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Victoria 196 (Tremaine 4-32) and 284 (Handscombe 90, O’Neill 70*, Tremaine 4-50) won. New South Wales 102 (O’Neill 4-23) and 173 (Sangha 78, Sutherland 3-21, Murphy 3-34) for a difference of 205 runs.
New South Wales slipped to their 15th straight match without a Sheffield Shield win after losing to Victoria by 205 runs at the MCG.
They were bowled out for 173 midway through the first session of day four to extend the proud cricket nation’s painful run in the historic contest.
NSW batted harder than they had for most of the match after starting Sunday’s play on 124 for 8, still well short of the 379-run winning target.
Jackson Bird, who top-scored in NSW’s dismal first innings total of 102, lasted just 11 balls and was the last to bat.
NSW are winless since February 2022, with that current streak being significantly worse than their previous low of 10 games without a win.
The result brought huge relief to Victoria after they started the season with crushing defeats to Western Australia and Queensland.
Tailender Fergus O’Neill was dangerous on his way to an unbeaten 70 as he combined for a 58-run final wicket stand with Scott Boland.
“[Handscomb] Maybe I got a little clip from the coach after that [how he was out in] “First innings,” Victoria captain Will Sutherland said. “The way he responded, it was incredibly valuable runs.
“We knew it would be pretty much impossible for them to chase that total thanks to him, which takes a huge burden off the shoulders of the bowlers.”
Victoria will return to action next Saturday when they host Tasmania at Junction Oval in Melbourne, while New South Wales face the final test against defending champions Western Australia at the SCG.
