Lehmann ton steers SA to victory

ADELAIDE - An unbeaten Darren Lehmann century led South Australia to a convincing five-wicket win over Victoria in the Mercantile Mutual Cup cricket match at Adelaide Oval today.

The SA skipper struck a brilliant 119 not out from 88 deliveries and smashed a six to bring up the winning runs as the home side responded to the Bushrangers' 9-277 with 5-282 in 47.1 overs.

The Redbacks now face an anxious 24 hours, sweating on the outcome of tomorrow's match between New South Wales and Tasmania in Sydney to find out whether it has reached the final.

If Tasmania wins, SA will meet Western Australia in the final in Perth on February 25.

But if New South Wales beats the Tigers, the Blues will advance to the final. A strong 103-run partnership by Victorians Matthew Elliott (102 from 106 balls) and Ian Harvey (56 from 42 balls) helped the Bushrangers to their respectable total but SA looked comfortable from the outset.

Openers Shane Deitz (44) and Greg Blewett (39) put on 84 runs together before Deitz was out to an excellent caught-and-bowled by Harvey, who took the catch diving forward at full stretch.

Harvey struck again in his next over to dismiss Blewett, caught by Victorian captain Paul Reiffel.

Recently-named state cricketer of the year for the second time in a row, Lehmann struck 11 fours on the way to his total.

He combined with Chris Davies (56) for a 153-run stand before Davies sent an Ian Hewett delivery to Reiffel at mid off in the 42nd over of the innings.

Harvey, the pick of the Victorian bowlers with 3-45 from eight overs, then dismissed Nathan Adcock, lbw for two, while Michael Lewis accounted for Ben Higgins, bowled for no score in his first outing for SA.

Michael Miller (five) was the other not out batsman at the close of play.

SA paceman Paul Wilson had the visitors in trouble when he claimed two wickets in the ninth over to put the Bushrangers at 2-36. He had opener Jason Arnberger (nine) caught by Adcock and bowled Brad Hodge (four).

Elliott and Simon Dart put on 60 runs together before Dart (27) was dismissed, caught in the slips by Greg Blewett off the bowling of Mark Harrity.

Wilson also disposed of Harvey, caught behind by Graham Manou, and Elliott, caught by Lehmann.

Lehmann brought himself into the attack in the 42nd over of the Victorian innings and struck immediately, dismissing number-seven batsman Jon Moss (16) with a sharp, one-handed caught-and-bowled on his second delivery.

In his second over, Lehmann bowled Hewett (one) and, in his fourth, had Michael Klinger (30) caught at deep mid wicket by Deitz to finish with 3-25 from five overs while Wilson claimed 4-49 from 10 overs.