Victoria has taken first innings points against New South Wales - and, with them, clinched a spot in the 2000-01 Pura Cup Final - after the sides' match ended in a draw here at the Sydney Cricket Ground today.

After rain had wiped out most of the morning's play, the Bushrangers secured their place in the decider (which they will play against Queensland in a fortnight's time) just before tea when they dismissed the valiant Blues for 371 as they pursued a total of 409.

An outright victory in this match would have seen the Blues draw level with Victoria on the points table but the combination of rain and a persistent Bushrangers outfit ensured that the dream was never to become a reality. Instead, the Blues will have to console themselves with being Mercantile Mutual Cup winners, and with the fact that they could end the summer as high as third on the Pura Cup table - a result far better than those achieved over recent years.

Led by Michael Clarke (106) and Shane Lee (94), the Blues staged a gallant, but ultimately unsuccessful, bid on this fourth and last day of the match to keep their flickering hopes of a Final appearance alive.

A superbly crafted fifth wicket partnership of 106 runs from Clarke and Lee had given the New South Welshmen great impetus during such play as was possible for the morning and, prior to the disruption of the stand, there were growing signs of frustration from the fielding team.

Much like last week, in the monster fifth wicket partnership of 264 with younger teammate Mark Higgs - who went on to score 181 not out - Lee's experience provided the cornerstone of the partnership. But little credit should be taken away from the rapidly maturing Clarke, whose maiden first-class century underlined his fine powers of concentration as well as pointing to his possession of a vast array of strokes.

It was with the score at 290 that the Bushrangers finally found a way through. Clarke skied a mistimed shot at medium pacer Jonathan Moss (1/52) to mid off, and watched as the ball was plucked from the air by skipper Paul Reiffel.

Clarke's departure brought debutant wicketkeeper Nathan Pilon (8) to the crease. He survived a huge lbw appeal against Moss but lasted no more than another two balls, comprehensively bowled by a superb off break from John Davison (3/101).

Unfortunately for Lee, Anthony Clark (3) was not long for this world - or at least this innings anyway - and was sent back to the pavilion after he had yorked himself in moving forward at a delivery from Cameron White (4/65).

MacGill played down the wrong line at a delivery from Mathew Inness (2/65) and then Lee and number eleven Nathan Bracken (0*) could only add eight runs for the final wicket.

Lee continued to hit lustily but tried the tactic once too often. One clean hit away from chalking up three figures, he tried to bludgeon a White delivery over mid wicket, only to miss with the shot at a ball that pitched on a middle and leg stump line and did not spin much.

The Victorians began their second innings late in the day but it proved no more than an exercise in marking time before an inevitable early conclusion. Jason Arnberger (1) endured the misfortune of being dismissed - to a regulation outside edge at Stuart Clark (1/10) - in the twenty-five minute exhibition that followed but there was little else of note in the exhibition. At 4:49pm, the end of the contest - and, in effect, New South Wales' season - was reached.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd