A combination of reckless batting and ordinary fielding from NSW helped Victoria to a two-wicket victory in the ING Cup one-day cricket match at Coffs Harbour.

Victoria had some heart flutters in reaching the 188 target in 37.5 overs at the International Sports Stadium to secure a much-needed bonus point.

The win moved the Bushrangers into outright second on the competition table on 19 points - six behind front-runner NSW - and gave them some breathing space from a chasing pack.

The visitors were cruising to victory at 3-152 in the 32nd over before Test legspinner Stuart MacGill struck, claiming 5-54 off his 8.5 overs.

"It definitely got a bit worrying towards the end," said Victorian skipper Cameron White, who earlier claimed 3-30 off eight overs as the Blues wasted a promising start.

"I don't think you ever like to see it get that tight, especially when Stuart (MacGill) is bowling well on a turning wicket."

The Bushrangers were reeling at 2-38 after 10 overs before man-of-the-match David Hussey (74 off 78 balls) and Brad Hodge (42) steadied the ship with a valuable 86-run partnership off 110 balls.

But the Blues have only themselves to blame after butchering three simple chances to dismiss the pair - two dropped catches and a missed stumping.

MacGill could only watch in despair as Doug Bollinger dropped Hodge on 22 and then NSW captain Brad Haddin missed an easy stumping chance which would've sent the Test batsman on his way.

Hussey was also dropped in the deep on 10. The 34-year-old MacGill kept his cool and later sparked a Victorian mini-collapse as the visitors slumped to 7-177 before hanging on for victory.

MacGill refuted any suggestion the loss would be morale-sapping for the Blues, confidently boasting they would win the Pura Cup, ING Cup and Twenty20 competitions.

"I don't think it'll make a whole lot of difference to us," MacGill said.

"We've got a pretty stable set-up and Trevor Bayliss is a very level-headed coach.

"We've still got the best one-day team going around. We're going to win all three (competitions) this year." Earlier the Blues were cruising at 0-50 after nine overs before a top-order collapse sent them into damage control as they lost 4-9.

Matthew Phelps and Aaron O'Brien ensured NSW weren't completely humiliated with a 61-run partnership before White bowled Phelps for 44.

Bushrangers paceman Gerard Denton finished with 3-40 off seven overs.

The Blues have now lost all their three matches played in Coffs Harbour.

Victoria and NSW will meet again in a Pura Cup match starting on Monday in Lismore.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP