Victorian batter Sam Harper blasted his way into the record books with a stunning century in Adelaide as teammate Marcus Harris missed the chance to impress selectors after he missed out with the bat.
Victoria were in all sorts early on when they slumped to 4-29 against South Australia, but Harper’s whirlwind 101 not out – including a 26-run over off the bowling of Nathan McAndrew – helped them reach 5/187 at stumps.
The wicketkeeper has shown plenty of potential with some electrifying knocks in the BBL, but this was his crowning moment with Harper hitting the third-fastest century in Sheffield Shield history, bringing up the milestone off just 64 deliveries with his sixth six.
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Earlier, Test hopeful Marcus Harris waited more than four hours for his chance to shine as rain impacted the start of the final Sheffield Shield game before the Big Bash break and the start of the international summer.
When the rain finally cleared in Adelaide, the Victorian opener lasted just 10 balls, out for three and hoping for a big second innings and a massive recent hundred as part of his claim to replace David Warner in January.
It came as one of his rivals, Queenslander Matthew Renshaw, made a polished and unbeaten 37 against Western Australia in Brisbane before rain stalled his chase for a big score. Stumps was called early at The Gabba as rain persisted with the home team 0-67.
The duo, and WA’s Cameron Bancroft who leads all scorers in the Shield this season, will also get their chance to face the touring Pakistan attack for the PM’s XI in Canberra next week in what could be regarded as a bat-off to take the Test spot of Warner who is set to hang up his baggy green after the SCG Test in January.
In Adelaide, Harris was one of four early victims in tricky conditions, including Will Pucovski whose run of small scores continued. The one-Test opener, batting at number three for the Vics, contributed just 12 as four wickets fell in the first session, which didn’t start until 3pm local time.
Pucovski was coming off two single-figure scores in his previous match at the MCG, and has a highest score of just 39 in 10 Shield innings so far this season.
At the SCG, fighting half-centuries from Blues skipper Moises Henriques and rising star Ollie Davies stopped Tasmania from being in complete control of their Sheffield Shield match on a day that was plagued by rain delays.
The hosts finished 7/178 at stumps on day one at the SCG after Cricket NSW product Lawrence Neil-Smith continued his incredible season with figures of 5-44 in favourable conditions for fast bowling.
Two weeks after they secured an outright victory over NSW, the visitors had another win at the toss when they sent the home side in under gloomy skies in Sydney.
The decision paid off with both openers back in the pavilion inside the opening 12 overs, before exciting rookie Sam Konstas played a loose shot and was caught at mid-off for 10.
Play lasted just four more overs before the ground staff came on a few minutes before midday with play stopped for several hours, with Jason Sangha wishing the delay lasted a little longer after he was out shortly after the resumption.
But Henriques (54) and Davies (58 not out) steadied the ship with an 81-run partnership, only for Tasmania to wrestle back momentum with Neil-Smith striking twice in an over to put his side back on top as they look to maintain their lead on the Sheffield Shield table before the Christmas break.
NSW and Queensland both have just a single win through five completed games this season.
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