Gannon takes five but Macdonald, Short and Perry put Victoria on top
Gannon took 5 for 47 but Macdonald made 79 and Short 62 to give Victoria a crucial lead
AAP
05-Dec-2025 • 7 hrs ago
Cameron Gannon took 5 for 47 • Getty Images
Western Australia 194 and 5 for 1 trail Victoria 255 (Macdonald 79, Short 62, Gannon 5-47) by 56 runs
Victoria's Sheffield Shield dominance is continuing, taking a stranglehold of their clash with Western Australia at the MCG.
Holding a 61-run first-innings lead after making 255 in reply to WA's 194, Victoria delivered another blow just before stumps on day two on Friday.
Mitchell Perry trapped former Australia opener Cameron Bancroft on the final ball of the third over to leave WA reeling at 4 for 1. Instead of Australia's white-ball star Mitch Marsh arriving at the crease, spinner Corey Rocchiccioli was sent in as a nightwatcher.
Rocchiccioli survived five overs with captain Sam Whiteman to get WA to stumps at 5 for 1, still trailing Victoria by 56 runs. Whiteman made just two from 24 balls, but did his job by getting to the end of the day without falling to the charging Victorian attack.
On a tricky wicket, opener Blake Macdonald thrived for Victoria with 79, while Matthew Short compiled 62.
Victoria took their time building a lead, going at a run-rate of just 2.68 and batting for 96 overs. WA veteran Cameron Gannon bowled tirelessly, sending down 23 overs for figures of 5 for 47.
Rocchiccioli ended Victoria's innings with his second wicket, finishing with 2 for 61.
Despite struggling in the One-Day Cup and suffering a heavy loss to WA on Tuesday, Victoria have been dominating the Shield this season. Another win here would take them into the Big Bash League break with five wins from six matches, putting them in the box seat to host this season's final. WA are on the bottom of the Shield table, having secured just one win this campaign.
