Victoria 5 for 262 (Harris 102*, Harvey 61, Handscomb 45, Pope 3-51) beat South Australia 7 for 259 (McSweeney 53, Lehmann 49, Scott 42, Merlo 2-23) by five wickets
Marcus Harris has made a statement ahead of the Pakistan Test tour, smashing his first Marsh Cup century for Victoria to help the visitors to a comfortable five-wicket win over South Australia at Karen Rolton Oval.
Harris made 102 not out from 105 balls and struck back-to-back boundaries off Lloyd Pope in the 46th over, the second of those, a blow wide of long-on, bringing up the winning runs and his century. It was the first time he had reached three figures in Australia's 50-over domestic competition after 48 games over 11 years. He had made one List A century for Leicestershire in the Royal London Cup in England last winter.
The No. 3 batter controlled the chase, cashing in on the good early work of Mackenzie Harvey and Jake Fraser-McGurk. Harvey made his second consecutive half-century in the competition and his highest List A score of 61, while Fraser-McGurk clubbed five fours and a six in a 29-ball 36 that formed part of a 69-run opening stand in the first ten overs. Peter Handscomb continued his fine form with a brisk 45 in the middle-order to support Harris.
The chase wobbled briefly when Pope struck three times with less than 63 required, but Harris steered Victoria home.
Earlier, offspinner Todd Murphy and medium-pacer Jonathan Merlo strangled South Australia's middle-order to help restrict them to 259. Both men took two wickets each and conceded just over four an over in their combined 16 overs. Quick Brody Couch also bowled well, claiming the key wicket of Jake Weatherald.
Nathan McSweeney made his maiden List A half-century but fell for 53 off 84 balls, while Jake Lehmann made 49 in their century stand for the fourth wicket after Australia Test and 50-over wicketkeeper Alex Carey missed out. Liam Scott (42 not out off 33 balls) and Nathan McAndrew (25 off 19) finished the innings strongly, striking six fours and a six between them to give South Australia something to defend. But Harris was too good in the end.
