November 12 Tuesday 2002
Victoria claim top spot on interstate table

MELBOURNE: Victoria grabbed the lead in the Australia interstate four-day championship standings on Monday after holding on to beat defending champions Queensland by four wickets. 

Resuming at 140 for five and requiring a further 23 runs to win, Victoria lost the wicket of middle order batsman Brad Hodge for 33, caught at second slip off the bowling of Ashley Noffke, with the score on 150. 

However, 19-year-old leg-break bowler Cameron White (29) and wicketkeeper Darren Berry (five) remained unbeaten to lead the home side to 163 for six. 

Victoria, under new coach and former Test player David Hookes, have 14 points from three matches this season, two points ahead of New South Wales with South Australia third on eight points from three games. 

Queensland, who have won the past three Australian interstate four-day titles, are fourth in the table with four points from two games. In Perth, South Australia had set Western Australia the massive task of scoring 414 to win. 

The home side resumed on the final day on Monday at 58 for two before pushing on boldly to 342-5 at the close of play as the match ended in a draw.

Chris Rogers was unbeaten on 110, sharing a massive sixth-wicket stand of 154 with Brad Hogg (79 not out). Rogers struck 16 boundaries in his six-hour stay after contributing 64 in the first innings. Former Zimbabwe Test batsman Murray Goodwin made 52 after a third-ball duck in the first innings.