Victoria trail despite McDonald century

South Australia 320 and 0 for 20 lead Victoria 301 (McDonald 139, Hodge 64, Cleary 3-61) by 39 runs
Scorecard

Andrew McDonald's second first-class century was not enough for Victoria to earn first-innings points on a day when Brad Hodge's innings was interrupted by a family health problem. McDonald made 139 and Hodge scored 64 but the Bushrangers were dismissed for 301, falling 19 short of South Australia's total.

Hodge's contribution was especially impressive considering he spent the first part of the day at hospital with his wife, Megan, who was having surgery to deal with an irregular heartbeat that had caused her to pass out several times in the past few weeks. Hodge had started his innings late on the first day but had special dispensation from the umpires to retire not out on his overnight score of 4.

He said it was a tough day but he was able to concentrate after ensuring Megan's two-and-a-half-hour operation had gone well. "I had a long day, up at 5.30," Hodge said. "It's a stressful day - it's been stressful the last couple of weeks. They said it was a success, so that's the main thing."

When Hodge restarted his innings Victoria were in big trouble at 6 for 112 after Jason Gillespie and Paul Rofe made early breakthroughs. But McDonald and Hodge added 159 for the seventh wicket, rarely looking troubled as they pushed comfortable singles and drove the Redbacks' pace-heavy attack safely over a quick outfield.

McDonald played some superb square cuts and scampered through for a quick single to reach his century from 147 deliveries. Just when he and the tailenders looked set to overhaul South Australia's total McDonald edged Mark Cleary to second slip for 139.

Cleary finished the job by bowling Allan Wise for 4 and leaving the Redbacks a small first-innings advantage. At stumps they were 0 for 20 with Shane Deitz on 11 and Matthew Elliott on 8.

Cleary ended up with 3 for 61 having also trapped the dangerous Cameron White lbw for 32, but it was a pair of wickets from the debutant Daniel Christian that turned things back in South Australia's favour. In the final over with the old ball, Christian bowled Hodge and then also rattled Shane Harwood's stumps for 0 to ensure the work of the Redbacks' fast bowlers earlier in the day was not wasted.