Aaron Finch continued his superb summer with the bat but it wasn't enough to stop the Bushrangers falling short in their run chase, losing to NSW by 17 runs.

WHAT HAPPENED:  Points: Vic 0, NSW 2

 

New South Wales ended Victoria's KFC Twenty20 Big Bash hopes with a solid 17-run win at the MCG. The Vics started beautifully, with Dirk Nannes (3-22) and James Pattinson (3-23) ripping through the Blues top order. The likes of Phillip Hughes (2) and David Warner (10) fell cheaply and New South Wales were in real trouble at 5-69. But a solid 71-run partnership from Usman Khawaja (65) and Steve O'Keefe (50) rescued the Blues' innings and saw them post a score of 168, which proved to be very competitive.

 

Aaron Finch (53) gave the Bushrangers a superb start while Ryan Carters and Brad Hodge both contributed at the top of the order. The Bushrangers were cruising at 1-100 but fell in a heap after left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe (2-28) removed Finch and Hodge in the same over. O'Keefe's double-salvo triggered a collapse which saw Victoria lose 6-42 and eventually fall 17 runs short.

 

THE HERO: Aaron Finch

 

While Nannes and Pattinson would have been honourable nominations, Finch was superb yet again in the Twenty20 over format. His 53 matched the score he reached on the same ground for Australia against England in a Twenty20 fixture just over a week ago and if Finch continues his current form, then surely further call-ups are not out of the question. The Colac-born batsman has delighted Victorian cricket fans right throughout this season with his hard-hitting and aggressive approach to his batting and his innings was another reminder of just how important Finch is to the Bushrangers these days. No wonder he'll be on the big bucks at the Delhi Daredevils soon!

 

THE VILLAIN: Steve O'Keefe

 

How the Bushrangers would have wished that O'Keefe was part of Australia's one-day squad. It would have meant that he could not play on Saturday night and Victoria's chances of making a sixth consecutive KFC Twenty20 Big Bash final might still be alive. He joined the impressive Khawaja at the crease at a time when his side really needed him and contributed a superb 50 from 38 deliveries that included five boundaries and a six. The 17,118-strong crowd at the MCG were sick of the sight of the all-rounder after that, but he chimed in with two hugely important wickets that kick-started the Bushrangers collapse and ultimately gave the Blues victory.

 

DEFINING MOMENT: Khawaja and O'Keefe's partnership

 

At 5-69, the Blues were in big trouble. Khawaja was unbeaten on 27 when O'Keefe joined him at the crease, and a quick wicket or two then would have changed the entire complexion of the match. Unfortunately, the pair added 71 from 50 balls and gave New South Wales another chance, one which they didn't let slip.

 

MILESTONES:

 

Daniel Salpietro: KFC Twenty20 Big Bash debut

Evan Gulbis: KFC Twenty20 Big Bash debut
James Pattinson: Career-best Twenty20 bowling figures (3-22)

 

THE UPSHOT: Playing the kids

 

While the Bushrangers did lose the match, the likes of Salpietro and Gulbis will surely benefit from a debut that saw them play in front of nearly 20,000 fans at the MCG. The pair were thrown in at the deep end in Victoria's run-chase, needing more than two runs a ball at one stage, but showed enough to suggest they will be handy players in the future.

 

WHERE TO NOW: South Australia, MCG, January 28

 

The Vics will finish their KFC Twenty20 Big Bash campaign with a final game against South Australia, who the Bushrangers beat in the final last year. The match should present an opportunity for Salpietro and Gulbis to play again and give the MCG crowd one last chance to see their heroes in the Twenty20 format. A win for the Bushrangers could harm the Redbacks' chances of making the final and the hosts will be going all-out to ensure they finish the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash on a positive note.

 

WHO SAID WHAT: Aaron Finch, Victorian batsman

 

"We were in a very good position but after I got out it was all down hill,'' Finch said.

''The way I got out was pretty ordinary - especially at that time of the game. With our middle order being so inexperienced, the senior guys probably had to take responsibility to get us closer than we did. We just left us too far short.''

23 JANUARY, 2011 James Willoughby