Khawaja stands tall in dramatic first-innings tie

Victoria 394 & 4 for 108 (White 49) lead New South Wales 394 (Khawaja 85, Katich 71, Mail 68) by 108 runs
Scorecard

New South Wales and Victoria will play in the Pura Cup final after they each earned a point by finishing their first innings level on 394. The dramatic result, which moved both teams to 33 on the table and ended Western Australia's hopes over the final two rounds, occurred when the Blues lost their last three wickets for three runs after the 21-year-old debutant Usman Khawaja showed poise under extreme pressure.

Khawaja had reached 85, sharing a crucial 90-run stand for the eighth wicket with Moises Henriques, when he was run out by Brad Hodge's throw from point with the team needing four for a first-innings advantage. Hodge was involved again as Henriques fell cutting three balls later for 47 before Doug Bollinger gave the wicketkeeper Matthew Wade his sixth catch. Each side wanted a point to confirm their place in the decider and the unlikely result was suitable for both of them.

Bryce McGain captured the final wicket, taking 3 for 100 off 36.5 overs, but the playing talking point revolved around Khawaja. He entered in the first session with the Blues in difficulty at 5 for 214 and looked at home immediately while Beau Casson and Daniel Smith slipped. He was particularly strong against the short ball - pulls and cuts contributed to his 12 fours - and had faced 173 balls when he failed to beat Hodge's throw.

Victoria reached 4 for 108 by stumps with Nick Jewell (34) and Cameron White (49) making the biggest contributions. The sides will now jostle for hosting rights for the March final over the next couple of weeks. Victoria, who won the Twenty20 tournament, are also in the FR Cup decider and are eyeing an unprecedented treble.