A seventh Sheffield Shield century for Alex Carey has helped South Australia to a 129-run win against Queensland at Allan Border Field.
Carey blasted an unbeaten 123 from 163 balls in the second innings to surpass former captain Graham Manou as the most prolific century-maker for a South Australian wicket-keeper in the competition’s history.
The match was set up by a stoic first innings hundred from opener Henry Hunt (136), while Nathan McAndrew dominated with the ball to claim match figures of 8-93.
After losing the toss and being sent into bat, South Australia’s openers showed strong resilience to reach the first break without loss.
Conor McInerney (51) and Hunt’s 106-run opening stand was broken soon after the lunch interval, but Hunt and skipper Nathan McSweeney continued South Australia’s momentum.
A quickfire 42 from Carey lifted the score to 3-244 late in the day’s play, before a Queensland fightback reduced SA to 7-289 at stumps.
Hunt was the last man dismissed early on day two with 314 on the board for Ryan Harris’ men.
Jordan Buckingham and McAndrew got the visitors off to the perfect start, removing Matthew Renshaw, Usman Khawaja and Jack Clayton in quick succession.
But half centuries to Ben McDermott (52) and Jimmy Pierson (94) saw the Bulls reduce SA’s lead to just 6 runs by the end of their innings, before Hunt was dismissed late on day two in a tricky two-over spell.
Nightwatchman McAndrew (46) and McSweeney (72) were brilliant in providing a launchpad for South Australia, allowing Carey to play with freedom – amassing 14 boundaries and four sixes on his was to his record-breaking ton. SA declared overnight with a lead of 358.
The Bulls were steady initially on day four, but four quick wickets either side of lunch saw them reduced to 4-79.
A 106-run stand from Jack Clayton (91) and Lachlan Hearne (44) was eventually broken by McSweeney, before Liam Scott (3-32) and McAndrew closed out an excellent win on the road for the South Australians.
South Australia will now take on Queensland at Allan Border Field on Friday 25 October in the One Day Cup starting at 10.30am ACDT.
Squad of 12: Wes Agar, Alex Carey, Daniel Drew, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mackenzie Harvey, Spencer Johnson, Thomas Kelly, Nathan McAndrew, Nathan McSweeney (c), Lloyd Pope, Liam Scott, Henry Thornton.