Young quicks star as Vics ease past Tasmania

Victoria have jumped to top of the Marsh One-Day Cup standings after a convincing six-wicket win over Tasmania in a low-scoring contest in Launceston.

After captain Peter Handscomb won the toss and elected to bowl first, the Vics decimated the Tigers for 156 with quick Sam Elliott taking 4-26.

In just his eighth 50-over game for his state, Elliott, the son of former Test opener Matthew, skittled the lower-order to finish with career-best figures.

Elliott also claimed the crucial wicket of Beau Webster, with the dangerman dismissed for an innings-best of 47 after he threatened to give Tasmania the upper hand.

In-form opening bowler Fergus O'Neill (3-33) did the damage early, cleaning up the Tigers' top-order of Matthew Wade, Caleb Jewell and Charlie Wakim.

Tasmania were left reeling at 4-42 following those breakthroughs and the hosts were never able to recover to post a defendable total.

Victoria, led by star opener Matthew Short, took their time in the chase but were able to bring up their fourth win of the season with 14 overs to spare.

Short made batting look easy as he brought up the victory with a four down the ground, finishing unbeaten on 81 off 88 balls.

In the 28-year-old's previous one-day match, he pounded 134 against Queensland in Mackay.

Short will soon join the Australian squad for the five-match T20 series against India after the completion of the ODI World Cup.

The Vics leapfrogged defending champions Western Australia into top spot, while Tasmania remain fourth with a 2-3 record.

Victoria will be back in action on Thursday when they host Queensland in an important Marsh Sheffield Shield match at the MCG.

The Tigers will stay put in Tasmania to host the resurgent NSW next Saturday in a four-day game.

Marsh Cup 2023-24 standings

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Ties T	No results N/R	Net Run Rate NRR	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Total points PTS
1 NSW Men NSW	7	5	2	0	0	0.33	0	2	22
2 Western Australia Men WA	7	5	2	0	0	0.543	0	1	21
3 Victoria Men VIC	7	5	2	0	0	0.232	0	1	21
4 Tasmanian Tigers Men TAS	7	3	4	0	0	-0.201	0	1	13
5 Queensland Bulls QLD	7	1	5	0	1	-0.735	0	1	7
6 South Australia Men SA	7	1	5	0	1	-0.327	1	0	5

Legend

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