Victoria’s batting lineup faced a stern test on the opening day of their Sheffield Shield clash against New South Wales at the MCG, with Sean Abbott’s exceptional bowling performance putting the Blues in a commanding position.
Abbott, who is vying for a spot in Australia’s Test squad, claimed four wickets for 50 runs, including a devastating spell after tea that yielded three wickets in 15 balls. His sustained fast bowling kept the Victorian batsmen on edge throughout the day.
Peter Handscomb and Campbell Kellaway provided some resistance for Victoria, scoring half-centuries in challenging conditions. However, Mitchell Starc’s impressive morning spell, which included a nasty blow to Marcus Harris’s arm, set the tone for NSW’s dominance.
Harris, who batted the entire first session, was unable to capitalize on his start and was eventually dismissed by Starc for 26. The left-armer’s extra pace and bounce proved too much for Harris, who was caught down the leg side.
Kellaway and Handscomb shared a century stand, but their partnership was broken by Jackson Bird’s off-cutter, which dismissed Kellaway for 55. Abbott then returned to wreak havoc, removing Handscomb, Sam Harper, and Will Sutherland in quick succession.
Victoria’s collapse continued as Nathan Lyon had Sam Elliott caught at short leg, leaving the home side reeling at 185 for 7. Tom Rogers and Fergus O’Neill mounted a brief rearguard, but O’Neill’s dismissal late in the day left Victoria in a precarious position.
Jack Nisbet picked up a second wicket when he had Todd Murphy caught behind, leaving Victoria on 259 for 9 at stumps. Abbott’s outstanding performance has put NSW in a strong position heading into day two, while Victoria will need to find a way to rebuild their innings and avoid a heavy defeat.
