Whitney’s Five-Wicket Haul and Batting Cameo Boost Queensland in Shield Clash
South Australia’s first-innings total of 314, anchored by Henry Hunt’s 136, was met with a spirited response from Queensland on day two of their Sheffield Shield clash in Brisbane. Young quick Tom Whitney, who made history with a five-wicket haul on debut, played a crucial role in Queensland’s fightback.
Whitney’s impressive performance continued on Monday as he claimed the wickets of Nathan McAndrew and Wes Agar, becoming only the 12th Queenslander to achieve a five-wicket haul on debut. Michael Neser also contributed with three wickets, including the key dismissal of Hunt.
In reply, Queensland’s batting lineup faced early setbacks. Test opener Usman Khawaja and Matt Renshaw were dismissed cheaply, while Marnus Labuschagne failed to make a significant impact. However, Ben McDermott’s 52 and a 97-run partnership between Neser and Jimmy Peirson provided some resistance.
Peirson, who hit 14 boundaries in his knock, looked set for a century before being run out by Jake Lehmann. Despite the setback, Queensland managed to reach 308 in their first innings, trailing South Australia by just six runs.
Whitney’s late cameo with the bat, an unbeaten 24 from 11 balls, helped Queensland close the gap. The 21-year-old’s all-round performance has been a major boost for the Bulls, who will be looking to take the lead on day three.