Thrilling tie between Redbacks and Tigers

South Australia and Tasmania have played out an entertaining tie in their rain-interrupted ING Cup clash in Adelaide this evening.

In a thrilling last over, the Tigers required two runs off the final ball to secure victory, though, Luke Butterworth was unable to pierce the condensed field in the inner circle, only managing to scamper through for a single.

Chasing a target of 172 to win, a crafty yet typical Michael Bevan innings of 54 rescued Tasmania from 3-38, propelling the Tigers from a horror start and back into contention in his 88-run stand with George Bailey (37).

The home side's sundries total added to the cause – the Redbacks allowing through 35 extras, including 22 wides, in contrast to Tasmania's mere 16 extras.

South Australia had earlier accumulated 5-160 from their alloted 35 overs, after rain delayed play for three hours when they were 3-83 after 21 overs - Duckworth/Lewis hoisting the visitor's victory target up by a further 11 runs.

Both teams escape with two points – the Redbacks remain in fourth position on the one-day domestic table with 14 points from seven matches, while the Tigers shrug the cellar dwellers branding as they slip into fifth with 12 points from seven games.

Earlier in the day, Tigers' captain Michael Di Venuto won the toss and sent the opposition in.

Openers Matthew Elliott and Greg Blewett offered few chances in their somewhat brisk, but responsible start to the innings under overcast skies, taking 47 runs off the first 10 overs without loss.

Although Elliott had no trouble getting his eye in, Blewett was finding it difficult to break away - a lofted on-drive for six in the 10th over signaling the start of control.

However, the positive beginning soon started to hinder as some superb bowling by Adam Griffith knocked over Blewett for 22 at 1-52, followed by Mark Cosgrove, who looked out-of-sorts, at 2-65 for four.

As steady rain continued to fall, Elliott, who had rarely put a foot wrong throughout his innings of 34, was run out after falling centimeters short of his ground when wicketkeeper Tim Paine whipped the bails off from Xavier Doherty's throw from mid-off.

Following a three-hour rain delay at the 21st-over mark, Lehmann took control as South Australia went about searching for quick runs in the final 14 overs of their overs-reduced innings.

The Test discard blasted his 50 in over a run-a-ball as he finished unbeaten on 56 in only 52 balls

Eager to protect their wickets, Callum Ferguson (15) and Cameron Borgas (12) played patiently, before hauling out – Ferguson caught in the deep by Bailey off Darren McNees at 4-127, while Borgas was bowled in the final over by Ben Hilfenhaus.

Griffith finished with impressive figures of 2-33 from 10 overs, while Hilfenhaus and McNees picked up a scalp apiece.

Chasing 172 for victory, the early losses of Tim Paine (2), Di Venuto (12) and Travis Birt (5) swung the pendulum the home side's way after Trent Kelly ripped through with two wickets.

A typical Bevan innings of 54 in 71 balls brought the visitors back into contention in his near 100-run stand with Bailey (37), before Bailey was brilliantly run out by Lehmann at 4-126.

Bevan was eventually dismissed - trapped lbw to Dan Cullen, attempting to sweep, at 5-159.

His wicket hoisted the Tigers out of control, who only needed 11 runs from 13 balls at one stage, and into a desperate situation – losing 4-4 and requiring nine runs off the final over.

Butterworth (8no) slammed Mark Cosgrove for a boundary when seven was needed off the final three balls, before he struck a single off the final delivery to secure a tie.

Kelly (2-28) and Shaun Tait (2-34) flourished in the overcast conditions on a pitch that had taken its fair share of rain.

Full scorecard available here.

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