Queensland fell just short in a monster run chase at Great Barrier Reef Arena
Match Report: Victoria win by 19 runs
ScorecardShort takes down Bulls in high-scoring thriller
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A century by player-of-the-match Matt Short and a decisive spell of spin bowling by Todd Murphy led Victoria to a 19-run win over Queensland in a thrilling and high-scoring Marsh Cup clash.
Victoria captain Peter Handscomb also took five catches, including one crucial one-handed screamer.
Short's 134 from 100 deliveries set the tone for a total of 6-349 for the visitors at Mackay's Great Barrier Reef Arena on Thursday.
The Bulls were 1-212 in the 28th over in reply and on track for victory, until Murphy (3-45) bowled a crafty second spell of off-spin to turn the match.
Bulls pair Matt Renshaw (102 off 68) and Ben McDermott (86 off 82) added 175 off 124 deliveries, before Murphy dismissed both in quick succession.
Max Bryant (62) got the Bulls close, but Murphy took a superb running catch over his shoulder from the first ball of the 49th over by seamer Will Sutherland to finish the match, with Queensland all out for 330.
Short and opening partner Tom Rogers (42 off 62) earlier combined in a 127-run stand.
Late cameos from Sam Harper (47) and Jonathan Merlo (54 not out) continued the momentum.
The 27-year-old Short was player of the BBL tournament last season and won selection for Australia in T20 and ODI cricket this year.
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He scored a century days earlier at the same venue in Victoria's heavy innings defeat by Queensland in the Sheffield Shield.
Short was severe on anything short and pulled a Kane Richardson delivery out of the arena into distant bushes.
The ball was lost and had to be replaced as Victoria raced to 0-68 in the opening 10 overs.
Bulls seamer Gurinder Sandhu (2-48) was the pick of the bowlers and kept things mostly tight, but Short played an exquisite back-foot cover drive for a boundary to showcase his stellar form.
For Queensland in reply, McDermott hit the ball cleanly throughout his whirlwind innings, while Renshaw was imperious all around the ground and used his wrists to place the ball at will.
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Victorian seamer Sam Elliott snared Bulls captain Jimmy Peirson (1) and Jack Wildermuth (0) in consecutive deliveries as the hosts failed to capitalise on their fabulous start.
A diving Handscomb catch at first slip to dismiss Sandhu (11) after wicketkeeper Harper dropped the ball was decisive in the result, with the Victorian skipper having a blinder in the field.
| Team | M | W | L | T | N/R | NRR | Ded. | Bat | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
NSW
|
7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.33 | 0 | 2 | 22 |
|
2
WA
|
7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.543 | 0 | 1 | 21 |
|
3
VIC
|
7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.232 | 0 | 1 | 21 |
|
4
TAS
|
7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -0.201 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
|
5
QLD
|
7 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | -0.735 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
|
6
SA
|
7 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | -0.327 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
T: Ties
N/R: No results
NRR: Net Run Rate
Ded.: Deductions
Bat: Batting Bonus
PTS: Total points