Vics beat Bulls by eight wickets

Centuries to Matthew Elliott and Brad Hodge guided Victoria to an eight wicket victory over Queensland in the ING Cup match tonight at the Gabba.

The Bushrangers were set 236 runs by Queensland, thanks to some late big hitting by Bulls wicketkeeper Wade Seccombe and off-spinner Nathan Hauritz.

The Victorian innings, which started 45 minutes late because of rain, began badly when Jonathan Moss was out for a duck when he was caught by Shane Jurgenson at short mid on off the bowling of Joe Dawes.

But Elliott smashed 117 while Hodge hit 107 to put on 221 and shatter Victoria's previous all wicket limited over record of 194 which Elliott set with Graeme Vimpani against NSW in the 1999-2000 season

Elliott's century was his sixth domestic one-day hundred and he hit 13 fours and a six which went under the ING sign, narrowly missing out on $50,000 in prize money, during his 116 ball stay.

Hodge made his fifth domestic one day century, belting 15 fours during his 123 ball tenure at the crease.

The win erases memories of the Bushrangers loss to NSW last week while Queensland will lick its wounds and ready itself to play Victoria in the Pura Cup match at the Gabba from Sunday.

Queensland were fortunate to make 235 after being 6-164 with 12 overs remaining.

Hauritz joined Seccombe at the crease for a face-saving unbeaten 71-run stand, which included 44 runs off the last 3.2 overs.

In an action-pack final ten overs Seccombe hit an unbeaten 50, which included four dropped catches off debutante Allan Wise, while Hauritz pulled his hamstring while taking off for a quick run.

But it did not hamper the 22-year-old off spinner who hit 39 off 34 balls with the aid of a runner, in an innings which included two sixes.

Hauritz, who was part of the victorious Australian 2003 World Cup squad, will be out for at least the next couple of weeks.

Wise ended with 2-34 but had to watch Seccombe survive at five when Elliott dropped him at at short mid-off and later Victorian captain Cameron White spilled a chance at short cover when he was on 25.

In Wise's final over, White again dropped Seccombe at 27 in the same position and a few balls later Shane Harwood fumbled on the boundary.

With rain threatening Queensland captain Martin Love won the toss and the Bulls opened with 25-year-old Daniel Payne and veteran Stuart Law.

They set a cracking pace and their 50 partnership came off 69 balls with Law passing his 2,000 run in one-day domestic matches in the fourth over.

But it was part-time Victorian bowler Moss, who took 3-52 for the match, which prevented the deluge of runs.

In a three-over period Moss took 3-11 with Payne (22), Law (55) and Clinton Perren (5) falling victim to his gentle medium pacers.