Recent Match Report - NSW vs Victoria 25th Match 2022/23

Victoria 331 (Short 104, Harris 53, Kellaway 51, Hatcher 4-95) 3 for 0 (Dean 3*) New South Wales 203 (Green 52, Perry 4-24) & 130 (Green 39*, Perry 4-30) by 10 wickets

Matthew Short’s second consecutive Sheffield Shield century and eight wickets from Mitchell Perry helped Victoria beat New South Wales by ten wickets in three days in Trent Copeland’s likely retirement from first-class cricket at Albury.

Short added 23 to his overnight tally of 81 to complete his second century in as many appearances, having failed to score one in his previous 64 Shield innings, to help Victoria post a significant first innings lead of 128 .

Perry then continued his great form with the ball picking up 4 for 30 as New South Wales folded for 130 in their second innings. Perry finished with eight wickets for the match and has taken 19 Shield scalps in his last three matches. Short agreed for two wickets to complete a superb all-round performance, while substitute captain Will Sutherland also took two.

Copeland was given a guard of honor as he left the field in what could be his last appearance for NSW. He finished 3 for 63 from 30 overs. If it’s his last appearance, he’ll end up with 344 Shield scalps, tied for 11th all-time and third most for NSW. He has taken a total of 410 first-class wickets, including six Test wickets in three Tests, with 21 hauls of five wickets.

Short proved an obstacle for Copeland and his fellow NSW bowlers on the third morning as he sailed to his century. After losing to Sam Harper, he got a lot of support from Fergus O’Neill who went 24 not out. Short fell to Chris Green, caught short leg for 104, but Victoria added 67 valuable runs to their overnight tally for the last four wickets to take the lead above the triple figure.

NSW’s second innings started disastrously as they fell to 16 for 3 and lost all three in just two overs as Perry and Cameron McClure did the damage with seam moves and some extra bounce. NSW lost wickets at regular intervals thereafter, with Sutherland and Perry tearing through the middle order before Short scored a hat-trick to give Victoria a chance at an innings victory.

Green single-handedly managed to prevent that, making 39 out to ensure Victoria batted again, but they had no trouble knocking off the three runs needed. NSW opener Daniel Hughes failed to bat in the second innings after stopping injured in the first innings on the first day with a calf injury.

Victoria remains third on the Shield table and still has a chance to play in back-to-back finals, but they head to Western Australia to take on the ladder leaders in the final round. NSW remain winless with one game left against South Australia.