Harris and Handscomb fall in the 90s before Queensland induce a Victoria collapse of 7 for 24
Queensland 349 and 3 for 69 (Street 24, Perry 2-20) lead Victoria 360 (Maddinson 110*, Handscomb 92, Harris 91, Sandhu 5-65) trail by 58 runs
Maddinson and Short had been in cruise control during a 140-run stand having come together after the early loss of Harris and Handscomb on day three. Both men fell within sight of their centuries inside the first hour. Harris closed the bat face trying to work James Bazley through midwicket and the thick edge was well held by Bryce Street in the gully. Handscomb moved from 74 to 92 before trying to cut a slider from Mitchell Swepson that zipped through and crashed into off stump.
Maddinson then proved why he’s on the fringe of Australia’s Test side with his second Shield century of the summer. He struck 12 fours and a six and attacked both pace and spin with equal skill. He now has two centuries and two half-centuries in seven Shield innings this season while averaging 80.80. But when Short holed out hooking Steketee down fine leg’s throat the game turned in an instant. Five of the last six Victoria batters registered ducks as Steketee and Sandhu tore through the tail while Maddinson watched helplessly at the non-striker’s.
Queensland knocked over the deficit without loss but Mitchell Perry and Jon Holland made three key breakthroughs before stumps, removing Joe Burns, Matt Renshaw and Street to leave Queensland three down with a lead of just 58 and one day to play to force a result.