Hodge's Century Leads Vics

The Age

Thursday February 7, 2008

By Lyall Johnson

CELEBRATING his 100th match, Brad Hodge seized both the personal and collective importance of last night's Ford Ranger Cup clash to lead Victoria to victory.

The Bushrangers chased down the target of 209 with four overs to spare in a match reduced to 47 overs by rain against Queensland, led by Hodge's superbly controlled 119 not out. It was his ninth domestic one-day and his highest Australian domestic one-day score.

"It was a perfect knock really, timely, and I guess when you are looking to get into a final you have got to try and stand up and do something special," he said.

"I didn't even know to be honest (that it was his 100th game), I only knew when I looked up on the (screen). It's a nice achievement to be able to play 100 games in Sheffield Shield and 100 games in one day."

But more importantly his knock secured the win for Victoria that will virtually guarantee the Bushrangers a place in the final with Tasmania.

Only a win with a bonus point from Queensland or South Australia in their last-round matches would bring them equal to Victoria should it lose in the last round to NSW. Should Victoria make the one-day final, it could be the first side to make all three finals, having already won the Twenty20 competition and also currently sits equal top of the Pura Cup table.

Hodge was in control from the moment he strode to the crease with Victoria in trouble at 2-39. He was joined in the run chase by Bushrangers skipper Cameron White who followed on from his 46 against Western Australia on the weekend by compiling an unbeaten 64. The pair's brilliant 157-run partnership for the third wicket ground the Bulls out of the game.

Originally set a target of 215 after bowling the Bulls out in the 49th over, the match was reduced to a 47-over affair and the target revised to 209 because of rain.

Victorian paceman Clinton McKay led the way with 3-42 including the wickets of Jimmy Maher and Ashley Noffke while leg-spinner Bryce McGain took 2-29 from his 10 overs.

© 2008 The Age

Back to News Index | Back to Home