Victoria 169 and 312 (Short 119, Johnson 6-87, Agar 2-76) won South Australia 114 and 190 (Manenti 82, Drew 38, Perry 5-64, O’Neill 2-3, Holland 2-63) for 177 runs
Victoria claimed a massive 177-run win over South Australia in three days to move a step closer to a place in next month’s Sheffield Shield final.
South Australia had few answers with the bat in pursuit of an improbable 368 to win and were bowled out for 190 just after the scheduled tea break at the Junction Oval on Wednesday. Mitchell Perry, the 22-year-old fast bowler, continued his consistent form with career-best figures of 5 for 64.
Fergus O’Neill (2 for 3) claimed two top-class wickets, but it wasn’t all good news for him, with the rookie quickly whisked off the field after just 3.3 overs.
South Australia’s hopes were largely extinguished within an hour at the crease after slipping to 27 for 4. The only serious resistance came from Daniel Drew (38) and Benjamin Manenti (82), who combined for a defiant stand of 96 runs for the fifth wicket.
Victoria captain Will Sutherland secured the key for Drew, who had scored two centuries against leaders Western Australia last week, with a sharp strike that Campbell Kellaway took short.
Manenti again made his case as an all-rounder with 82 from just 96 balls – his second half-century in as many matches – before Perry removed him for the third wicket of the innings.
While the impact of other matches in progress is yet to be determined, the win moved Victoria into second place with two rounds remaining. It was a second one-sided victory for Victoria in a row under acting captain Sutherland.
While Perry enjoyed the spoils on the final day, the victory was shaped by Matthew Short’s knock in both innings. Short-hitting 70 in the first innings – the only half-century for either side in the first-innings exchanges – he followed it up with 119 in the second dig, his maiden Shield century.
Short’s run-score was even more remarkable on a demanding Junction Oval pitch, where 22 wickets fell during the first four sessions of the match.
The match also marked the return of veteran international Glenn Maxwell after three months out of action with a broken leg. Maxwell, who only returned to action at the weekend in grade cricket, scored just five runs in the first innings and then a second-ball duck in the second innings.
Despite the heavy defeat, South Australia’s hopes remain intact. it’s a late win against Victoria before games against Queensland and New South Wales are completed.