The Sheffield Shield clash between New South Wales and Victoria has ended in a draw after former Test opener Simon Katich and Ben Rohrer struck match-saving centuries on day four at the SCG.
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The Sheffield Shield clash between New South Wales and Victoria has ended in a draw after former Test opener Simon Katich and Ben Rohrer struck match-saving centuries on day four at the SCG.
Starting the day at 2-51, still trailing Victoria's first-innings total by 175 runs, the Blues lost debutants Scott Henry (31) and Tim Cruickshank (45) in the first hour to be staring down the barrel of outright defeat.
But Katich (110) and Rohrer (114) came to the rescue with a timely 216-run fifth-wicket stand to guide the hosts to safety and deny the Bushrangers maximum points.
Moises Henriques (38 not out) and Peter Nevill (43) added a further 75 runs to add to the Bushrangers' frustrations before the match was abandoned when the Blues declared at 7-433 at 5.31pm.
First innings destroyer Jade Herrick (2-111) took both wickets in the opening session to take his match tally to seven scalps and finish the pick of the bowlers, while Jon Holland (3-118) toiled manfully for the visitors.
The Bushrangers collected first-innings points after scoring 427 in response to NSW's 201.
But the final day belonged to Katich and Rohrer.
Katich was the dominant partner as both lefties reached their half-centuries before lunch, however Rohrer (114) won the race to triple figures midway through the middle session with a deflection to the third-man boundary off Andrew McDonald (0-33).
The 30-year-old's fourth first-class century lasted 144 deliveries and consisted of 13 boundaries.
Katich's sublime 110 was a master-class in batting under pressure.
He brought up his 52nd first-class ton with a full-blooded cut-shot off Clint McKay (1-60).
The discarded Test opener struck 14 boundaries in his chanceless four-hour knock to send a timely reminder to new full-time national selector John Inverarity.
Rohrer departed two deliveries after his partner reached triple figures when he edged McKay straight to David Hussey at first slip.
Katich continued to dominate the bowling before playing his only loose shot of the day.
He swiped a ball from well outside off stump to Hussey who took a sharp overhead catch on the run at mid on to give Holland his second scalp of the innings.
