Simon Katich and Ben Rohrer both scored impressive centuries under pressure to deny Victoria a win at the SCG, where the Bushrangers had to settle for first-innings points
ESPNcricinfo staff28-Oct-2011
ScorecardSimon Katich scored his 52nd first-class ton to help the Blues to a draw•Getty Images
Simon Katich and Ben Rohrer both scored impressive centuries under pressure to deny Victoria a win at the SCG, where the Bushrangers had to settle for first-innings points. The Blues started the day at 2 for 51, needing a further 175 runs to make Victoria bat again, and despite slipping to 4 for 115 the hosts managed to bat right through the day.Rohrer and Katich put on 216 for the fifth wicket after Jayde Herrick removed Scott Henry (31) and Tim Cruickshank for 45 earlier in the day. Katich brought up his 52nd first-class hundred, and his first since being axed from Australia’s Test team, before he was eventually caught at mid-on from the bowling of Jon Holland for 110.By that stage Rohrer had already departed for 114, his fourth first-class ton, but the pair had done enough to set up the draw for New South Wales. Peter Nevill (43) and Moises Henriques, who finished unbeaten on 39, added to Victoria’s problems during a 75-run stand for the seventh wicket, and the Blues ended up at 7 for 433.But despite the result, New South Wales remain on the bottom of the Sheffield Shield table, the only side yet to score a point. Victoria are yet to record a win, but have moved into third place thanks to their first-innings advantage.