In a one-day cricket encounter at the Junction Oval in Melbourne, Victoria showcased their unbeatable form with a resounding 59-run triumph over New South Wales (NSW). This win marked their second consecutive victory in the domestic competition, following their earlier win against Tasmania at the same venue in the tournament’s opening match.

Allrounder Will Sutherland, making a remarkable return after recovering from a stress fracture in his back sustained back in March, had a stellar performance. Sutherland, once considered an outside contender for an Ashes selection, displayed his all-round abilities by taking the final wicket of the match, finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 39. Notably, he also contributed to the team’s efforts with a catch off Todd Murphy’s delivery.

Daniel Hughes, who had an outstanding run in the one-day cup last season, emerged as the highest run-scorer for NSW with a resilient 69. However, once Will Sutherland dismissed Hughes in the 37th over, the hopes of a NSW victory began to dwindle. Test fast bowler Scott Boland added to NSW’s woes by claiming two pivotal wickets, concluding with figures of 2 for 56.

In the match, Victoria, led by Captain Peter Handscomb, chose to bat after winning the toss and went on to amass a formidable total of 298 for 7. Wicketkeeper Sam Harper delivered an outstanding performance, achieving a career-best List A score of 96, narrowly missing out on a century when he was dismissed lbw by Edwards. Additionally, Marcus Harris, a fringe Test opener, crafted a patient half-century. Despite a minor setback in the middle overs, Victoria’s innings received a significant boost in the final five overs, thanks to Campbell Kellaway’s cameo of 38 runs from just 26 balls, ensuring they set a competitive target.