Victoria do enough

Brad Hodge's unbeaten 44 ensured Victoria went through to the next group stage on net run-rate

Buy this photo

Victoria Bushrangers progressed to the second round of the Champions League Twenty20 despite slipping to a 15-run defeat against Wayamba Elevens in their final group match in Delhi.

Wayamba needed a big victory to edge out Victoria on net run-rate and join Delhi Daredevils in the second round, but they faced an uphill task at the half-way stage after scoring only 118 for nine.

Michael Vandort’s 42 and Jeevantha Kulatunga’s 41 had given the Sri Lankan side a decent start, but their dismissals sparked a collapse.

Wayamba needed to restrict Victoria to 83 or less and stayed on track for much of the match, but a stubborn 44 not out from Brad Hodge and Andrew McDonald’s cameo 27 helped get Victoria past the qualifying mark, despite finishing with only 103 for four from 20 overs.

Victoria paceman Peter Siddle had claimed an early breakthrough, trapping opener Mahela Udawatte in front with the last ball of his first over.

Wayamba's innings struggled for momentum, with Siddle and Shane Harwood striking an accurate line and keeping the scoring to a trickle.

Kulatunga and number three Vandort revived the innings although their intent to make the most of fielding restrictions in the first six overs almost proved costly.

Even so, the powerplay yielded a meagre 16, leaving Wayamba were in desperate need of an injection of quickfire runs.

Kulatunga and Vandort put on 81 for the second wicket, but Clint McKay bowled the latter and had the former caught at long-on in his final. Wayamba fell apart thereafter.

Harwood, who conceded only seven from his first two overs, flattened the middle-order, cleaning up captain Jehan Mubarak - the only other batsman to reach double figures - and Kaushal Lokuarachchi in his third over and later returned to bowl big-hitting Farveez Maharoof.

McDonald chipped in with the wickets of Mahela Jayawardene and Thissara Perera in three balls and Victoria were eventually left needing less than a run-a-ball for victory.

Fast bowler Chanaka Welegedara began Wayamba's defence in style, latching on to a spectacular return catch to send back opener Rob Quiney and later snared Aiden Blizzard, caught at mid-off.

Wayamba's bowlers continued to restrict runs, but were a touch unlucky as Rangana Herath spilt a difficult chance from Hodge and stand-in wicketkeeper Jayawardene missed a chance to stump David Hussey.

Victoria managed only 38 from 10 overs and Wayamba were given hope when Maharoof bowled Hussey and Ajantha Mendis had Cameron White taken at long-off.

Hodge held up one end, but it was McDonald who relieved the pressure, clubbing leg-spinner Lokuarachchi for three boundaries and a six to help his team past the qualifying mark.