Country gets gunned down

Having set the Maroons 300 for victory thanks to a superb century from Albury Wodonga’s James McNeil, Sean Fitzsimmons took the match away from Victoria has he plundered 152 from 142 balls including 21 boundaries and six sixes.

“He smashed them,” Victoria Country coach Jason Mathers said.

“We dropped him twice but he batted very well.”

Having won the toss and elected to bat, Victoria slumped to 2-6 as openers Travis King (0) and Lee Stockdale (4) failed to see off the new ball.

However, a 99-run stand between McNeil and Mornington Peninsula’s Bob Wilson re-built the innings before the latter departed for 55.

McNeil took the onus upon himself to bat through the innings as he finished unbeaten on 127 from 255 balls to equal Rob Bedford’s record for the highest score by a Victorian against Queensland at the carnival.   

Cameron Taylor (24), Luke Carter (25) and Shaun Downie (33) provided cameos late in the day to push Victoria’s total to 299.

“McNeil was super,” Matthers said.

“The partnership with Bob Wilson got us back in the game…and we thought we were a good chance to defend it.”

In reply, Queensland began strongly before two quick wickets to Brad Scott (2-67) and Taylor (5-124) swung the momentum Victoria’s way.

Taylor continued to toil away and bowled brilliantly as he took a further three wickets to reduce Queensland to 5-147 before Fitzsimmons imposed himself on the contest.

Victoria will now meet Western Australia, which remains unbeaten through three rounds, in a one-day match today.

To see a full scorecard, click here.

Image sourced from the Commonwealth Bank Australian Country Cricket Championships.