Spinners put Redbacks into elimination final

South Australia 5 for 244 (Cooper 77, Ludeman 50) beat Cricket Australia XI 168 (Cartwright 66, Andrews 4-41, Zampa 4-48) by 79 runs
Scorecard

South Australia's spin duo of Adam Zampa and Tom Andrews secured their side a place in the Matador Cup elimination final with a 79-run victory over the Cricket Australia XI. Tom Cooper set up the win with 77 in the South Australian innings, and they will now play Victoria on Friday for the right to take on New South Wales in Sunday's final.

Travis Head won the toss and chose to bat first and although Head himself fell for 29, there were enough contributions through the innings to reach a competitive 5 for 244. Head's fellow opener Tim Ludeman struck four fours in his 50 off 81 deliveries, Callum Ferguson chipped in with 35, Jake Lehmann made a quick 38 and Cooper anchored the innings with 77.

South Australia needed to win to progress in the tournament and it was their spinners who did the job, with Zampa collecting 4 for 48 and Andrews picking up 4 for 41. Hilton Cartwright followed his 99 from the previous match with 66 from 76 deliveries, but the wickets kept falling around him and when he was bowled by Andrews the chase was all but over.

Kane Richardson finished the task by bowling the No.11 Ryan Lees and the CA XI were dismissed for 168. Although they finished last on the table in their first Matador Cup campaign, the CA XI did pick up one scalp along the way, beating Tasmania, a result that ultimately cost the Tigers a place in the elimination final.