Manou hits ING sign and bags $50,000

Redbacks wicket-keeper Graham Manou today was the first player in the 2002/03 season to hit the ING sign and win $50,000 from ING.

Manou lofted a cleanly struck straight drive to the long-off boundary to be just the fifth player during the 11 year sponsorship with ING to win the prize.

In an aggressive innings which saw Manou hit 44 off 37 deliveries, the winning six was hit in the 28th over off the Warriors' Kade Harvey.

Manou also is leading the fastest fifty competition after scoring his 50 runs off 29 balls against Tasmania at the Adelaide Oval in November.

National sponsorship manager for ING, Mr Geoff Prenter, said ING is delighted that this prize has eventually been won on Australia's premier ground, Adelaide Oval.

"We are also pleased that a player as intrepid as Graham Manou was able to achieve the prize," he said.

It is the first time the sign positioned at the long-off boundary has been hit to win the prize and the first time a Redback has taken out the jackpot.

Last season, Western Australia's Michael Hussey hit the sign and previous to that the award was dominated by New South Welshmen - Brad Haddin in 1999/00, Shane Lee in 1998/99 and Steve Waugh six seasons ago.