Sizzling Short century helps Victoria beat Queensland

A stunning century from the in-form Matthew Short and a decisive spell of spin bowling by Todd Murphy led Victoria to a 19-run win over Queensland in a thrilling and high-scoring Marsh Cup clash.

Matt Renshaw scored a blistering 66-ball century for Queensland but it wasn't enough to haul in the monster target of 350. Will Sutherland held his nerve at the death also taking three wickets while Victoria captain Peter Handscomb also took five catches, including one crucial one-handed screamer.

Short's 134 from 100 deliveries set the tone for Victoria's total of 349 for 6 at Mackay's Great Barrier Reef Arena on Thursday.

The Bulls were 212 for 1 in the 28th over in reply and on track for victory, until Murphy bowled a crafty second spell of offspin to turn the match.

Renshaw and Ben McDermott added 175 off 124 deliveries, with Renshaw making 102 from 68 balls while McDermott made 86 from 82, before Murphy dismissed both in quick succession. McDermott was bowled attempting a reverse sweep before Renshaw holed out to deep square two overs later.

Max Bryant got the Bulls close by thumping eight fours and two sixes in his 60-ball 62 while shepherding the tail, but Murphy took a superb running catch over his shoulder from the first ball of the 49th over from Sutherland to finish the match, with Queensland all out for 330.

Short and opening partner Tom Rogers earlier combined in a 127-run stand, with Rogers contributing 42. Late cameos from Sam Harper and Jonathan Merlo continued the momentum with Merlo finishing 54 not out.

Short, 27, was player of the tournament in the BBLlast season and earned selection for Australia in T20I and ODI cricket in recent months. He scored a century days earlier at the same venue in Victoria's heavy innings defeat by Queensland in the Sheffield Shield.

Short was severe on anything short and pulled a Kane Richardson delivery out of the arena into distant bushes. The ball was lost and had to be replaced as Victoria raced to 68 for 0 after 10 overs.

Bulls seamer Gurinder Sandhu was the pick of the bowlers and kept things mostly tight, but Short played an exquisite back-foot cover drive for a boundary to showcase his stellar form.

For Queensland in reply, McDermott hit the ball cleanly throughout his whirlwind innings, while Renshaw was imperious all around the ground and used his wrists to place the ball at will.

Victorian seamer Sam Elliott snared Bulls captain Jimmy Peirson and Jack Wildermuth in consecutive deliveries as the hosts failed to capitalise on their fabulous start.

A diving Handscomb catch at first slip to dismiss Sandhu after wicketkeeper Harper dropped the ball was decisive in the result, with the Victorian skipper having a blinder in the field.