Predictions of a pace-friendly pitch for the Boxing Day Test may prove correct if today's ING Cup cricket match between Victoria and Western Australia is any guide.

On a wicket just adjacent to the strip that will be used for the second Test between Australia and South Africa, WA's Brad Williams and then Victoria's Ian Hewett ripped through the opposition batting as the Bushrangers won a thrilling match by just ten runs.

Hewett, who took 4-22 as Victoria dismissed the Warriors for 200 in reply to its total of 6-210, believes the Australian and South African quicks will have much to look forward to come Wednesday.

"There was much more in it than a a normal wicket and especially compared to what you get interstate," he said of the MCG pitch.

"There was good carry in it all day."

While Hewett bowled with intelligence and gained plenty of assistance off the wicket, Williams was downright terrifying when he ripped through the Bushrangers' batting line-up earlier in the day.

The former Victorian speedster took 3-0 in seven balls as Victoria crashed to 3-34 in the 13th over. A vicious, lifting delivery to dismiss Brad Hodge for a first-ball duck was the stand-out.

"It was getting to a point where it was almost about survival," Hewett said of Williams' opening spell.

The Test pacemen will be taking notice after talk of a bouncer war between Australia and South Africa in the second Test following the heavy treatment dished out to Nantie Hayward by Brett Lee in the first Test in Adelaide.

There is likely to be plenty of scary moments for batsmen of both sides if the Test wicket has anywhere near the bounce of today's pitch.

After Williams' opening onslaught, Victoria looked unlikely to survive its 50 overs.

But thanks to skipper Matthew Elliott's 60 and half-centuries to youngsters Michael Klinger and Simon Dart, the home side eventually boosted its run rate above four an over.

Western Australia's innings started disastrously when Hewett dismissed its top four batsmen in his first seven overs, including a superb leg-cutter to get rid of Warriors skipper Simon Katich for three runs.

From that point the Warriors were always up against it but still nearly pinched victory thanks to a magnificent 77 from Ryan Campbell.

Campbell took 16 runs off Ian Harvey's ninth over to reduce the target from 27 runs off 18 balls to a far more achievable 11 runs off 12 balls, despite being left to bat with No.11 Williams.

Elliott then bravely tossed the ball to Jon Moss, who wouldn't have even played had Damien Fleming not made a late withdrawal with hamstring soreness.

Moss ended the Warriors' innings with his first ball when he had Campbell caught behind.

The Bushrangers finally had something to celebrate in the one-day arena even though they remain bottom of the ING Cup table.

© 2001 AAP