History Does For Bulls

Liam Blackford’s 149* (113)  has steered Victoria to a stunning boil over in one of the greatest comebacks in Australian domestic cricket history.

Needing 12 runs off the final over to complete an impossible chase, Blackford smashed Marnus Labuschagne for two boundaries to seal the deal with one ball remaining. His remarkable 149* was the highest score by a Victorian debutant and the highest by a One Day Cup debutant in over a decade.

Victorian gloveman, Blackford has had to do it the long way round. A prodigious talent who progressed through the pathways system, Blackford’s rookie contract was derailed by a rare blood clot condition in his right arm.

Three surgeries and a missing rib later, the Geelong product walked out in the Big V to absolute carnage in the middle. Coming in at no.7 after the Victorians crumbled to 4/14 in reply to 335, Blackford’s innings will go down as one of the most extraordinary innings in the history of the One Day Cup.

A man making up for lost time, he hustled between wickets and slapped anything that strayed short. He was equally impressive down the ground and was quick on the back foot to dispatch width.

He lost partners around him, including Will Sutherland (100), but the 22-year old forged on to single-handedly carry Victoria to an unlikely victory. He brought up his 50 with a six over mid-wicket, his ton with a punch through point and iced the game with a slash forward of cover. Though 74 of his runs came through the leg-side, this was an innings that utilised every inch of the ground.

With the asking rate above 10 for the final 15 overs,  Blackford manipulated the tail-end strike with a temperament beyond his years as the Vics whittled it down to 53 off 30 deliveries.  No. 8 Sam Elliott wasn’t afraid to take guard as well, chipping in with 32 (23) before becoming Tom Straker’s fourth victim in a statement bowling effort from the powerful paceman.

A Blackford six in the penultimate over left the Vics needing 12 off the last over, and a scrambled single from fellow debutant Harry Hoekstra ensured Blackford would be on strike to win the game.

Earlier, a raw Victorian side fielding three debutants sent the Bulls into bat on a glorious afternoon for cricket at Allan Border Field.

After the retirement of Usman Khawaja and Matt Renshaw’s ascension to the national side, Queensland shuffled the decks with highly-touted former Australia u19 captain Hugh Weibgen walking out alongside Jack Clayton.

Weibgen failed to replicate his ton in last week’s intra-squad game, pushing too hard at Austin Anlezark outside off in the second over. It was Bushranger’s keeper Liam Blackford’s first List A dismissal.

Labuschagne joined Clayton in the middle, who struggled for fluency in the powerplay. Both batters were pinned to the crease by the debutant left-armer Harry Hoekstra. The lanky 20-year-old, in the mould of Queensland counterpart Ollie Patterson, settled on a nice length early and was rewarded with an extended opening spell.

Clayton got going with a boundary down the ground off Victorian skipper Will Sutherland to break the shackles. Labuschagne was busy as usual, giving himself room to carve through the off-side on his way to 42 (67). He appeared destined for an early season ton before Matt Short plucked a remarkable one-handed return catch off the first ball of his spell.

Hugo Burdon announced himself with a beautiful pick-up over backward square, accelerating a stylish knock that may be a forbearer of a more fruitful summer for the right-hander.

He pulled, hooked and swivelled his way to 73 (70), combining with Lachie Hearne for a 95-run partnership. Not known for his out-and-out power hitting, Burdon blitzed two towering sixes over mid-wicket and five boundaries on the leg-side.

A free-flowing Hearne (46) was caught short by Will Sutherland at mid-off and Burdon holed out to deep mid-wicket, but the Bulls were bedded in for a Dylan McLachlan-led assault in the final10 overs.

Playing just his second game of List A cricket, McLachlan launched bomb after bomb with a 360-degree repertoire that prompted Tom Rogers on the boundary to remark “this bloke is playing like De Villiers.”

Queensland were 5/213 after the 42^nd over. They finished with 7/335.

McLachlan reached his 50 in just 24 balls, before continuing on to an unbeaten 66* (29) with seven sixes. The highlight was an outrageous six over cover that swung him off his feet, throwing himself through the ball like a kid diving into the pool for a classic catch on Christmas day.

Max Bryant played a superb cameo as well, including a tremendous lofted-off drive that will live long in the memory of the Allan Border Field crowd (and the mullet resplendent youngster who chased after it off a rebound.) Bryant and McLachlan’s partnership yielded 89 off just 39 balls with Victorian skipper Will Sutherland (0-81) bearing the brunt of the assault.

Hoekstra (0-40), Anlezark (1-49) and spinner Doug Warren (2-54) were admirable, but their influence waned as the shadows lengthened.

With lights on and a mammoth target on the board, Queensland’s seamers went to work. Tom Straker pounded the crease, tearing through Victoria’s top three with his trademark heavy ball. Matt Short squared up, Harry Dixon dragged on and Tom Rogers followed suit as the man they call “monster truck” steamrolled through with 3/9. The lithe Ollie Patterson joined in from the Eddie Gilbert end, nicking off Dylan Brasher to leave the Bushrangers 4/14.  

Blackford and skipper Will Sutherland set about a recovery effort while the asking rate ballooned to 9 an over.

Sutherland played within himself for most of the night, picking up ones and twos and latching onto anything short. He comfortably passed a previous List A score of 66 and continued on, bringing up triple figures with 10 overs remaining.

Blackford quietly compiled a maiden fifty at the other end, raising the bat with the biggest hit of the night over cow corner. There was a concerted effort to attack Queensland’s fifth bowling option Labuschagne, who went for 65 off his 9.4 overs.

Patterson (1-89), Hayden Kerr (1-66) and Mitch Swepson (1-58) were unable to contain the rampaging skipper despite creating opportunities.

Sutherland fell straight after his impressive ton, leaving the debutant and Sam Elliott 94 off 9 overs. Blackford took the game on from there, leading the Victorians to a famous victory under lights.

Short’s freak reflex catch stuns Marnus

With Queensland seemingly cruising at 2/101 and Labuschagne nearing his 27th List A 50, Sutherland introduced Matt Short at the Eddie Gilbert end, averaging 51.63 in List A cricket at Allan Border Field. The first ball was a rank full toss, a classic loosener that Labuschagne could have dispatched anywhere.

He advanced and drilled the Kookaburra back at Short who stuck out a hand and fell to his left evasively. With his weight going one way and his right arm going the other, Short miraculously stuck the catch and avoided serious injury. The breakthrough was all the more important considering Labuschagne averages 51 at AB Field.

Burdon’s career best rescues Queensland

Over the years, Hugo Burdon has hinted at an ability to score big runs. His 340 in the First Grade Final last year broke records that had stood for centuries. However, the 24-year old has been a perennial underperformer at state level with a first-class average of 17 and a List A average of 12.

This summer, that could all change.

In his first knock at Allan Border Field since that record breaking triple ton, Burdon swatted the Vics to all parts with confidence as he easily surpassed a List A best of 30 and a domestic best of 59.  His 73 (70) was the resolute backbone for the Bulls and came at a pivotal juncture of the contest.

Queensland’s new breed of finisher offers crowd catches for all.

130 runs in the last 8.4 overs with 13 sixes. 83 runs in the last 5 overs.

McLachlan, Max Bryant and Hayden Kerr went ballistic in the final stanza to drive home Queensland’s first innings’ advantage. Dylan McLachlan has toiled in the shadows of stalwart Jimmy Peirson, but today he well and truly emerged as a serious batsman with a whirlwind knock that left the Vics without early answers.

Bryant bludgeoned 4 sixes of his own while 12 of Hayden Kerr’s 13 runs came over the rope, giving the crowd plenty of chances to take a catch.