Michael Lewis stars as Victoria clinch Pura Cup

Victoria 710 and 1 for 140 dec beat Queensland 275 and 254 (Law 72, Lewis 6-59) by 321 runs
Scorecard

Victoria triumphed in the Pura Cup final as they routed Queensland by 321 runs, wrapping up the match half-an-hour before tea on the fifth and final day at the MCG. Queensland, set a near-impossible target of 576 for victory, were all out for 254 in their second innings.

The final nail was hammered in by fast bowler Michael Lewis, when he had Joe Dawes caught behind to land Victoria's first domestic title since 1990-91 and their 26th overall. Lewis finished with career-best figures of 6 for 59.

The win completed a remarkable season for Victoria, who remained undefeated in the four-day game and topped the points table. The death of David Hookes, their coach, had a devastating impact on the team, and this victory assumed greater significance because of that. The feeling was encapsulated by fans today when they held out a banner that read, "Hookesy and Vics - We salute you."

Queensland resumed this morning at 2 for 56, but any hope of their batting out the day were dashed when they lost four quick wickets before lunch. Lewis struck immediately when he had Clinton Perren (32) trapped lbw with the first ball of the day. Lewis soon snapped up Chris Simpson, caught behind, and Ian Harvey accounted for James Hopes (31), brilliantly caught by Cameron White as he moved to his left to latch on with one hand.

White then completed the damage by bowling Stuart Law (72) with a shooter. Law, in his last innings in Australian domestic cricket, left the field to a standing ovation. After lunch, Lewis and Andrew McDonald polished off the tail.

Victoria dominated on all five days, and the match was virtually sealed when they piled on 710 in their first innings. That was the highest team total in a Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup final, and the highest in Australian domestic cricket in over 60 years.

Matthew Elliott, who smashed 155, also broke Graham Yallop's record for the most first-class runs in a season for Victoria. He finished with 1429 at an average of almost 80.