Victoria advance despite defeat

Needing a big win to move into the next stage after their loss to Delhi Daredevils on Sunday, Wayamba needed to restrict Victoria to 83 after themselves posting 118 for nine to go through on nett run-rate. But Brad Hodge’s stubbornness and Andrew McDonald’s flamboyance denied the Jehan Mubarak-led side a place in the next phase as Victoria finished on 103 for four.

Still 11 short of their firts target of 84 going into the 18th over, McDonald clobbered Kaushal Lokuarachchi for three consecutive fours and then a six to seal a Super Eight spot for the Australian side. Needing 20 runs off the final over, Victoria managed only four, leaving Wayamba victors by 15 runs but the Australian T20 champions had the last laugh. With Wayamba’s exit, the Daredevils became the second Indian team to advance to the next stage after Royal Challengers Bangalore.

With their first goal of 84 in mind, Victoria appeared to be in no mood to go for victory. David Hussey took 22 balls for seven while skipper Cameron White managed just 11 off 20 balls. Though Hodge (44, 52b, 2x4, 1x6) held one end up, the slow pace of the innings and the regular fall of wickets had set the match up nicely until McDonald (27, 16b, 4x4, 1x6) decided to take things in his own hands and dash Wayamba’s hopes.

With their nett run-rate nowhere near either Delhi Daredevils’ or Victoria’s, Wayamba showed little urgency after electing to bat, the first six overs resulting a pitiable 16 runs after Peter Siddle had trapped opener Mahela Udawatte in front in the opening over. In fact, the six overs of Power Play saw just one four being scored off paceman Shane Harwood by Jeevantha Kalutunga; 16 for one was the lowest at this ground during Power Play.  

Kalutunga and one-drop Michael Vandort, with a fair bit of international experience behind him, then embarked upon the consolidation job before exploding in Jon Holland’s over. The left-arm spinner, a surprise inclusion in the Australian squad for the seven-match one-day series against India, was greeted with two sixes as the Wayamba batsmen for the first time showed some intent and purpose, though the slow nature of the wicket wasn’t helpful.

With the right-handed Kalutunga (41, 39b, 3x4, 2x6) taking the lead, 81 runs came off 73 balls for the second wicket, setting a perfect platform from where Wayamba could have built a substantial total. But the dismissals of Vendort and Kalutunga in the space of three runs triggered the rot. Harwood, wicketless in his first spell, claimed three wickets – all clean bowled -- on his return, breaking the back of Wayamba middle-order. The Lankans totally lost their way in the last five overs, managing just 20 runs while losing six wickets.

SCORE BOARD

WAYAMBA ELEVENS: Jeevantha Kalutunga c McDonald b McKay 41 (39b, 3x4, 2x6), Mahela Udawatte lbw Siddle 1 (4b), Michael Vandort b McKay 42 (44b, 3x4, 1x6), Mahela Jayawardene c Blizzard b McDonald 3 (6b), Jehan Mubarak b Harwood 10 (7b, 2x4), Kaushal Lokuarachchi b Harwood 0 (3b), Tissara Perera c Quiney b McDonald 6 (2b, 1x6), Farveez Maharoof b Harwood 1 (5b), Rangana Herath (run out) 3 (3b), Chanaka Welegedera (not out) 7 (5b, 1x4), Ajantha Mendis (not out) 1 (2b). Extras (LB-3) 3. Total (for 9 wkts, 20 overs) 118.

Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Udawatte), 2-85 (Vandort), 3-88 (Kulatunga), 4-99 (Mubarak), 5-99 (Lokuarachchi), 6-99 (Jayawardene), 7-105 (Perera), 8-108 (Maharoof), 9-110 (Herath).

Bowling: Shane Harwood 4-0-14-3, Peter Siddle 4-0-12-1, Clint Mckay 4-0-24-2, Andrew McDonald 4-0-28-2, Jon Holland 1-0-14-0, Brad Hodge 2-0-15-0, David Hussey 1-0-8-0.

Runs during: Power Play: 1-6 overs: 16/1.

VICTORIA BUSHRANGERS: Rob Quiney c & b Welegedera 0 (3b), Brad Hodge (not out) 44 (52b, 2x4, 1x6), Aiden Blizzard c Mendis b Welegedera 6 (7b, 1x4), David Hussey b Maharoof 7 (22b, 1x4), Cameron White c Perera b Mendis 11 (20b, 1x6), Andrew McDonald (not out) 27 (16b, 4x4, 1x6). Extras (B-2, LB-5, W-1) 8. Total (for 4 wkts, 20 overs) 103.

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Quiney), 2-17 (Blizzard), 3-45 (Hussey), 4-68 (White).
 
Bowling: Chanaka Welegedera 4-0-18-2 (w-1), Thissara Perera 3-0-10-0, Ajantha Mendis 4-0-21-1, Farveez Maharoof 4-0-19-01, Rangana Herath 4-0-10-0, Kaushal Lokuarachchi 1-0-18-0.

Runs during: Power Play: 1-6 overs: 24/2.

Group D points table

 League Phase scenario

* League A: A1, A2 (to be decided on Wednesday); Winners of Diamond Eagles vs Sussex Sharks; New South Wales (B2).

* League B: Royal Challengers Bangalore (C1), Cape Cobras (C2); Delhi Daredevils (D1), Victoria Bushrangers (D2).