Victorian Sam Harper produced a whirlwind display of batting pyrotechnics on Tuesday, scoring the third-fastest century recorded in Sheffield Shield history.
What made the innings even more extraordinary was that he came to the crease with Victoria 5-67 after being sent in by South Australia in tricky, overcast batting conditions on a rain-hit day at the Adelaide Oval.
Campbell Kellaway congratulates Sam Harper on his stunning century.Credit: Getty Images
As batting conditions eased slightly, Harper launched an aggressive assault to help Victoria reach
5-187 by stumps.
The 168-centimetre wicketkeeper-batsman brought up his century from just 64 balls with his sixth six in a knock that also included 11 fours. It was the fastest Shield century in balls faced for any Victorian in matches where that data has been recorded. Only South Australia’s David Hookes (off 34 balls against Victoria in 1982) and Western Australia’s Luke Ronchi (off 51 balls against Queensland in 2007) are recorded with faster Shield centuries. It was the third century for Harper in 44 first-class matches for Victoria.
The 26-year-old will resume on Wednesday on 101 after combining with Campbell Kellaway (38 not out) in an unbroken stand of 120 runs.
Just 43 overs were bowled as rain and a wet outfield delayed play significantly before bad light brought play to an early finish.
The most controversial moment of the day came when Peter Handscomb refused to leave the crease after being caught by Redbacks captain Jake Lehmann in the slips.
Handscomb edged a ball off Brendan Doggett’s bowling but the 32-year-old seemed uncertain Lehmann had correctly held the catch.
After a discussion with the umpires he walked off, dismissed for seven.
First-change bowler Doggett claimed 2-45 but it was Wes Agar (3-25) who did the bulk of the damage by ripping through openers Travis Dean and Test aspirant Marcus Harris to have Victoria reeling at 2-4.
The teams are ranked third and fourth on the ladder, making it a crunch final match before the Shield pauses for a long break until February during the Big Bash League window.
AAP
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