'Extraordinary stuff': Victorian pair smash 30-year Sheffield Shield record
Australian Test hopefuls Will Pucovski and Marcus Harris have made Sheffield Shield history, combining for the highest-scoring partnership in the competition’s history.
The Victorian duo combined for an opening stand of 486, eclipsing the previous record of 464 set by Steve and Mark Waugh in 1990, when the brothers played for NSW.
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South Australia had no answers for Pucovski and Harris on day one of their clash in Glenelg, eventually snaring the wicket of Harris for 239.
First drop batsman Peter Handscombe added 29 runs before Victoria declared at 2/539, with Pucovski unbeaten on 253.
Pucovski faced a nervous night’s sleep on Saturday after ending the day’s play on 199, but notched his double century on the first ball of the day.
The history-making cover drive from @MarcusHarris14!
@MarshGlobal | #SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/z0Curs90lK— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 1, 2020
It stands as the highest Australian first-class partnership since the competition started in 1892.
South Australia had a chance to prevent the record on Sunday morning when Callum Ferguson dropped a simple chance from Harris at slip with the score at 0-436.
Cricket die-hards were seriously impressed by the pair’s feat, flocking to social media to praise the Victorian duo.
Extraordinary stuff from Harris and Pucovski
One of the iconic Australian records - the 464 stand between the Waugh brothers - is now history#SheffieldShield— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) November 1, 2020
My message to Will Pucovski and Marcus Harris... pic.twitter.com/WBB704Cw3c
— Alexander Grant (@AlexGrantOz) November 1, 2020
The Waugh brothers 30-year record for the highest Sheffield Shield partnership is gone. Marcus Harris and Will Pucovski have it at 465 and counting.
— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) November 1, 2020
Putting this stand into perspective, the Vics were skittled for 341 or less 7 times last season.
Also declared at 9-330 & 8-208.
Insane stuff from Pucovski and Harris. #SheffieldShield— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) November 1, 2020
I reckon we pick Will Pucovski at flyhalf next week.
— Reg Roberts (@RugbyReg) October 31, 2020
Queensland, NSW in intense Sheffield Shield battle
NSW were all start and no finish as their Sheffield Shield match against Queensland finished day two evenly poised.
The Blues's top five batsmen all scored 20 runs or more but no one could go on with the job, leaving them 7-269 in reply to Queensland's 298.
Mitch Swepson was the outstanding Bulls bowler at Adelaide's Karen Rolton Oval, taking 4-92.
The Blues rot started after a solid opening stand of 67 when Nick Larkin was dismissed lbw to Jack Wildermuth (1-26) for 24, a steady flow of wickets falling thereafter.
Daniel Hughes (43), Kurtis Patterson (23) and Moises Henriques (23) all contributed but it was left to paceman Sean Abbott (66) to break through for the first half century of the day.
His breezy knock featured eight fours and three sixes in just 77 balls, the cornerstone of a 105-run partnership with wicketkeeper Peter Nevill, who remained not out on 54.
"It was probably a little bit disappointing in the sense that we got a lot of starts through the order," Nevill said of the Blues' batting.
"But having said that, it's been a bit of a grind - they bowled well.
"Sean Abbott was outstanding. He's come along in leaps and bounds in the last few years.
"I'm really impressed with what he has done with his batting, he's turning himself into a very hard-hitting allrounder."
Blues No.5 Daniel Solway was struck on the helmet ducking into a Mark Steketee ball.
But he recovered quickly, replacing his helmet and continuing to bat before Steketee picked up his man for 23.
With AAP
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