Bushrangers ride on Hussey heroics

David Hussey's 47-ball century put Victoria on track in their Twenty20 title defence as they beat Tasmania by 35 runs at Bellerive Oval. The Bushrangers have won the three previous tournaments and are desperate to reach the final again after missing out on the postponed Champions League Twenty20 due to the Mumbai terrorist attacks.

Hussey lifted Victoria from 2 for 42 with a brutal and unbeaten 100, which contained 12 fours and three sixes, as they posted an impressive 5 for 203. Tasmania suffered when Dirk Nannes took two wickets in the first three overs and despite Travis Birt's 58 from 34 balls, the Tigers were all out for 168 with nine balls left.

Things didn't go as well for the other side which qualified for the Champions League; Western Australia slumped to a 35-run loss against South Australia in a rain-curtailed game in Adelaide. Fast bowler Umar Gul took 4 for 15 but the rest of the Western Australia bowling wasn't as impressive, allowing the Redbacks to pile up 182. Callum Ferguson top scored with 58 and his side were eyeing 200 before being restricted by a three-wicket burst from Gul.

Western Australia had reached 1 for 37after 5.1 overs before the chase was interrupted by rain and the target was revised to 157 off 17 overs. They lost the dangerous pair of Luke Pomersbach and Marcus North off consecutive deliveries in the seventh over, a double-blow from which they couldn't recover.