For a moment it looked like Shane Warne was about to make the easiest $1 million of his life.

With typical flair, Warne came within "about two metres" of hitting a designated sign with a shot worth $1 million - and ending a much-hyped promotion on the first day of the season.

As part of this season's ING Cup one-day cricket series, the designated signs become "live" targets whenever a six is hit and stay live until the end of the over in which the six is hit.

After hitting fellow legspinner Stuart MacGill over midwicket for six in today's clash between NSW and Victoria, Warne turned to square leg and appeared to eye the 1.8m x 1.2m sign.

"I wasn't actually going for the ING sign but I got a rank full toss from Stu and I just had to hit for six," said Warne, whose team's winning hopes had long since disappeared.

The crowd at Bankstown Oval held its breath as the ball sailed flat and straight towards the target.

"Off the stick, Mark Waugh and Brad Haddin behind the stumps said: `I think you've got it' but the wind just curled it around a bit and it just missed," Warne added.

Warne, whose Victorian side lost by 123 runs, estimated it missed by about two metres and was disappointed he couldn't give his team something to celebrate.

"It would have been a nice positive to get out of a disappointing game."

NSW skipper Shane Lee admitted he thought the money was about to go Warne's way.

"It went really close but I'm glad he didn't hit it - Warney's one guy that doesn't need it," Lee added with a smile.

© 2001 AAP