Peter Handscomb finds form as Victoria finally get off the mark in Sheffield Shield against South Australia

PETER Handscomb rediscovered his best touch to power Victoria to its first win of the Sheffield Shield season and force his name back into contention for Test selection.

Peter Handscomb scored his first century of the summer.

TEST squad member Peter Handscomb found form in his final innings before heading to South Africa, with his unbeaten century lifting Victoria to a crucial six-wicket win against South Australia at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

Victoria were 3-84 at one stage in pursuit of a testing fourth-innings Sheffield Shield victory target of 252, but Handscomb steadied and then hit the winning runs with 11 overs to spare for the Bushrangers to collect their maiden win of the season.

Handscomb, who made a seven-ball duck in the first innings, started steadily before bringing up the run-rate in scoring 114 not off 128 balls.

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The Vics’ captain combined with veteran former skipper Cameron White for a pivotal 138-run stand for the fourth wicket.

White backed up his first-innings’ 149 by scoring 50, before being dismissed by part-time spinner Jake Lehmann.

South Australia’s bowlers struggled for their usual line and length as they sought wickets, with Joe Mennie (2-40) the pick of the frontline quartet.

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Day four began with South Australia 5-208, and boasting a lead of 216. The Redbacks’ tail, however, offered little resistance leaving Victoria with a gettable target off 76 overs.

The win saw defending Shield champions Victoria leap to fourth on the table to keep their slim finals hopes alive.

Australia will depart for South Africa on Thursday for a four-Test tour.

Originally published as Peter Handscomb finds form as Victoria finally get off the mark in Sheffield Shield against South Australia