Records tumbled while Gabba fans ducked for cover as an Aaron Finch-inspired Victoria thrashed Queensland by 190 runs to secure a rare double bonus-point one-day win on Sunday.
At one stage, Finch (154 off 141 balls) threatened to outscore the hosts before the Bulls were bowled out for 189 in the 39th over in reply to the Bushrangers’ daunting 2-379, crashing to their heaviest one-day loss batting second.
Indeed statisticians were kept on their toes – along with unsuspecting onlookers in the stands – as Victoria’s batsmen bludgeoned Queensland to all parts of the Gabba after winning the toss.
Finch kept them all honest in a remarkable debut as Victorian one-day captain.
Not satisfied with a state-record opening stand of 226 with Rob Quiney – who struck a career-best 119 off 111 – Finch spanked 14 fours and five sixes to notch the highest score by a Victorian in the 50-over game.
Marking his maiden one-day ton in style, Finch surpassed Brad Hodge’s previous record mark of 144 set against NSW last season.
It ensured Victoria reached their highest one-day total and the competition’s third biggest of all-time behind record holders Queensland (4-405 v Western Australia in 2004).
Finch’s aggression also led to another entry in the record books – much to Ben Cutting’s frustration.
The Queensland quick finished with 2-101 off 12 overs – the most expensive domestic one-day figures ever.
It was a ton Cutting did not want to rack up just days after his maiden first-class century helped inspire Queensland to a Shield win over South Australia at the same ground.
In draining heat, Victoria’s openers saved their legs by smashing a total of 24 fours and eight sixes in their brutal opening stand.
The pair piled on the fourth-highest opening partnership in domestic one-day history but it was not that far behind unlikely record-holders, NSW toilers John Dyson and Rick McCosker’s 253 set way back in 1981.
And there was no let-up when the pair finally departed – former Test opener Chris Rogers (64 not out off 37 balls) and Will Sheridan (28 not out off 12 balls) maintained the rage to ensure yet another record.
It was the most one-day runs conceded by Queensland, surpassing Western Australia’s 6-340 set against the Bulls in 2006-07.
The odds were against Queensland in their run chase from the outset, and they didn’t improve when they slumped to 2-9 in the third over with prized recruit Usman Khawaja (four) and former Australian one-day batsman Peter Forrest (second-ball duck) back in the sheds.
Only Joe Burns (50) and Chris Hartley (36 not out) showed some fight as spinner Jon Holland (3-49) helped rout the hosts.
