Adelaide: Mark Waugh, axed from the Australian Test side earlier this week, was man- of-the-match in New South Wales' three-wicket victory over South Australia in a domestic One-day match at Adelaide Oval on Saturday. Waugh, opening the NSW innings, topscored with 76 off 87 balls as the Blues scored 248 for seven off 49.2 overs in reply to SA's 246 for 8 off 50 overs. The 128-Test campaigner hit 10 boundaries in a typical flowing innings in his first outing since he announced his retirement from international cricket after being left out of the Australian Test team on Monday. The Blues looked like cruising to victory at 237 for four in the 47th over, but had to endure some nervous final overs after losing three wickets in the space of eight balls without scoring to slump to 237 for seven after 48 overs. But Simon Katich (16 not out) and Stuart MacGill (four not out) steered NSW to victory, with Katich leg-glancing Greg Blewett for four to clinch the match. The other major contributors with the bat for NSW were Michael Clarke, who scored a quick-fire 48 from 43 balls, Test skipper Steve Waugh, who made 47 and One-day International Michael Bevan, who scored 46. Mark Waugh's replacement in the Australian Test team, SA skipper Darren Lehmann, was also impressive, topscoring with 83 from 99 balls. Meanwhile, Shane Warne's Victoria went to the top of the Sheffield Shield on Saturday after beating Tasmania by 159 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Victorians took eight wickets after lunch to dismiss Tasmania for 206 to get the result on the final day of the four-day game. Skipper Warne took three for 54 and fellow leg spinner Cameron White snared four for 51, including two in one over, while opener Michael Di Venuto topscored with 55. Victoria declared late on Friday at 236 for two, having bowled out Tasmania earlier in the day for 224 in reply to its 353 for nine declared. Victoria on eight points leads New South Wales and South Australia on the standings by two points.

Tags: cricket, adelaide, mark waugh, man-of-the-match, new south wales, south australia, one-day international, adelaide oval, simon katich, stuart macgill, greg blewett, michael clarke, skipper steve waugh, michael bevan, darren lehmann.