October 18 Friday 2002
South Australia eye win over Victoria

ADELAIDE, Australia: South Australia moved within eight wickets of outright victory after setting Victoria a mammoth last-innings run-chase in their Sheffield Shield match at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.

The Victorians were 94 for 2 at stumps on the third day, with Graeme Rummans on 18 and Brad Hodge on 11, still requiring a further 418 runs today for an unlikely win. After trailing by four runs on the first innings, SA declared their second innings at 515 for 6 at tea to set Victoria a target of 512 for victory. Former New South Wales all-rounder Mark Higgs, in his first game for SA, scored an unbeaten 134 off just 133 balls.

New South Wales' batsmen kept the runs flowing in Brisbane on Thursday as they began the long chase for first-innings points in their match against Queensland. At stumps on the second day, the Blues were 79 for one in reply to Queensland's total of 507 for 5 declared. Queensland left-handers Lee Carseldine (124 not out) and Brendan Nash (176) posted their highest scores while making NSW toil in the field. Matthew Phelps (31 not out) and Michael Bevan (23 not out) steadied the innings for NSW after Corey Richards fell for 16.

Scores:
In Adelaide: South Australia 149 (G Blewett 36, M Higgs 33; W Carr 4-42) & 515-6 decl (B Johnson 165, M Higgs 134*, G Blewett 103; M Inness 3-67) v Victoria 153 (G Rummans 69*; M Miller 7-55) & 94-2 (J Arnberger 42; J Davison 2-33).

In Brisbane: Queensland 507-5 decl (B Nash 176, L Carseldine 124*, W Seccombe 56*; D Nash 2-58, S MacGill 2-160) v New South Wales 79-1.