A brave young Victorian side could not hold off a quality South Australian run chase as the Redbacks beat the Bushrangers by five wickets in the final KFC Big Bash clash at the MCG for the summer.

WHAT HAPPENED:  Points: Vic 0, SA 2

Victoria's KFC Twenty20 Big Bash campaign ended on a losing note, with South Australia comfortably getting home by five wickets at the MCG. The defeat virtually consigns the Bushrangers to the wooden-spoon.

Victoria lost Ryan Carters (5) early doors, but an entertaining 44-run stand between Aaron Finch and Brad Hodge got the innings on track. Finch fell for 33 off 26 balls, highlighted by a massive six of Dan Christian with the score 2-60. It was soon 3-66 when Hodge (22) holed out to Callum Ferguson at deep long-on off English import Adil Rashid.

Captain Andrew McDonald and Matthew Wade repaired some of the damage with a 48-run stand which ended when McDonald fell for 26. But McDonald's dismissal triggered something in the wicketkeeper-batsman, who opened up his shoulders with great effect.

Having eased along to 11 on the back of 11 straight singles, Wade teed off, dominating a 30-run partnership with newcomer Evan Gulbis, who made two not out.

Wade hit four massive sixes, including two in successive balls off Dan Christian, racing to 52 not out off just 31 balls.

Even so, the 4-144 total was a particularly low total at the MCG.

Victoria's defence of the moderate target started on a good note when Gulbis ran out South Australian captain Michael Klinger from fine leg to leave the Redbacks 1-16.

It was then 2-36 when former Bushranger Aiden Blizzard hit a Brad Hodge full toss down the throat of Aaron Finch at deep mid-wicket on 16.

Callum Ferguson (5) was the next to go, bowled by Jon Holland before Daniel Harris and Cameron Borgas took the ascendancy away from the home side with a critical 50-run partnership.

Harris, who has enjoyed a fine summer, made 41 before he hit Holland down the throat of Gulbis at deep mid-on to leave South Australia at 4-103.

But any thoughts Victoria had of pulling off a miracle win were quashed when Borgas and Christian put on 40 in no time, whittling away the eight runs an over required in style.

Borgas fell in sight of the target for 41, caught by that man Gulbis off James Pattinson, but South Australia were home and Christian sealed it with a boundary off the second ball of the final over bowled by McDonald.

Holland was the standout of the Victorian bowlers with 2-23 off his four overs, with Pattinson and Hodge the other wicket takers.

Newcomer Daniel Salpietro offered some glimpses in his four overs, while Gulbis certainly added to Victoria's fielding strength.

THE HERO: Matthew Wade

It had to be the pocket-rocket left-hand wicketkeeper-batsman who was simply stunning in his unbeaten 52 off 31 balls. Wade's innings was one of contrasts, opening his account with 11 consecutive singles before cutting loose. And cut loose he did, hitting four sixes and three boundaries in one of the more memorable knocks of the Bushrangers T20 campaign. Christian came in for most of the tap, with successive sixes towards the Southern Stand providing some entertainment for the 13,329 crowd.

THE VILLAIN: Daniel Harris

It's hard to call a man who is a qualified doctor the villain, but Daniel 'Doc' Harris was for the Victorians tonight. Having been restricted to a modest 4-144, Victoria needed to make early in-roads on the South Australian batting line-up and couldn't fully do so thanks to the punchy right-hander. Sure Klinger went earlier than expected at 1-16 and South Australia were poised on the precipice at 3-53, but the fact they showed few worries in the chase was down to the platform provided by Harris. He's been the backbone of the Redbacks batting line-up all summer and his 41 off 35 deliveries was worth its weight in gold again.

DEFINING MOMENT: Bushrangers batting

When you make your lowest ever T20 score at the MCG, you know that there is a lot of work to do with the ball. The 4-144 Victoria posted was around 15-20 runs short in the conditions and the South Australians proved it when they batted. If it wasn't for Wade's heroics, Victoria's score would have been even lower. South Australia's spinners again played their part in strangling the opposition, with Adil Rashid, Nathan Lyon and Aaron O'Brien getting through 12 overs for 77 runs.

THE UPSHOT: Playing the kids (again)

While the Bushrangers lost again, the likes of Salpietro, Gulbis, Carters and Hill will surely benefit from even the briefest taste of domestic cricket. Victoria is without a cavalcade of stars - White, Hussey, Hastings, Siddle, Bravo and Prior to name but a few. Victoria's depth hasn't been tested like this in many years, so games such as this are the optimum time to expose the next generation. Salpietro's spin has promise, Gulbis looked excellent in the field and handy enough with both bat and ball. Carters missed out with the bat, making only five, but is worth another chance.

WHERE TO NOW: End of the Twenty20 season. Victoria's next match is the Ryobi One-Day Cup clash against Tasmania at Bellerive Oval.

WHO SAID WHAT: Andrew McDonald

"We were looking to finish on a high, we didn't get it quite right," McDonald said.

28 JANUARY, 2011 Gregor Mactaggart