Queensland has smashed Victoria by an innings and 13 runs to win their Sheffield Shield clash at the Gabba with a day to spare.
The Bulls’ attack spread the load on day three, with debutant pacemen Simon Milenko and Michael Philipson both grabbing their first ever Shield wickets to help bowl out Victoria for 239.
The win – Queensland’s second outright victory of the season – is the first for the Bulls since Stuart Law’s axing as coach and moves them off the bottom of the ladder, keeping them alive in the race for the Sheffield Shield final.
Test opener Chris Rogers (69) and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade (58) tried their best to stem the damage for the Bushrangers but neither could hold it together for long enough to force a fourth day.
Milenko finished with 3-29 – his first scalp the crucial one of Rogers, who looked settled but skied one behind to Chris Hartley.
Rogers had made a typically watchful start to his innings, which featured 10 boundaries, and appeared to be the man who was going to lead the charge for Victoria.
Two overs later, Milenko lured an edge from Peter Handscomb (0) to put the Bushrangers in big trouble at 4-118.
Milenko was also involved in the early wicket of Rob Quiney (8), holding onto a catch at fine leg off the bowling of Ben Cutting, while spinner Cameron Boyce saw off both Cameron White (11) and Dan Christian (8).
Philipson (2-10) clean-bowled John Hastings (21) to break up a 56-run stand between him and Wade that had steadied the ship somewhat for the visitors in the afternoon.
Peter George also bagged two wickets, including the final blow, when he lured an edge from tail-ender Peter Siddle (15) just when it appeared day four was on the horizon.
Earlier on Monday, Chris Lynn’s bid for a slice of Shield history was ended after he was unable to add to his remarkable overnight score of 250.
Resuming with Queensland on 8-502, Lynn was caught on the rope by substitute fielder Scott Boland after attempting to slog sweep Fawad Ahmed with the second ball of the second over bowled on Monday morning.
While well short of the highest ever Shield score by a Queenslander – Martin Love’s unbeaten 300 set against Victoria in 2003-04 – it was the biggest individual score this season and the sixth-highest first-class knock from a Queenslander.
Lynn smashed 21 fours and 10 sixes in his 460 marathon minutes at the crease, helping pull Queensland at the brink after they struggled to 3-7 at one stage.
