Hodge wipes out Victorian misery with Gabba win

BRISBANE, Jan 31 AAP - Stand-in skipper Brad Hodge wiped out Victoria's week of cricketing misery with a gritty century as the Bushrangers stunned competition leaders Queensland in the ING Cup clash at the Gabba tonight.

The Bushrangers had been humiliated by Queensland in Ballarat just five days ago but Hodge sparked the turnaround by blasting 114 from 152 balls in the four-wicket victory.

Hodge and debutant David Hussey (35 not out from 27 balls) reeled off a brisk 55-run stand as the Bushrangers reached 6-232 with three balls to spare in reply to Queensland's total of 9-231.

Hodge was put in charge of a rookie Victorian team when veteran skipper Darren Berry was suspended for two matches for failing to attend a dawn training session on Wednesday.

Berry's ban continued an embarrassing week which began when the Bushrangers fell for just 65 against Queensland during a 10-wicket loss.

Coach David Hookes blasted his players with words such as "insipid" and "spineless", calling dawn training sessions and the tactics worked as the Bushrangers maintained a steady tempo during a tight finish at the Gabba.

The visitors could have lost their way when Hodge was run out with 14 balls to spare but 25-year-old Hussey - the brother of Australia A batsman Michael - took over like a veteran, smacking the next delivery from James Hopes over the long-on fence.

The Bushrangers needed one run from the last over and they wobbled through the first two deliveries from Hopes before Hussey stole a single when his straight drive deflected from the stumps at the bowler's end.

The victory dampened celebrations for Bulls bowling spearhead Michael Kasprowicz (2-39 from 10 overs), who became Queensland's leading wicket-taker in interstate one-day matches.

Kasprowicz had an eventful night, hitting Hodge with a no-ball which slipped from his grasp and watching as the batsmen lost his grip on the bat, sending it into the stumps.

Kasprowicz eventually bowled Cameron White for a duck in the 49th over but the damage had already been done against the Bulls, who remain in first place on the points table but with Tasmania, Western Australia and NSW behind them and with games in hand.

White had earlier put the brakes on the Bulls with a fine spell of 2-34 from his 10 overs, limiting the damage promised by Queensland batsmen Martin Love (48 from 56 balls) and Stuart Law (46 from 42).

Jon Moss (2-38 from 10) joined White in containing the Bulls after Love had won the toss.

The victory was a boost for the Bushrangers before next Wednesday's home Pura Cup clash with NSW, but their ING Cup hopes are limp.

The Bushrangers remain in fifth place with little hope of qualifying for the February 23 final while the Bulls must play well in their final two matches in South Australia and Tasmania.