Victoria v Tasmania, Pura Cup, Melbourne, 2nd day

Hodge finally finds his form

Cricinfo staff

November 10, 2007

Victoria 5 for 240 (Hodge 93, Hussey 52) lead Tasmania 235 (Krejza 42*, McGain 5-68, Denton 3-77) by 5 runs
Scorecard

Brad Hodge began to put his recent poor results behind him with 93 © Getty Images

Brad Hodge rediscovered some much-needed form, top scoring with 93 as Victoria secured a first-innings lead against Tasmania. At the close the Bushrangers had a five-run advantage at 5 for 240 with Andrew McDonald on 31 and Matthew Wade on 13.

After Hodge opened in the last Pura Cup game in an unsuccessful effort to impress the Test selectors, he slotted back into the more familiar No. 3 position. However he still found himself facing most of the first over when Rob Quiney was trapped lbw by Ben Hilfenhaus from the first ball of the innings.

Without the question of Test selection hanging over him - and with a club century under his belt from last weekend - Hodge became the first batsman from either side to pass fifty in the match. He had useful allies in Nick Jewell (41) and David Hussey, who added 101 with Hodge before he fell to Adam Griffith for 52.

Tasmania added 35 to their overnight total before the legspinner Bryce McGain removed the last man Hilfenhaus with the Tigers' score on 235. McGain finished with 5 for 68, which was his second five-wicket haul from eight first-class appearances, and he continued to repay Victoria for giving him a state contract and the No. 1 spin position at the age of 35.

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