Short, Kellaway shine as Victoria hammer Tasmania

Matthew Short confirmed his white-ball credentials with the bat as Victoria secured a 138-run bonus-point win over Tasmania in their One-Day Cup clash.

Victoria were asked to bat first in Hobart and made 304 for 7 off their 50 overs. Rain interrupted the run chase and Tasmania's new target to win was 276 off 35 overs.

They were never in the hunt at 40 for 4 after Victoria paceman Mitch Perry took 2 for 6 in his opening five-over spell. Player of the match Perry finished with a stunning 4 for 9 off six overs as Tasmania were bowled out for 137 runs in 25.2 overs. Opener Caleb Jewell carried his bat for an unbeaten on 47.

Short earlier top-scored with 70 off 91 deliveries at the top of the order for Victoria to remind Australia selectors of his talents. Short, 30, has had a rollercoaster ride in his recent ODIs, scoring three ducks in a row against Pakistan and Bangladesh after notching three half-centuries in the previous seven digs for Australia.

Victoria's innings was given early impetus by Short and Thomas Rogers in a 92-run stand at better than a run-a-ball. That was continued when Campbell Kellaway joined Short, with the pair putting on a further 79 runs for the second wicket.

Australia selectors will be hoping the 23-year-old Kellaway can use the knock as a season turning point. Kellaway has been touted as a future Test batter but has struggled to pile on the runs in Sheffield Shield cricket, making just 70 runs in four innings this summer and two in total for Australia A against India A. He made 506 runs at 26.78 last summer with one century.

Kellaway made an accomplished 105 not out back in 2022 for a Cricket Australia XI against a South Africa attack that included Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje in a knock that hinted at the talents he does possess.

Peter Handscomb also chipped in with a handy cameo for Victoria. The bowlers then backed that up to the hilt.