it was effectively five-down as Tom Cooper had retired hurt after being thumped on the back of the head by a Harwood bouncer. It was such a severe blow that scans revealed a small fracture to the back of Cooper's skull and he will consult a specialist in Adelaide on Thursday.

Harwood had Michael Klinger and Daniel Harris caught when they failed to get on top of his quick, short deliveries, and Graham Manou was brilliantly caught and bowled when Harwood dived forward to collect a leading edge with one hand. Harwood returned to collect Ferguson, who picked the gaps and was cool and calm ahead of Friday's one-day international at the same venue, where he should debut against New Zealand.