Liam Blackford's stunning debut 149* pulls of remarkable Victoria chase
Victoria 339 for 7 (Blackford 149*, Sutherland 100, Straker 4-50) beat Queensland 335 for 7 (Burdon 73, McLachlan 66*) by three wickets
Victoria staged a remarkable fightback to beat Queensland by three wickets after wicketkeeper Liam Blackford's incredible century on debut, coming after his career was hanging in the balance.
The left-hander's unbeaten 149 off 113 deliveries was one of the greatest One-Day Cup knocks ever played in what was a thriller at Allan Border Field on Saturday.
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Blackford and Victoria captain Will Sutherland added 152 from 143 balls for the sixth wicket to light up the run chase after the visitors had slumped to 14 for 4 in reply to Queensland's 335 for 7.
Blackford, 22, played an inspirational knock, after a blood clot in his right arm in July 2023 and three subsequent surgeries, which included a rib removal, threatened to cruel his career. He was in danger of losing an arm, but has fought his way back from the brink.
Blackford played all the shots and brought up his half-century with a pulled six off Mitch Swepson, before racing to his century off 91 balls. After Sutherland's dismissal he played an array of shots to secure victory with one ball to spare.
"Pretty surreal. It definitely hasn't sunk in," Blackford said after his heroics. "We were in a fair bit of trouble and I was trying to get settled. Obviously being my first game I was very nervous. It was great to get the win. I don't really believe it just yet."
Blackford's fightback is the stuff of legend. "A year without cricket, a pretty long year to be honest," he said. "I was all good but I was on medication for the blood clot, which meant I couldn't play cricket because I couldn't get hit by the ball.
"I am grateful that I am back out there now. That is something that pushes me forward. Things could have been different."
A dazzling unbeaten half-century by Queensland wicketkeeper Dylan McLachlan and a fast and furious spell from Tom Straker fired Queensland towards what seemed to be certain victory.
McLachlan, in just his second List A game, struck seven sixes in his 66 not out off just 29 deliveries and former Australian under-19 star paceman Straker ripped through the Victoria top order.
McLachlan, 27, replaced injured first-choice wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson, who was ruled out with a hamstring injury. His innings, in just his second match, was simply sensational.
Lachlan Hearne played his part in lifting the run rate after Hugo Burdon top-scored, before McLachlan and Max Bryant hit 11 sixes between them.
Queensland captain Marnus Labuschagne (42) batted when scoring wasn't easy, but played to the conditions. He was just starting to find his groove before he smashed the first ball from spinner Matt Short straight back at him, only for the bowler to stick out a paw and snaffle a blinder.
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