South Australia v New South Wales, Pura Cup, Adelaide, 4th day

Katich and Thornely ease Blues to win

Cricinfo staff

November 12, 2007

New South Wales 309 and 3 for 162 (Thornely 80*, Katich 63*) beat South Australia 178 and 291 (Ferguson 59, Bracken 4-57) by seven wickets
Scorecard

Simon Katich held firm for the New South Wales to see them home © Getty Images

New South Wales recorded an inevitable victory on the fourth day in Adelaide, although not without a few wobbles on the way. Their batsmen were 3 for 13 chasing 161 on the final day, but an unbeaten third-wicket stand of 149 from Simon Katich and Dominic Thornely secured the seven-wicket win. Katich reached 63 and Thornely made 80 after the top three stumbled.

South Australia's batting resistance finally gave in after the final pair Ryan Harris and Mark Cleary had added a further 16 runs on the final morning, to take their last-wicket partnership to 43. Harris ended unbeaten on 42, while the Redbacks were also grateful for Cleary's 23.

After crumpling in the first innings, their second dig was more successful and they pushed to 291and a slim lead of 160. It wasn't enough, though they did their best to defend it with three early wickets. Grant Lambert fell for 1, caught by Cameron Borgas off Harris and Peter Forrest followed for 2, caught behind off Gillespie.

Dan Cullen then grabbed Ed Cowan for 6, with Nathan Adcock hanging on to the catch and giving the Redbacks a glimmer. The in-form Katich quashed their hopes immediately, though, and he and Thornely set about making sure of the result and of retaining their place on the top of the table, with two wins and a draw. With Queensland scythed down by the Warriors, the Blues are now the only team to be undefeated after three rounds.

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