Hodge the only bright light in Victoria's batting

South Australian openers Shane Deitz (10*) and David Fitzgerald (1*) have survived a dangerous three-over spell before stumps on day one of their Pura Cup clash against Victoria at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

After bowling the Bushrangers out for 231, South Australia is twelve without loss at the end of the day. The team trails by 219 runs, with ten wickets still in hand. Deitz, who struck a four to open the Redbacks' innings, survived two chances (a loud lbw appeal and a dropped catch in the slips) in the first over off Paul Reiffel.

Fortunately for the visitors, he will be there at the resumption of their innings tomorrow in their bid to open their account in this season's Pura Cup competition. After two matches each, Victoria and South Australia remain the only sides without a single point to their names.

The underlying story of today's play was this: in the injury-enforced absence of opener Matthew Elliott, Victoria's unhealthy dependence on one batsman continues. This time, it was Brad Hodge (104) who was responsible for holding together his team while others collapsed around him.

Notching up his third successive first-class century, Hodge was in fine form today. He struck ten boundaries (including six off spinner Peter McIntyre) and one six on his way to his ton, taking him to a mark of 470 runs for the season. He now averages 112 runs for the Pura Cup competition, making him a serious contender to play in the Australia 'A' side to take on West Indies in Hobart next month.

Not for the first time this season, Hodge found himself making most of the runs as Victoria suffered yet another batting slump. After going to tea at a satisfactory 4/127, the Bushrangers lost six wickets for the addition of 104 runs in the final session, including a second-new ball burst of 4/9 in just twenty-seven balls.

After being sent in to bat by Redback captain Darren Lehmann, the Bushrangers found the going tough, scoring only two runs per over in the first session. However, the openers did manage to build a partnership of forty-one before Jason Arnberger (19) fell to Paul Wilson. The veteran also claimed the other opener, having Shawn Craig (30) caught behind by wicketkeeper Graham Manou five overs before lunch.

Although Victoria's run rate did not improve much in the second session, Hodge set about building a respectable total, first with the aid of Matthew Mott (12), then Michael Kilnger (8). After Mott was given out caught at mid wicket in a dubious bat-pad decision off Mark Harrity and Klinger was caught by Greg Blewett off McIntyre, Hodge finally found someone capable of sticking around.

Together with Ian Harvey (31), he compiled a fifty-six run partnership for the fifth wicket off eighty-five balls at a rate of better than a run a minute. Harvey struck five fours, including three off Harrity, in his stay of fifty-four minutes. His dismissal was one of three suspect decisions given today. Harvey was adjudged lbw to McIntyre even though he was well forward.

Vice-captain Darren Berry (2) and captain Paul Reiffel (0) were the next to go, marking the beginning of another Victorian batting collapse. The new ball, taken after Harvey's dismissal, claimed four Bushranger wickets in twenty-seven balls, while just nine runs were added. Reiffel was followed by Hodge (caught from a thick edge by Deitz at first slip off Wilson), Colin Miller (3) and later Damien Fleming (15), ending the home team's innings at 231.

Veteran Wilson was highest wicket taker for South Australia, with 4/49 off 22.1 overs. Brett Swain (3/33 off twenty-one overs), McIntyre (2/64 off twenty overs) and Harrity (1/44 off fifteen overs) were the other successful bowlers.