Warne magic too late to save Victoria

HOBART - Shane Warne recaptured some of his old magic today, even if it came too late to stop Tasmania beating Victoria in an ING Cup cricket match at Bellerive Oval today.

Warne, after being loose early, finished with 2-41 from 10 overs in his second match since injuring his bowling shoulder more than a month ago.

He said he was very happy with the way he bowled but was still unsure when he would return to the Australian team.

His performance was enough to have Tasmania staggering nervously past Victoria's 9-179 with three wickets and four overs to spare.

The win keeps Tasmania's finals hopes alive while virtually ending the Victorian one-day season.

The stage was set for Warne, who was playing his second comeback match.

The match was was on the wicket used for the Pura Cup match which finished the previous day and as a fifth day wicket, was slow and taking spin and all batsmen struggled with their timing.

In Victoria's innings, part-time left-arm spinner Dan Marsh showed what could be done on it with 3-33 from 10 overs.

Marsh, with Adam Griffith (3-28) and Damien Wright (1-28), was mainly responsible for restricting the Bushrangers to a barely competitive total.

Only Matthew Elliott (42), Nick Jewell (37) and Ian Harvey (36) got runs, none of them speedily.

By the time Warne brought himself on in the 26th over of the Tasmanian innings, the Tigers were 3-97 and progressing comfortably thanks to a 64-run second wicket partnership between Michael Di Venuto (35) and Scott Kremerskothen, who anchored the innings with 64 before Warne ended his stay.

Warne took a little while to find his old control.

"In the first over or two I was still a bit rusty, but after that I was excited with the way they came out," he said.

"The ball I got Kremerskothen with was a very good delivery.

"Every time I have pushed myself more and today I was trying to rip them as far as I could."

Warne said he would see how he pulled up in the morning and consult with physiotherapist Errol Alcott before making further decisions.

With Warne starting to weave his magic at one end and Ian Harvey putting in a tight 10 overs for 1-22 at the other, Tasmania's progress faltered.

But Kremerskothen got them within reach before Damien Wright and Ben Oliver got them home after Warne and Harvey finished their stints.