Home Cricket Facts Fraser-McGurk’s second chance keeps South Australia in touch

Fraser-McGurk’s second chance keeps South Australia in touch

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Fraser-McGurk’s second chance keeps South Australia in touch


Victory 278 (Harper 151, W Agar 5-45, Doggett 4-73) and 12 by 1 lead South Australia 252 (Fraser-McGurk 101, Manenti 51, Scott 50, O’Neill 5-28) by 38 runs

Sam Harper’s record century helped Victoria take a 38-run lead over South Australia on the second day of their Sheffield Shield match, but Jake Fraser-McGurk’s first-class hundred rescued the home team after a bizarre respite.

After hitting the third-fastest Shield hundred in history during some fireworks early on Tuesday afternoon, Harper continued on Wednesday morning. In the end he was bowled out for 151, the best score of his first-class career, while the visitors were bowled out for 278.

Victoria was reeling at 29 for 4 before Harper went to work with a controlled hitting masterclass.

But former Victorian batsman Fraser-McGurk was not far behind, hitting 101 off 106 balls to take South Australia within striking distance of the tourists’ total.

Fraser-McGurk, who left Victoria at the end of last season, was particularly impressive considering the Redbacks were struggling at 16 for 4.

However, he was involved in a bizarre incident when he was 19 and was initially caught off spinner Doug Warren. In replays it became clear that he had not hit the ball and, after beginning to walk away, referee Michael Graham-Smith changed his mind and Fraser-McGurk was removed, much to the frustration of his former team-mates.

He made the most of it until he fielded Fergus O’Neill at the opposite end shortly after reaching his century. This innings followed his spectacular 29-ball Marsh Cup hundred earlier in the season.

“I missed it by probably a metre, it spun quite a bit and I think it came off Sam Harper’s glove before Peter Handscomb caught it,” Fraser-McGurk told cricket.com.au after the game.

“Sometimes they [opposition teams] they’re like ‘yay’… and it might not have been a serious appeal, but then the referee started nodding his head and I was a little incredulous. So I started walking away, and seconds later he changes his decision and the Vic guys weren’t too happy about it because they think they made some unfortunate decisions.”

Cameos from Ben Manenti and Liam Scott helped South Australia reach 252, trailing Victoria by just 26.

O’Neill continued his breakthrough season for Victoria, claiming his first first-class five-wicket haul by taking 5 for 28, including removing Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who was behind the wicket haul by 1. Carey had been waiting some time in between. ahead of the series against Pakistan.

He received excellent support from veteran Peter Siddle, who caused major problems for the South Australian top order by taking 3 for 53.

In response, Victoria’s second innings got off to a rocky start as they had to negotiate a difficult period before stumps.

Test contender Marcus Harris failed for the second time in as many days with the opener to Wes Agar for 6. However, he will have another chance to impress the selectors when he plays for the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra next week .

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