Victorian master blaster Matt Short came to Mackay and conquered last week with a blistering ton at Great Barrier Reef Arena.
The 27-year-old opener from Ballarat demonstrated his batting power in the Bushrangers’ 19-run victory over Queensland in the Marsh Cup limited overs series – peeling off a superb 134 to earn the Player of the Match award.
A swashbuckling Short showed why he has earned five international caps for Australia in white ball cricket with a cracking century against the Queensland Bulls in a gripping one-day contest.
He faced one hundred balls and smashed an impressive thirteen boundaries and six towering sixes as the Bushrangers amassed a hefty 6-349 off 50 overs.
Short combined with Tom Rogers (42 runs off 62 balls) for an opening stand of 127 before adding 61 runs for the second wicket with Marcus Harris (20) and a third wicket union of 44 with skipper Peter Handscomb (21).
Other Victorian batsmen to shine were Jon Merlo who registered an unbeaten 54 off 38 balls and Sam Harper (47 off 34).
Pick of the Queensland bowlers were Jack Wildermuth (3-72) and quick Gurinder Sandhu (2-48).
In reply the Bulls fell agonisingly short after posting 330 – thanks to dashing knocks by centurion Matt Renshaw (102 off 68), Ben McDermott (86 off 82) and the flamboyant Max Bryant (62 off 60).
At one stage the Queensland side were 1-212 and firming as winners with Renshaw and McDermott in full cry.
They shared a massive second wicket partnership of 175 with international Renshaw notching fifteen boundaries and a six and McDermott thumping two sixes and eight fours.
But the Bulls were denied victory despite a last-ditch effort from hot shot Bryant who was last man dismissed in the 49th over when caught by Todd Murphy off the bowling of Will Sutherland.
Spinner Murphy, who bagged seven wickets in his Test debut against India in Nagpur earlier this year, snared 3-45 off ten overs in a fine display.
A handshake between captains before the final Marsh Cup game at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay. Photo credit: Queensland Cricket
