Hodge leads Bushrangers home

A Brad Hodge century has guided the Victorian Bushrangers to an emphatic eight-wicket win over the Redbacks at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

Hodge smashed 102 off 106 deliveries in masterful display that gained serious momentum as the winning tally of 240 loomed.

The 33-year-old's performance was dominant but he brought up triple figures in comical fashion - his bat flew from his hands as he struck a boundary through mid-wicket.

In total he scored 11 fours and two sixes - the second six was a monster and cleared the Victor Richardson gates by at several metres.

David Hussey was no slouch and finished with an unbeaten 24 from 13 balls but was a mere spectator as Hodge went on his rampage.

The duo added 104 runs for the third wicket and saw the Bushrangers home with 6.5 overs to spare.

It was an exciting end to a controlled innings by the Victorians who developed some handy partnerships and all but kept pace with the 4.8 run rate during the first half of the innings.

They then started to lift the tempo after about 30 overs and always looked like surpassing the Redbacks' total of 5/239.

The team's openers Chris Rogers (60 off 69 balls) and Rob Quiney (40 off 54) posted 71 runs for the first wicket and took the pressure off their team-mates with a risk-free start to the chase. It was then left to Hodge to put the icing on the cake.

He initially paired with Rogers for a 64-run partnership and then took control of his pairing with Hussey.

It was a disappointing end to an initially competitive effort by the Redbacks.

Mark Cleary (1-47) and NSW recruit Aaron O'Brien (1-44) had some success but they were rare highlights in a non-threatening bowling performance by the home side.

The positive for the Redbacks' was Shaun Tait's comeback. He bowled fast and with control and finished with 0/36 off nine overs.

Earlier, an entrepreneurial innings of 79 from Daniel Harris and a no-nonsense 59 from 76 balls from Cameron Borgas provided the backbone to the Redbacks' tally of 5/239.

The home side accumulated quick runs during the early stages, were slowed by some tidy bowling and then struggled to lift the tempo despite having wickets in hands in the final 10 overs.

Debutant left-arm spinner Jon Holland got the ball rolling for the visitors and finished with figures of 2-44 off 10 overs.

Opening bowler Dirk Nannes was punished in his first three overs and was given a rest after conceding 21 runs. But he hit back in the second half of the innings with some quick, full bowling and the key wicket of Mark Cosgrove who was bowled for 23.

Nannes finished with 1-54 off 10 overs.

Andrew McDonald (1-35) and Harwood (1-39) were the other wicket takers.

South Australia innings
Harris c Rogers b McDonald 79 (100)
Klinger c Blizzard b Holland 17 (37)
Ferguson b Holland 10 (15)
Borgas c Rogers b Harwood 59 (76)
Cosgrove b Nannes 23 (36)
O’Brien not out 23 (26)
Manou not out 18 (12)
Extras: 1b, 3lb, 2nb, 4wd
Total: 239 (5 wickets; 50 overs)

FoW: 1-59, 2-83, 3-129, 4-179, 5-207

Bowling:
Nannes 10 - 0 - 54 - 1 (1nb, 2wd)
McKay 9 - 0 -44 - 0
Harwood 9 - 0 -39 - 1 (1nb, 1wd)
McDonald 7 - 0 - 35 -