Callum Ferguson becomes SA’s leading one-day century-maker as Redbacks snap losing skid
CALLUM Ferguson became South Australia’s leading one-day century-maker as the Redbacks snapped their three-game JLT One Day Cup losing streak by beating Victoria by eight runs at Junction Oval.
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CALLUM Ferguson became South Australia’s leading one-day century-maker as the Redbacks snapped their three-game JLT One-Day Cup losing streak by beating Victoria by eight runs at Junction Oval on Sunday.
Ferguson’s spectacular 133 from 125 balls after SA had lost star openers Jake Weatherald and Alex Carey with only 30 runs on the board saw him leapfrog former Australian Test player and coach Darren Lehmann and ex-SA skipper Michael Klinger with eight one-day hundreds for the state.
Lehmann and Klinger scored seven — one more than current Redback Tom Cooper and former Test batsman Greg Blewett.
“It’s a nice feeling to go past Darren Lehmann, being the legend in South Australian and Australian cricket that he is, and Michael Klinger,’’ Ferguson told The Advertiser.
“I’m proud of that and it was just nice to get some runs and bat deep into the innings.
“I’ve been keen to do that throughout the tournament but found a way to get out in a couple of games when I've got a start.
“To capitalise on a good start, bat on and go deep into the innings was really pleasing.
“And to contribute to win to help us get back on track was nice.’’
Ferguson’s superb century, which included three sixes and 11 boundaries, saw SA make 7/265 from its 50 overs.
The decisive partnership was 109 with Lehmann’s son, captain Jake Lehmann (44), while Cooper made 37.
The Redbacks were in big trouble when Victoria cruised to 2/178 in the 34th over with Cameron White and Peter Handscomb at the crease.
But when Joe Mennie bowled Handscomb for 64 and White was run out for 81 one run later after some brilliant work from SA debutant Luke Robins the game turned.
With paceman Mennie (3/38), legspinner Adam Zampa (3/51) and East Torrens all-rounder Robins (1/48) — he captured the crucial wicket of Glenn Maxwell for 33 — keeping things tight, Victoria lost 8/79 to be bowled out for 257 on the last ball of the innings.
The win — in the final round match — was SA’s second for the tournament after it beat New South Wales in round one.
“I felt our bowling group kept their heads in the game and kept looking for wickets and we all know that if you can get a few towards the middle-to-back end of an innings on a slow wicket anything can happen,’’ player of the match Ferguson said.
“Once we got a couple of wickets we’ve got such a great asset with Zampa bowling to new batsmen, along with Mennie.
“They kept attacking the off stump and putting pressure on the batsmen and we were rewarded late, which was fantastic.’’
While all six teams will feature in the finals, Victoria needed to win to have any chance of a top-two finish and claim passage directly into the semi-finals.
SA currently sits third with the final two round-robin games to be played today between second-placed Tasmania and first-placed Western Australia, who will feature in the semi-finals, and bottom-ranked NSW and fifth-placed Queensland.
The Redbacks will play in a qualifying final.
“It was a fantastic win from the position we were in and gives us some momentum for the finals,’’ Ferguson said.
andrew.capel@news.com.au