Siddle's six sets up tight final day

Victoria 301 and 1 for 44 need a further 220 runs to beat South Australia 320 and 244 (Christian 55, Siddle 6-57)
Scorecard

A career-best 6 for 57 from Peter Siddle gave Victoria hope of a final-day victory but they again let the South Australia lower order get away to set the home side a target of 264. At the close Victoria had reached 1 for 44 to reduce the requirement to 220, with Nick Jewell on 17 and Siddle, the nightwatchman, on 5.

On a day when the one-time spearhead of Victoria's attack, Mick Lewis, announced his retirement, Siddle, 23, suggested the state's fast-bowling future was in good hands. He was the destroyer against the Redbacks for the second time this season after taking 5 for 27 against them in Adelaide in October.

Siddle bowled with genuine speed and found plenty of edges, twice collecting wickets with consecutive balls. The first time he had Matthew Elliott (32) caught at second slip and then Callum Ferguson at first slip next ball; he later wrapped up the innings with Paul Rofe caught in the gully for a first-ball duck straight after bowling Jason Gillespie for 18.

South Australia were dismissed for 244 and Victoria might have had a much more gettable target had it not been for a series of handy lower-order partnerships from the visitors. Gillespie combined with Ryan Harris (37 not out) for a 50-run ninth-wicket stand that left the game evenly poised at the start of Victoria's chase.

A more polished fielding effort would also have helped the home side - Harris was on 32 when he skied a chance to Cameron White, who misjudged it running back at midwicket. The wicketkeeper Matthew Wade's drop of the first-class debutant Daniel Christian off Shane Harwood on 27 was more costly.

Christian became a key man for the Redbacks, posting 55 before he was eventually trapped lbw by Siddle. Christian had come to the crease first ball after lunch, following a blistering spell of 3 for 9 from Siddle just before the break. Should the Bushrangers get up for a win that would put them on top of the Pura Cup table they will have Siddle to thank.