South Australia 397 for 7 (Fraser-McGurk 122, McSweeney 106, Lehmann 58, Kerr 3-67) beat Queensland 271 (Hearne 121, Johnson 5-59) beat
His 29-ball century mark was in reach when he cracked four fours and a six off his next eight deliveries to move to 75 from 22. But Queensland captain, and four-Test spinner, Mitchell Swepson extinguished hopes when he bowled five balls to Fraser-McGurk in the ninth over for the cost of one run with only two men out. Fraser-McGurk could not hit his fast legbreaks from the top of the stumps, miscuing one just short of mid-on and narrowly avoiding being trapped lbw off another when it was sliding down leg.
Fraser-McGurk opted to play steadily from there as he and Mackenzie Harvey racked up an opening stand of 129 from just 11.3 overs before the latter fell for 46 from 35. Fraser-McGurk unfurled back-to-back sixes off Whitney in the 14th over to move into the nineties before inching his way to his century via singles. He clubbed two fours and a six off the part-time left-arm orthodox of Jack Clayton before falling lbw for 122 trying to slog sweep the left-arm seam of Kerr.
McSweeney was pedestrian by comparison as he cruised to his century with 10 boundaries but no sixes. He shared a 115-run fifth-wicket stand with Jake Lehmann who contributed 58 off 46. McSweeney fell to Oli Patterson with 10 balls remaining in the innings which derailed SA’s hope of passing 400.
But it mattered not as Johnson put a huge dent in Queensland’s chase in the powerplay. His extra pace forced a miscue from Hugh Weibgen. The former Australia Under-19 captain fell for nine, skying a pull shot to mid-on, having made centuries in his previous two innings. Four overs later, Hugo Burdon miscued another Johnson short ball to Fraser-McGurk at deep square after racing to 29 from 14 balls.
In between Johnson’s strikes, Wes Agar rattled Jack Clayton’s off stump. Henry Thornton had the promoted Hayden Kerr caught behind in the last over the powerplay to leave the chase doomed at 73 for 4.
Hearne tried his best to keep the chase moving but ran out of willing partners. Max Bryant made 26 but became Johnson’s third victim. Jimmy Peirson made 45 but fell to the leg spin of Lloyd Pope who finished with three wickets. Hearne posted his second List A hundred to muted celebrations. He finished with 121 from 104 with nine fours and three sixes before he was Johnson’s fifth victim, clean bowled swinging for the fence first ball of the 41st over.
