Victoria 3 for 158 (Pucovski 64) beat New South Wales 7 for 277 (Hughes 117) by three runs (DLS method)

Not long before that the umpires had deemed to too dark for the quicks but the game continued with Sangha and Nathan Lyon in tandem. After 28 overs Victoria were level with the par score and Kurtis Patterson, the New South Wales captain, had wanted to use quick bowler Liam Hatcher but the umpires deemed it was still to dark and Sangha sent down what became the final over of the game.

In pursuit of NSW's challenging 7 for 277, Victoria reached 0 for 47 from 9.2 overs when a 13-over delay saw the home side set a revised target of 226 from 37 overs at just over a run-a-ball.

Pucovski played a chanceless innings of 64 before he fell to a sharp catch behind the stumps from new wicketkeeper Matthew Gilkes off the bowling of Liam Hatcher.

Test opener Marcus Harris, batting at No.3, fell in the next over for 41 to leave Victoria - missing the services of quick-scoring Nic Maddinson due to English county commitments - significantly behind the required run rate.

But Short and captain Peter Handscomb edged Victoria to 3 for 158 and over the line without any room to spare.

NSW seemed on top throughout the day as Hughes took early control after the visitors were given first use of the deck. Hughes enjoyed strong support from fellow opener Kurtis Patterson (30), Moises Henriques (35) and Gilkes (40).

In his 88th appearance, Henriques broke the record for most one-day appearances for NSW.

Hughes looked capable of a massive score but a remarkable grab behind the stumps from wicketkeeper Handscomb ended his knock in the 43rd over.

A slew of late wickets marginally slowed the Blues scoring with debutant allrounder Will Salzmann contributing a whirlwind 21 not out from 14 balls in the final overs.

Inexperienced left-arm spinner Todd Murphy continued where he left off last season with a tidy 10-over return of 2 for 29.