An unbeaten century from Callum Ferguson and some cameo batting from Nathan Lyon lifted South Australia to a two-wicket victory over Western Australia in the Ryobi Cup clash at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
LIVE SCORESAn unbeaten century from Callum Ferguson and some cameo batting from Nathan Lyon lifted South Australia to a two-wicket victory over Western Australia in the Ryobi Cup clash at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
The Redbacks chased down the Warriors' target of 234 with two overs to spare to make it two wins from as many matches.
The target looked out of reach for the Redbacks when they suffered a lower order batting collapse. However, Ferguson's heroics ensured his side remained in the contest.
He finished not out on 110 from 129 balls and was well supported by Lyon (37 from 35), who recorded his highest Ryobi Cup score and topped off his handy contribution with a classy six to get the winning runs.
The Redbacks' victory was set up by a dominant bowling performance from Dan Christian (2-24 from 10 overs), Gary Putland (3-52 from 10) and Cullen Bailey (2-34 from 10).
The Warriors, who were sent in to bat, set the Redbacks a respectable target after a poor start to their innings that saw them stumble to 5-67 after 19 overs.
But the Warriors recovered from their horrific opening thanks to an unbeaten century from wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi (113 from 101).
Ronchi hit 11 fours and combined well with tailender Nathan Rimmington (26 from 36) for a 110-run eighth-wicket partnership.
Things looked promising for the Warriors early on as captain Marcus North (16) smashed two fours and a six in the first three overs.
It was only a brief period of dominance, however, as the visitors capitulated to lose two wickets in three balls during the third over.
North skyed his pull-shot from a Putland bouncer that clipped the top edge and fell to Lyon at deep square leg.
Cameron Bancroft then fell for a golden duck after an in-swinging delivery from Putland trapped him dead in front.
Putland's red-hot bowling continued when he picked up his third wicket with another in-swinging ball that straightened late to trap Adam Voges (14 from 17 balls).
Christian was next to get in the act. The all-rounder bowled Travis Birt (12 from 26) before knocking over opener Liam Davis (22 from 47).
Leg-spinner Cullen Bailey also chimed in, with the scalps of Tom Beaton and Nathan Coulter-Nile.
The Redbacks began their run-chase in the worst possible way when Daniel Harris was caught in front of his stumps by Michael Beer for a golden duck with the first ball of the innings.
But the hosts recovered thanks to a 66-run partnership between Klinger and Ferguson.
Both batsmen dealt well with a confident Beer and Michael Hogan who opened the bowling with the spinner, but were brought undone by Coulter-Nile.
The 24-year-old was able to unsettle the Redbacks batsmen with his movement off the seam and he finally broke the partnership with a bouncing delivery that caught Klinger by surprise.
The right-hander shifted onto his back foot late to defend the bouncer, allowing the ball to find the outside edge and balloon to Voges who took a diving catch in the gully.
Coulter-Nile was at it again his very next over, dismissing Cooper for only five with a wide ball that the 24-year-old lashed at and edged through to Ronchi behind the stumps.
Cameron Borgas offered some resistance with a timely 29 runs from 44 balls before he was caught at deep square leg by Coulter-Nile from a Hogan delivery.
Borgas' dismissal triggered a collapse in the lower batting order as the Redbacks lost four wickets in nine overs, including two in the 38th over when Beer took the wickets of Kane Richardson (three) and Cullen Bailey (two).
However, Ferguson steadied the ship with the help of Lyon to give the Redbacks another confidence-boosting victory.
Coulter-Rile (3-40 from eight overs) and Beer (2-30 from 12 overs) were the best of the Warriors bowlers.
