Victoria lost 6-9 in the worst ever start to a Sheffield Shield innings, before succumbing to a humiliating defeat against NSW on day three of their clash at the SCG.
The Bushrangers limped their way past 27, the lowest total in the history of Australian domestic first-class cricket, but still crashed to a innings and 48-run loss – despite Glenn Maxwell smashing a stunning 89-ball hundred.
Last-placed Victoria have some serious soul-searching ahead of them after being bowled out in their second innings for just 186 in just 51.4 overs.
It was the Bushrangers’ first loss by more than an innings in Sydney in 40 years, but Maxwell could hold his head high after smashing 127 runs, including 14 fours and seven sixes.
He also played a lone hand of 94 off 95 in their initial offering of 218.
In an unprecedented start to an innings, with five batsmen making ducks, Maxwell came to the crease with Victoria still 18 runs shy of avoiding an unwanted place in the record books at 6-9.
It eclipsed the previous worst start to an innings for six wickets down of 6-11 set in 1957-58.
A gutsy 92-run eighth wicket stand from Maxwell and Dan Christian (30) – the only two batsmen to pass double figures – helped save face, but it couldn’t stop NSW cruising to their third win of the year which will solidify their second-placing on the ladder.
Overcast conditions and an SCG green top were a factor, but Victoria’s star-studded squad were simply outclassed in every department.
The Blues attack, led by Trent Copeland (3-50 and 3-24), Josh Hazlewood (2-35), Doug Bollinger (1-25) and Steve O’Keefe (2-43) made the better of the conditions with the ball.
What played like a minefield for Victoria, seemed a walk in the park for the Blues – as Peter Nevill (100 not out), Scott Henry (92) and Kurtis Patterson (94) gave the home side a commanding 234-run first innings lead after posting 9(dec)-452.
After Victoria resumed at 3-0 – only the third time such a remarkable scorecard had occurred in Shield cricket – Hazlewood was in terrifying, Mitchell Johnson-type form, as he sent nightwatchman Scott Boland and skipper Matt Wade packing for ducks.
Ironically it was off the most vicious ball of the day from Hazlewood (2-2 off his first six overs) that Victoria passed the 27 mark, as a rocket whizzed past Cameron White’s head and over wicketkeeper Neville for four.
White made it to nine before inexplicably running himself out for 9 to leave the Bushrangers 7-32 – just one run better than Victoria’s lowest ever total, also recorded at the SCG in 1907.
The four lowest totals ever in Sheffield Shield have been recorded at the SCG – the most recent when Nathan Bracken took 7-4 as South Australia capitulated for 29 in 2004.
