The Day 1 of the Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and South Australia witnessed controversy of the season. Victoria batter Peter Handscomb was the focal point of the controversy as he refused to walk off the field despite edging the ball to South Australia captain Jake Lehmann at third slip.
The incident took place in the 13th over of the innings after Lehmann won the toss and opted to field first. Brendan Doggett forced an outside edge off Handscomb's bat. Lehmann dived to his right to take the catch. As South Australian players celebrated the wicket, Handscomb stood his ground as he felt that the catch was not taken cleanly.
Later, he had a conversation with on-field umpires Michael Graham-Smith and Nathan Johnstone. In the end, Handscomb had to walk back to the dressing room dismissed for seven runs. Victoria were in trouble as they lost four wickets for 29 runs.
Wes Agar dismissed openers Travis Dean and Marcus Harris. Doggett got the wicket of Will Pucovski and Handscomb with the new ball. After a batting collapse, Campbell Kellaway and captain Will Sutherland tried to steady the ship. Agar returned to break the fifth-wicket partnership.
From 67/5, wicketkeeper-batter Sam Harper decided to counterattack Harper was given an early reprieve when he was batting on just three runs. He was caught at slip but it turned out to be a no-ball.
He reached his half-century from 44 balls. He targetted Nathan McAndrew in the 39th over and hit him for three sixes and two fours. In the 42nd over, he reached his century with a six off deep mid-wicket. He breached the three figures off just 64 balls. It is the third-fastest century in the history of Sheffield Shield.
At the end of Day 1's play, Harper remained unbeaten for 101 off 66 balls. He smashes six sixes and 11 fours to help Victoria post 187/5 from 43 overs. On the other end, Kellaway played a patient knock. He remained not out for 38 off 93 balls featuring three fours and a six.
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