Victoria’s late-season cost for a spot within the Sheffield Shield’s showpiece sport will come all the way down to the ultimate spherical after a thumping 10-wicket win left NSW with an undesirable file.
NSW’s batting folded on the Lavington Sports Ground in Albury as Victoria eased to victory inside three days.
The Blues might muster simply 130 of their second innings, leaving the guests to safe the three runs they wanted to win simply after tea.
The end result means Victoria go into the ultimate spherical equal second with Queensland, although narrowly trailing their rivals on bonus factors.
Victoria will face Western Australia in Perth within the ultimate spherical commencing on March 14.
“Everyone is trending upwards for us at the right time of the season,” stated Victoria’s Will Sutherland, who has gained all three matches since moving into the Shield captaincy function.
“We have a lot to prove after last year when we lost the Shield final (in Perth) and the boys will be really hungry to turn that around.”
It is a really totally different story for backside aspect NSW, nevertheless, whose winless type has now gone for a state file 11 matches stretching again into final season.
NSW are sure to complete backside whatever the end result of their ultimate match towards South Australia.
The sport was very a lot within the stability when day three commenced, with Victoria simply 61 runs in entrance on 9-264.
But the Vics stretched their tally to 331 for a first-innings lead of 128.
Matt Short headlined the batting card, finishing his century in the course of the morning session earlier than being dismissed for 104.
It was a second century in as many Shield matches for Short, whose file because the mid-season break stands at 378 runs at a median of 75.6.
Short even chipped in with a few wickets along with his part-time spin returning figures of 2-11.
“Matt Short looked like he was batting on a different wicket to everyone else,” Sutherland stated.
“He has been in amazing form and set it up for us beautifully.”
Young paceman Mitch Perry as soon as once more led the way in which for Victoria, selecting up 4-30.
Only Chris Green defied the guests, along with his unbeaten 39 down the order making certain the Victoria must bat once more.
NSW had been with out season top-scorer Daniel Hughes who was unable to bat after retiring damage within the first innings with a calf harm.
“We were pretty much outplayed in every facet of the game,” NSW captain Kurtis Patterson stated.
“(It’s) really disappointing and a little bit embarrassing to be honest.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
