Matthew Elliott has endured a frustrating season. But the last week of it has been as close to as enjoyable as it comes. Precisely seven days after plundering a one-day century from Queensland, the left handed Victorian opener was at it again today, leading his team to a fifty-nine run triumph over the Bulls in the Mercantile Mutual Cup match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

In combining with opening partner Jason Arnberger (75) to produce a spectacular 161-run stand for the first wicket in the space of just thirty overs, Elliott (112) not only made a mockery of rival captain Stuart Law's decision to send the Bushrangers in. He also provided his team with an advantage that it never relinquished.

Aside from the always efficient Adam Dale (2/30 off ten overs), the Queensland attack came in for serial punishment. At both ends of the innings, Test player Andy Bichel (0/65 from ten) was treated with disdain, and fellow former Australian player Michael Kasprowicz (1/55 off nine) was another to be treated harshly.

As if the openers' efforts weren't enough, Brad Hodge (50*) also produced a typically effective innings from the relatively unfamiliar position of number three.

Around two rain interruptions, the Victorians raced to a score of 4/271 - one made better by the fact that it had been produced from just forty-eight overs. Accordingly, Queensland's target for victory was then revised to as many as 286 under Duckworth/Lewis calculations, a task which became increasingly formidable as the afternoon unfolded.

Jimmy Maher (64), Law (37) and Matthew Hayden (36) fought valiantly. But, once first gamer Jonathon Moss (5/47 off ten overs) sowed the seeds of a collapse with the wickets of Bichel (19) and Maher in the space of five deliveries, the contest was all but over. With his tidy medium pace, ex-New South Welshman Moss proved the star of the afternoon session, even allowing the home team to snatch a fifth point when it finished off the Queensland innings just three runs shy of bonus point safety. Ben Oliver also played a starring role, albeit far more fleetingly, when he produced a remarkable backpedalling catch at long on to remove Wade Seccombe (1) in the dying stages of the match.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd