Cricinfo - Redbacks win after Johns gamble fails

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KFC Twenty20

Redbacks win after Johns gamble fails

Cricinfo staff

January 7, 2007

South Australia 9 for 150 (Manou 43) beat New South Wales 9 for 142 (Adcock 3-19) by eight runs
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Andrew Johns bowled but he was not trusted to face the last over of the run chase © Getty Images

New South Wales' decision to play Andrew Johns, the rugby league star, put them out of contention for the final as Simon Katich refused to put Johns on strike in the last over, handing South Australia victory. The Blues were chasing the Redbacks' modest 150 and fell to 9 for 138 in the 19th over. Johns, the No. 11, joined Katich but with 13 needed from the final six balls, Katich was unable to find the boundary and protected Johns by neglecting singles off Ryan Harris.

Five dot balls and a four from Katich meant the game petered out to a loss for the Blues, a disappointing result for the Newcastle crowd, who came in part to watch Johns, their home-town hero. South Australia failed to capitalise on their blazing start - they were 2 for 50 after five overs - as regular wickets kept the run-rate down. Graham Manou (43) and Darren Lehmann (33) top-scored but it was their bowlers who put them back in the game. The home side struggled as the spinners Dan Cullen and Nathan Adcock took three wickets each.

Tasmania 4 for 208 (Di Venuto 95*, Bailey 60) beat Western Australia 8 for 123 (Pomersbach 40) by 85 runs
Scorecard

Michael Di Venuto and George Bailey blasted Tasmania to a comprehensive 85-run victory at Hobart. Western Australia crumbled in response to the Tigers' 4 for 208, limping to 8 for 123. Di Venuto ran out of time to reach a century but his unbeaten 95 came from only 56 deliveries, while Bailey hammered seven sixes in his 21-ball 60.

The pair took 31 from one Adam Voges over, which started with four sixes and a single from Bailey before Di Venuto also belted the last ball over the rope. While the Warriors' medium-pacers were costly, Tasmania's fast men proved dangerous and economical. Damien Wright's brilliant spell of 1 for 14 from four overs and Brendan Drew's 1 for 24 set the tone, with the visitors never able to cut loose. Luke Pomersbach continued to impress with 40 from 21 balls but the required run-rate ballooned out of control and Tasmania cruised to their first win of the tournament.

Victoria 6 for 194 (Hodge 65, Nye 3-26) beat Queensland 106 (Lewis 4-10) by 88 runs
Scorecard

Adam Crosthwaite made 39 late in Victoria's innings © Getty Images

Victoria jumped to the top of the KFC Twenty20 table after some outstanding bowling by their fast men, led by Mick Lewis and Shane Harwood. Brad Hodge, the Bushrangers' acting captain, had set up a tough run-chase for Queensland at Melbourne, and in reply to Victoria's 6 for 194 the visitors collapsed to be all out for 106 in the 17th over. Lewis took 4 for 10 from 3.2 overs and Harwood 2 for 13 as they kept the pressure on the Bulls, who never looked settled.

Hodge continued his excellent form and is the leading run-scorer in the tournament despite the Bushrangers' match against Tasmania being washed out. His 65 from 46 balls was the cornerstone of the home team's innings, before Aaron Nye, the offspinner, slowed things down with three wickets in one over. But Andrew McDonald and Adam Crosthwaite launched a late blitz; McDonald took only 22 deliveries to score an unbeaten 36, while Crosthwaite's 23-ball 39 featured inventive paddle shots and a huge six over backward point.