Kent hosted Victoria at the picturesque St Lawrence Ground, in Canterbury. The captains, Waugh and Elliot meet in the middle, the Vics won the toss, and didn’t hesitate to bat first, on what appear to be a road.
Skipper Matty Elliot along with Keeper Kumar Sangakarra got the bushrangers off to another great start. Sangakarra belting McCague out of the attack early on, and shattering the fellows poor confidence, so much Captain Waugh was forced to bowl 6 overs. With a formidable 130 run opening stand, and at one stage been one wicket down and 200 runs on the board, the bushrangers pushed for late runs, and last cheap wickets. The target set was 243, from the allotted 50 overs, and even with Allen and Waugh it good form it was going to take some getting.
Danny Marsh, sent up the order to “pinch hit” got the ball rolling with a fiery 28 (34). Allen, moved down to three could only add 1 to the total, before he was caught behind from the bowling of Hewitt, allegedly the only ball he pitched outside off stump.
At four wickets down for 67, the game was there to be won by Victoria. But ‘Tugga’ Waugh and Smith were able to build a respectable partnership, and push the total up to 128, before “The Freak” Ian Harvey, had Waugh caught in the deep by Lewis. Harvey would later complete a miracle caught and bowled, to remove Hutton, in the last 5 overs.
Smith continued to push the ball around, but once Waugh had returned to the dressing room, the innings lost momentum, and the Bushrangers ran out Winners by 28 runs.
Kumar Sangakarra man of the match with 3 catches and 98 runs from 139 balls. Asked after the match how he was enjoying this season with Victoria, Kumar replied: “I love it here at the bushrangers, I can make runs, and play my natural game, and not have to worry about getting out, as we have plenty of batting.”
This win leaves Victoria probably 3rd on the table, and they can hopefully get over the line against Warwickshire, and perhaps edge out Surrey and Kent for promotion.