Tassie’s crash lets Vics back in

TASMANIA suffered an extraordinary late batting collapse to hand one-day cup champions Victoria a one-run win at the WACA yesterday.

The holders seemed certain to be heading for a second straight defeat to open the season only for Tasmania to lose 6-12 with victory in touching distance.

Chris Tremain (4-36) and new boy Jackson Coleman (4-46) tore through the Tigers’ lower-order and dismiss their opponents for 184 off 40.4 overs.

A confident half century from Ben McDermott seemed certain to lead Tasmania to the win and earn a modicum of revenge for defeat in last season’s final.

The Vics, who lost their opener against Western Australia by 125 runs on Saturday, stumbled their way to 185 before being dismissed off 47.5 overs.

McDermott, who took four catches during Victoria’s innings in an interim role with the wicket-keeping gloves, was unusually watchful in reaching his half century off 83 balls.

Last season’s top-scorer for Tasmania and the tournament’s player of the series was eventually out for 78 (108 balls) just five shy of victory as the Tigers chased a bonus point win.

It was to prove their undoing.

Jordan Silk and George Bailey earlier chipped in with 22 and 27 as Tasmania reached 4-172.

Victoria’s all-star batting order again failed to fire and it was left to teenage all-rounder Will Sutherland to lift his side to some level of respectability.

Coming in at 6-109, the 19year-old top-scored with a career-best 53, before being the last batsman dismissed.