Tasmania’s Evan Gulbis etched his name into Australian cricket record books on Thursday with a brilliant innings of 229 as the Tigers annihilated South Australia in the Sheffield Shield match in Hobart.
But his personal record wasn’t the only one to fall on a stunning third day’s play, the Tigers first notching their highest Shield score by posting a first-innings 651 before driving home their advantage to roll the Redbacks for just 123 and win the match by their biggest ever margin – an innings and 316 runs – in the process.
The 27-year-old Gulbis had resumed on 156 after flaying the visiting attack all over Bellerive Oval late on Wednesday and carried on in the same vein of form during day three of South Australia’s disastrous trip south.
He first added 84 alongside Xavier Doherty (43) and another 60 in partnership with No.11 Jackson Bird (25 not out) as the Tigers made the most of a drained South Australia bowling attack and stretched the first-innings lead to 429.
In reply, the Redbacks started well through Sam Raphael (30) and Phil Hughes (39), but once the early resistance was broken by Gulbis (4-7), the Tigers took regular wickets to round out an impressive performance and finish their season in style.
“It’s been pretty special for me and it’s something I’ll always remember,” Gulbis said.
“It was obviously my day, wasn’t it.
“Cricket can be like that and I’ve seen the other side of it as well, so it’s good to have a bit of a leveller in this game.”
Coming into the match it was the Redbacks who hoped to create headlines by securing the points required to guarantee their place in a first Shield final for 18 years.
But they’ll return to Adelaide after a string of disappointing results to close the season.
“It’s a very bitter taste in the mouth to finish the season on this note, however, we shouldn’t let one game ruin what has been a very good season,” Redbacks coach Darren Berry said.
“The performance we have put in here was unacceptable for a team that has prided themselves in the last few years on building respect and about the way we play our cricket and we fell down this game.
“I’m proud of our year but I am so, so disappointed in our effort in this match.”
