Victoria edge semi by a run

Victoria 281 (Wade 101, Finch 68) beat New South Wales 280 (Hughes 64, O'Keefe 49) by one run
Scorecard

Victoria did just enough to pick up a one-run victory and seal a berth in the finals of the Ryobi Cup, but not before Steve O'Keefe had given them a real scare with his aggressive 49. O'Keefe brought the equation down to two required off three balls, but was out caught and bowled by Dirk Nannes to give Victoria the win. O'Keefe's 49 had come off just 40 balls, and brought NSW back into the game after they were struggling at 207 for 8 in the 37th over in response to Victoria's 281.

O'Keefe added 36 runs for the eighth wicket with No. 9 Scott Coyte, but when Coyte was bowled by 20-year-old fast bowler James Pattinson the equation still favoured Victoria, with NSW needing 38 off 22 balls with two wickets in hand. O'Keefe went on the attack, but just when it looked like he had done enough to secure a comeback victory, he became the last man out.

Victoria's innings had been built around Matthew Wade's century. They scored quickly in their first 20-over innings, with Aaron Finch getting a brisk 68, and Wade batting through to finish on 45 at the innings break with Victoria on 125 for 2. NSW decided to preserve wickets and got to 104 for 1 in their first 20. Victoria maintained their run-rate after resuming their innings, and Wade carried on to score 101 off 113 balls, Robert Quiney and Evan Gulbis added some quick runs in the middle order to help Victoria reach a strong total.

NSW's second stint at the wicket started with a couple of wickets falling quickly, but Moises Henriques and Simon Katich added 42 in good time to put them on course. Henriques' wicket sparked a mini-collapse and it took O'Keefe's efforts at the end to make a match of it. Offspinner Glenn Maxwell was the most economical of Victoria's bowlers, giving away just 30 runs in his eight overs.