Victorian opener Tom Rogers celebrated Valentine’s Day by blasting the sixth-highest score in Australian one-day domestic history, a career-best 196 (142) against New South Wales at North Sydney Oval on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old clobbered 15 boundaries and 15 sixes at the picturesque venue, falling agonisingly short of becoming the fourth player to score a double-century in the Marsh Cup. Captain Peter Handscomb contributed 52, but no other Victorian mustered more than 19 as the tourists were bowled out for 311 in 48.4 overs.
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Rogers needed 99 deliveries to reach triple figures but accelerated after passing the milestone, smacking 96 runs from his next 42 deliveries. One of his sixes against Blues seamer Ben Dwarshuis flew out of the venue and landed on Miller Street.
However, the left-hander was dismissed the very next delivery, caught a deep mid-wicket by Jack Edwards and falling four runs short of a maiden double-century.
Before last week’s Marsh Cup match against South Australia, when he scored a classy 67, Rogers had never managed a List A fifty.
New South Wales is chasing a 312-run target to secure its spot in the Marsh Cup final, while Victoria will almost certainly host the season finale in Melbourne if they win Wednesday’s contest.
Highest scores by Victorians in the List A cricket
196 – Tom Rogers vs NSW at North Sydney Oval, 2024
188* – Aaron Finch vs Queensland at Junction Oval, 2019
165 – Cameron White vs Tasmania at the WACA, 2017
154 – Aaron Finch vs Queensland at the Gabba, 2012
145 – Cameron White vs South Australia at the WACA, 2016
Elsewhere in the Marsh Cup, South Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey held onto a record eight catches as Queensland was bowled out for 218 at Karen Rolton Oval. The 32-year-old became just the third cricketer to achieve the rare feat at List A level, alongside Derek Taylor and James Pipe.
Redbacks seamer Jordan Buckingham claimed career-best figures of 6-41, while captain Marnus Labuschagne was the only Queenslander to pass fifty, scoring a patient 74.
Meanwhile, Western Australia posted 4-320 in its Marsh Cup match against Tasmania after opener D’Arcy Short slapped 127 (121), with Cameron Bancroft scoring 64.
