Pint-sized batsman Jon Wells stood tall before paceman Sam Rainbird's heroics sealed Tasmania's 132-run, bonus point one-day win over Victoria in Brisbane on Wednesday.
Days after featuring in Hobart's Champions League Twenty20 semi-final loss to Kolkata in India, Wells thrashed an unbeaten 110 to help the Tigers recover from 5-75 and post a daunting 7-287 from their 50 overs.
Not to be outdone, Rainbird (5-29 off 8.2 overs) was on a hat-trick as he helped rout the Bushrangers for 155 by the 30th over.
Wells was named man-of-the-match after bringing up his ton in the final over of Tasmania's innings, thrashing John Hastings (0-66) for three fours before a six off the last delivery to cap an entertaining 95-ball knock.
The Tigers were reeling at 5-75 before Wells combined with Evan Gulbis (63) in a 129-run, 106-ball sixth wicket stand at the petite Allan Border Field.
It was more of the same from Wells whose late hitting helped Hobart reach the CL T20 final four.
"I felt like I was playing pretty well in India - I was playing a different role coming in at the end over there," Wells said.
"I wanted to come here and start well and it's great that I could."
Victoria (1-2 win-loss record) were a shadow of the team that sealed a four-wicket win over South Australia at the Gabba on Monday night.
Cameron White was a case in point.
Rainbird was on a hat-trick when he clean bowled White for a golden duck just days after the Bushrangers dangerman struck an unbeaten, match-winning 102 against the Redbacks.
Andrew Fekete (2-40) was also on a hat-trick when he trapped Scott Boland in front, reducing Victoria to 8-69.
Veteran David Hussey (54 including nine fours) and Clint McKay (57 off 49) enjoyed a free-wheeling 77-run ninth wicket stand before Tasmania finally crushed their resolve as bad light threatened.
Tasmania lost Tim Paine (illness) and captain Xavier Doherty (Australian one-day call-up) before the game, with 22-year-old Jordan Silk taking up the Tigers' reins.
Tasmania (1-0 record) next face Wednesday's other one-day winners Western Australia at the Gabba on Saturday.
Victoria take on the unbeaten NSW at North Sydney Oval on Sunday.
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