Fiery NSW paceman Doug Bollinger is doing everything possible to revive his Test career.
On Saturday, he produced a devastating five-over spell of pace bowling to rip apart Queensland’s top order late on day two of their Sheffield Shield clash at the SCG to ram home the advantage created by young opener Ryan Carters.
Bollinger (3-26) knocked over Queensland’s top order of Greg Moller (0, lbw), Nathan Reardon (3, bowled) and Usman Khawaja (10, caught behind) as Queensland finished at 3-53 in reply to NSW’s 9(dec)-397.
Carters made sure his maiden first-class century was a big one – finishing on 154.
It was a terrific, composed innings.
The Blues were in trouble at times during the rain-affected clash, but were pulled from the mire by Carters.
The 23-year-old showed maturity beyond his years to steady the home side after the loss of early wickets on Friday, and cashed in on day two.
Along with skipper Peter Nevill (70) he turned the momentum of the match with a 144-run sixth-wicket partnership which gave the Blues the upper hand.
The knock follows an impressive 94 in last week’s tour match against England for Carters, who moved to NSW from Victoria in the off-season.
But it was Bollinger’s contribution which caught the eye late in the day.
Seemingly on the international scrapheap – having not played a Test since running out of puff against England at Adelaide in 2010 – the 32-year-old has started the domestic season in roaring fashion.
He claimed 6-34 against Tasmania last month and now has 13 Shield wickets for the season, the most of any fast bowler, at an average of 19.
On a tough day for Queensland, their spinners provided some respite by combining for five wickets.
Former Test offspinner Nathan Hauritz was the best for the visitors, though his figures of 3-123 weren’t flattering, and leggie Cameron Boyce cleaned up the tail to bag 3-80.
Queensland are a man down after seamer Matthew Gale suffered a right knee injury during his fourth over on Friday which is expected to sideline him for six weeks.