Short ton salvages Victoria on opening day of Shield clash

A century from Matt Short has helped Victoria recover from a disastrous start to their Marsh Sheffield Shield match with Queensland before they were dismissed for 253 in Mackay.

The Victorians threatened to collapse in a heap twice after being sent in, first falling to 4-40 in the morning and then losing two wickets in the same Mitch Swepson (2-58) over late on Saturday.

But Short (100) was their anchor through it all, dragging them back into the contest after they fell to 3-19 and then bringing up a fourth first-class century in the final session on day one.

Gurinder Sandhu (3-68) bowled the 27-year-old with the third ball he faced after posting his ton.

The performance continued a stellar year for Short, who was named the KFC BBL's player of the tournament in January and made his T20I and ODI debuts in the respective tours of South Africa and India.

Queensland had managed 0-26 in reply at stumps in the absence of opener and captain Usman Khawaja, who was rested in preparation for the Test summer.

Victoria were 1-0 when Marcus Harris edged Mark Steketee (2-40) to former Test opening partner Joe Burns in the slips, and further off the pace after Travis Dean and Campbell Kellaway fell in consecutive overs.

Of the first four Victorians dismissed, three edged pace deliveries behind and were caught, with captain Peter Handscomb (11) the third of those as the visitors went to lunch at 4-64.

No.5 batter Short copped a ball to his right hip in the second session and appeared hampered but played through the pain.

He went on to forge a 104-run partnership with fast bowler Mitchell Perry (37 from 104 balls) that salvaged Victoria's innings.

The lone six of Victoria's innings, hit off Jack Wildermuth's bowling over deep mid-wicket, was a highlight of Short's time at the crease.

After working his way patiently through the 90s, Short slapped Swepson up the ground to mid-on for a quick single that confirmed his hundred from 172 balls.

Sheffield Shield 2023-24 standings

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Drawn D	No results N/R	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Bowling Bonus Bowl	Total points PTS
1 Western Australia Men WA	10	5	2	3	0	0	5.53	9.4	47.93
2 Tasmanian Tigers Men TAS	10	5	2	3	0	0	6.06	8.3	47.36
3 NSW Men NSW	10	4	3	3	0	0	6.31	9	42.31
4 Victoria Men VIC	10	4	4	2	0	0	4.74	8.2	38.94
5 South Australia Men SA	10	3	6	1	0	0	5.19	9.3	33.49
6 Queensland Bulls QLD	10	2	6	2	0	0	3.54	8.3	25.84

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

D: Drawn

N/R: No results

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

Bowl: Bowling Bonus

PTS: Total points