The 21-year-old quick became the 12th Queenslander to take a five-wicket haul on debut and first since 1986-87
21-Oct-2024 • 13 mins ago
Tom Whitney claimed a five-wicket haul on his first-class debut  •  Getty Images
South Australia 314 (Hunt 136, McInerney 51, Whitney 5-57) and 0 for 1 lead Queensland 308 (Peirson 94, McDermott 52) by six runs
Young quick Tom Whitney wrote himself in Queensland’s Sheffield Shield record books, before helping bat the Bulls back into their match against South Australia.
Whitney created history on Monday, becoming the first Queenslander in 38 years to claim a five-wicket haul on debut with his 5 for 60.
And after the visitors were all out for 314 early on day two in Brisbane, Whitney produced a late cameo with the bat to help Queensland to 308 in reply.
South Australia then lost first-innings century maker Henry Hunt caught behind first ball of their second innings to Michael Neser.
But it was a day for Whitney, as Queensland also benefitted from Jimmy Peirson‘s counter-punching 94 with the bat at Allan Border Oval.
Arriving at the crease at 271 for 9 late in the day, Whitney blasted five boundaries on his way to an unbeaten 24 from 11 balls to help Queensland reach close to parity.
After taking three wickets on Sunday, Whitney had both Nathan McAndrew and Wes Agar caught early on Monday morning.
The wickets made the 21-year-old just the 12th Queenslander in history to take a five-wicket haul on debut, and the first since former police officer Mick Polzin in 1986-87.
Neser also finished with 3 for 61, getting the key wicket of Hunt on 136 as the opener fell just short of carrying his bat.
In reply, Queensland’s big names struggled. Test opener Usman Khawaja was lbw to McAndrew for a duck, as Queensland fell to 16 for 3 early with the ball swinging around.
Matt Renshaw was also lbw to Jordan Buckingham for 2, denting his slim chances of joining Khawaja at the top of the order for the first Test in Perth.
Marnus Labuschagne also failed to make any real impact, caught at forward square-leg flicking a ball off his toes.
But from 80 for 5, Queensland were able to launch something of a counteract. Ben McDermott hit 52, while Neser and Peirson combined for a 97-run seventh-wicket partnership.
Still Peirson pushed through, hitting 14 boundaries in his knock and driving with ease whenever South Australia’s quicks went too full.
The wicketkeeper-batter looked set for his century, before he hesitated in coming back for a second with Mitchell Swepson and being run out by Jake Lehmann.
