Wells, Rainbird set up big Tasmania win

Tasmania 7 for 287 (Wells 110*, Gulbis 63, Boland 3-31) beat Victoria 155 (McKay 57, Hussey 54, Rainbird 5-29) by 132
Scorecard

Jonathan Wells scored his second one-day century and Sam Rainbird completed his first five-wicket haul as Tasmania thrashed Victoria at Allan Border Field in Brisbane. In their first game of the Matador Cup campaign, Tasmania powered to 7 for 287 thanks mostly to Wells and Evan Gulbis, and in reply Victoria were never in the contest.

Tasmania's total was all the more impressive considering they stumbled to 5 for 75 as Scott Boland (3 for 31) and Clint McKay caused some top-order problems. But Wells and Gulbis rebuilt the innings with a 129-run sixth-wicket stand that pushed the total up past 200, and even when Gulbis fell for 63 the runs kept coming.

Wells, who has never quite established a permanent place in Tasmania's line-up, finished unbeaten on 110 from 95 deliveries to ensure a hefty chase for the Victorians. But early wickets from Rainbird, including captain Matthew Wade and former skipper Cameron White from consecutive balls, put Tasmania firmly on top.

Debutant Hamish Kingston also chipped in with two victims before McKay and David Hussey frustrated the Tigers with a 77-run ninth-wicket stand that brought half-centuries for both men. But the result was never really in doubt and Rainbird finished with 5 for 29 when he had McKay caught for 57, ensuring a bonus point for Tasmania.