Hodge leads the way for Victoria

Victoria 9 for 428 dec (Hodge 204*, Harvey 74, Warne 75) lead South Australia 191 and 41 for 1 by 196 runs
Scorecard

Brad Hodge put Victoria in a dominant position after the third day at Melbourne. His unbeaten 204 allowed Victoria to declare on 9 for 428, a first-innings lead of 237. Batting a second time, South Australia were 1 for 41 at close of play.

Victoria were struggling at 4 for 85 at the start of the third day, but Hodge and Ian Harvey (74) turned things around with a stand of 146 for the fifth wicket. They batted through the morning session, taking the score to 4 for 201, and though Harvey was out soon after, Hodge carried on. At 7 for 257, the Redbacks would have fancied their chances of limiting the deficit, but Shane Warne joined Hodge in a partnership of 150 which shut South Australia out of the match. Warne was finally dismissed for 75, and the declaration came immediately after Hodge reached his double-century.

Harvey then struck early when South Australia batted, dismissing Tom Plant for 11, but Luke Williams and Greg Blewett insured against any further Redbacks setbacks.