A fine century from Michael Klinger could not prevent Victoria from slipping to an eight-wicket defeat to South Australia at the Junction Oval in Melbourne, as Greg Blewett and Mark Cosgrove added 143 to see their side home. Klinger's 103 from just 102 deliveries had earlier taken Victoria to 204 for 8 in a rain-reduced 41-over match, but the total proved too little for the in-form Cosgrove and an authoritative Blewett.
Peter Siddle's medium pace had accounted for Matthew Elliot (43) and Graham Manou, leaving SA at 2 for 62 in the 16th over, but Blewett and Cosgrove steadied the ship with some attacking strokes. Cosgrove's 70 came from only 68 balls, while Blewett summoned the strength to smack two sixes in his innings of 79, SA reaching the target in the 39th over. Siddle finished with figures of 2 for 41 from eight overs.
Earlier in the day, Klinger had held Victoria's innings together with a fine 103 after Daniel Cullen, the offspinner, and Darren Lehmann, SA's captain, shared six wickets between them to rock the middle order. Victoria had got off to a decent start with Klinger and Jon Moss adding 45 before Moss edged to Manou off the bowling of Paul Rofe, the fast bowler.
Jason Gillespie then removed Aiden Blizzard, the debutant, for a second-ball duck before Klinger and David Hussey, the Victorian captain, added 87. Hussey became Lehmann's first victim when he was deceived in the flight and stumped by Manou for 43, a dismissal that sparked off a collapse. Klinger, however, was a rock amid the storm, taking his side past 200 before falling in the 49th over.
This win completed a successful week for SA, coming on the heels of their seven-wicket victory over the same opposition in the Pura Cup at the same ground only a couple days ago.