Bushrangers home just in time

A career-best six-wicket haul by Gerard Denton has steered Victoria to a last-gasp and thoroughly-deserving 215-run victory against South Australia in the Pura Cup clash concluding in Adelaide today.

Man-of-the-Match Denton, after claiming both openers, terrorised the lower order with 3-0 in his final seven deliveries to finish with 6-31, spearheading the Bushrangers' effort to terminate the Redbacks' dismal innings at 134 with only nine balls remaining in the match.

After the Vics' second-dig declaration set the home side an imposing target of 350 off a manageable 87 overs on the final day, early wickets ultimately foiled South Australia’s victorious aspirations, dwindling to 4-52 by the 32nd over.

Mark Cosgrove had been negotiating the Redbacks safely to a draw, however, his list of partners ran out as the home team capitulated at the hands of Denton, losing their final four wickets for as many runs.

Twenty-two-year-old Cosgrove remained unconquered on 52, facing an enduring 267 deliveries in a valiant five-hour knock, while Cameron Borgas was the next highest scorer with 24.

Victoria thought they had perhaps grassed an opportunity to secure outright points when Cosgrove offered Lloyd Mash a hot chance at short leg inside five overs remaining, which he was unable to hold onto.

Though, when Shaun Tait lobbed a Denton leg-side slower delivery straight to Nick Jewell at leg gully to provide the visitors' with all six points, Mash's miss was briskly forgotten.

Jewell had made 95 earlier in the day, helping Victoria move from their overnight score of 4-201 to 6-246 within half-an-hour of play.

Lusty hitting by Jon Moss (16) and Andrew McDonald (20no) enabled the Vics to power on 2-46 off seven overs before declaring their innings closed with a lead of 349 runs.

Bailey's 25 overs delivered him a return of 4-117 to have 6-228 for the match as South Australia's most productive bowler.

Victoria move into equal-second on the Pura Cup table with six points from two matches, while the Redbacks slip down to fifth place with two points from as many games.

Victoria - First Innings 6-385 declared

South Australia - First Innings all out 282

Victoria - Second Innings
N JEWELL not out 93
L MASH lbw b Rofe 10
B HODGE c Elliott b Bailey 45
D HUSSEY c Manou b Bailey 15
C WHITE c Tait b Bailey 22
J MOSS b Bailey 16
A McDONALD not out 20
A CROSTHWAITE not out 6

Sundries (5b, 2lb, 5nb, 5wd) 17
Total (for 6 wickets dec) 246

Fall: 1-34, 2-125, 3-147, 4-187, 5-209, 6-223

Bowling: S Tait 10-0-47-0 (4nb, 5wd), J Gillespie 10-1-26-0, P Rofe 8-0-25-1, C Bailey 25-0-117-4, D Lehmann 11-0-24-1

Innings time: 231 mins. Overs: 64

South Australia - Second Innings (target 350)
S DEITZ lbw b Denton 1
M ELLIOTT lbw b Denton 7
C BORGAS c White b Warne 24
M COSGROVE not out 52
C FERGUSON lbw b Denton 1
D LEHMANN c Mash b White 18
G MANOU c Mash b White 2
J GILLESPIE lbw b Moss 16
C BAILEY c Hussey b Denton 1
P ROFE c Crosthwaite b Denton 0
S TAIT c Jewell b Denton 0

Sundries (7b, 4lb, 1nb) 12
Total (all out) 134

Fall: 1-3, 2-14, 3-51, 4-52, 5-74, 6-84, 7-130, 8-133, 9-133, 10-134

Bowling: M Lewis 14-5-19-0 (1nb), G Denton 17.3-6-31-6, S Warne 30-15-42-1, A McDonald 7-5-2-0, C White 12-4-26-2, J Moss 3-3-0-1, D Hussey 2-0-3-0

Innings time: 330 mins. Overs: 85.3

Victoria won by 215 runs
MOTM: G Denton (Vic)
Points: Victoria 6, South Australia 2

12th Men: D Harris (SA), C McKay (Vic)
Toss: Victoria
Umpires: S Fry, P Parker
Venue: Adelaide Oval
Match Attendance: 5,303

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