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Vics claim one-day title despite Sandhu’s seven-wicket haul

The elated Victorian side celebrates its JLT Cup success at Junction Oval on Wednesday.

The elated Victorian side celebrates its JLT Cup success at Junction Oval on Wednesday. Photo: AAP

Victoria has lifted the one-day cup for the sixth time, and its first since 2010-11, despite the seven-wicket heroics of Tasmanian quick Gurinder Sandhu.

The Vics won the toss and set a target of 275 runs in Wednesday’s final at Junction Oval, then bowled the Tigers out for 164.

Sandhu starred with seven wickets, including a hat-trick, but player-of-the-final honours went to Victorian skipper Peter Handscomb, who scored 49 runs and took four catches with the gloves.

“Given the way we played throughout the group stages it’s probably come from nowhere,” Handscomb said after his team qualified for the knockout stage despite just two wins from five games.

“But we were working out what team worked for us and our game plan, so that when the finals came around we were going to be playing our best cricket.

“As it turned out we played our two best games in the semi-final and the final and they were the two that counted.

“It has been awesome that everyone has contributed … I couldn’t be happier.”

Sandhu’s career-best figures of 7-56 drew him level with Western Australia’s Andrew Tye, their 18 wickets apiece the most for the tournament.

He took 4-1 off the last over, including a hat-trick with the last three balls of the innings, but his efforts were in vain as the visitors faltered with the bat.

Handscomb highlighted the need for a more consistent effort from his bowlers before the match and he got his wish.

All six of his bowlers took wickets, with Fawad Ahmed (2-45 from 9.4 overs), Andrew Fekete (2-20 from six), Jackson Coleman (2-27 from eight) and Chris Tremain (2-33 from nine) each claiming two.

Ben McDermott, who scored the second-most runs for the tournament to be named player of the series, was the danger man for Tasmania, but Ahmed removed the opener on 34.

Alex Doolan top scored with 46, but the Tasmanians lost wickets regularly.

Tasmanian opener Matthew Wade is caught behind by Peter Handscomb, off Glenn Maxwell’s bowling, for 15. Photo: AAP

Cameron White led the way for the Vics with 88, including four fours and four sixes, before he became Sandhu’s first scalp when caught behind by Matthew Wade.

After winning the toss, the hosts were cruising at 0-88 but suffered a middle-order collapse, losing 4-23.

Glenn Maxwell was elevated from his usual No.5 spot to push the run rate along but he departed for nine, with Nic Maddinson bowled for a duck soon after.

The innings was delicately poised at 5-194 in the 39th over but Handscomb, with 49 off 45 balls falling one run short of his fifth half-century in row, and Matt Short (37 off 34) combined to help post a total that proved too much for Tasmania.

-AAP

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