Hussey lifts leaders Victoria further ahead

Victoria 418 and 4 for 200 (Hussey 79) beat New South Wales 225 and 387 (Hughes 149, S Smith 124, McDonald 3-51) by six wickets
Scorecard

Victoria's captain David Hussey extended his team's lead at the top of the Sheffield Shield table to eight points after guiding the Bushrangers to a six-wicket win over New South Wales at the MCG. Steven Smith's second first-class century helped the Blues reach 387 but they lost their wickets too quickly on the final day, which gave Victoria plenty of time to chase 195.

Trent Copeland did his best to restrict the hosts and had Nick Jewell lbw for 2 and Aaron Finch also trapped in front for 26, before Hussey and Lloyd Mash steadied the Bushrangers. It was an important innings for Mash, who has been given the chance to replace Brad Hodge in the first-class line-up but this season had scored 14, 8, 0, 2 and 6.

He finished with a handy 40 before edging Josh Hazlewood to slip just after tea, and Hussey (79) and McDonald, who made 39 not out, got them close to the line. The winning runs came via a six from Matthew Wade, who came to the crease for two balls only and cleared the boundary off Steve O'Keefe.

The Bushrangers began the day still needing six wickets to finish off the Blues and things began well with the early departure of Dominic Thornely, who was lbw to McDonald for a duck. The Blues looked well-placed to bat for a draw when O'Keefe (43) and Smith (124) put together a 93-run stand and Smith brought up his hundred with a six off Jon Holland.

However, both men fell playing attacking strokes and it gave the Victorians the chance to test the tail against the second new ball. McDonald and Damien Wright finished with three wickets each and an extended opening session meant Victoria began their pursuit straight after the lunch break, with plenty of overs in hand.