John Hastings believes a simple approach at the crease was the key to his match-winning knock in Victoria's Ryobi Cup triumph against South Australia at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Hastings smashed three massive sixes and six fours in his 57-ball 69 - easily his highest domestic one-day score - to propel the Bushrangers to a finals berth and a tense two-wicket win with three balls to spare.
With the majority of the run chase on SA's terms following a steady flow of early Victorian wickets, Hastings turned the tables with his virtuoso effort, firstly in unison with David Hussey, then playing the leading hand with the tail.
"I thought if I can hang around until somewhere around the 50-over mark, we've still got a set batter in and we'd be a chance," Hastings said.
"And as it turned out that's exactly what happened.
"I picked my ball ... I said to myself 'if it's there, I'm going to hit it; if it's not, I'll try and get one'.
"I kept it really simple."
Hastings proved a real thorn for the Redbacks, milking the strike smartly and dispatching balls powerfully when required.
Despite his heroics, SA were well in the game entering the final over, bowled by Dan Christian, with eight runs needed and No. 10 Darren Pattinson on strike.
Pattinson took a leaf out of Hastings' heavy-hitting manual and crunched Christian over his head for a huge straight six to effectively kill the Redbacks' hopes.
"We've got a good tail," Hastings said.
"We work pretty hard, as bowlers, on our batting.
"I had full trust in Scotty (Boland) and Darren at the end.
"It was a nice six ... phenomenal hitting."
Hastings also paid tribute to Hussey, who stroked a grand 87, and combined with the big all-rounder for a 63-run sixth-wicket stand.
Hussey got under SA's skin early in his knock - there was plenty of banter and an errant Redbacks throw almost hit the veteran, who poked his bat out and guided it away, the home side appearing to briefly consider appealing for an obstructing-the-field violation.
But the competitive Hussey had the last laugh.
"That's the hard-fought spirit that we have against the Redbacks," Hastings said.
"As long as that stays out on the field, that's fine.
"When he gets fired up, he puts his head down.
"It (sledging) probably backfired for them (SA). That's Dave Hussey for you.
"He's excellent to bat with. He's been there 100 times before.
"In that (run-chasing) situation, he knows exactly what to do.
"He's still one of the best players in Australian domestic cricket, no doubt.
With Hastings and Hussey taking centre stage, the Bushrangers are perfectly placed to now push for a home final.
"It (win) gives us a bit of confidence," Hastings said.
"We've still got to try and win one more to get a home final.
"They (SA) have had the wood over us, no secret about that.
"They've played pretty well the last two years against us.
"That game had everything.
"To get one over them like that tonight was pretty special."
First Posted 10 February, 2013 10:02AM AEST
