Test exile Mitchell Marsh and Aussie hopefuls Josh Philippe and Alex Carey kicked off their home summers in style with big scores in the Marsh One-Day Cup opener today.
South Australia won the toss and opted to bowl first at Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide, but the Redbacks were soon on the back foot thanks to some incredible ball striking from Marsh and Philippe.
The Western Australian pair broke the record for their state’s highest ever second-wicket partnership, combining for 217, easily surpassing previous record holders Justin Langer and Damien Martin who combined for an unbroken partnership of 188 in 1997-98.
Philippe opened the batting and belted 137 off 116 balls, while Marsh whacked 111 off 124. Philippe hit seven sixes and Marsh hit three, including one huge shot which exited the playing arena and had to be fetched by a journalist covering the match.
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Western Australia made it to stumps at 6-352. In response South Australia struggled in the chase and fell well short in what was a slightly rain-interrupted innings, ending on 9-237 in the 39th over.
There was a shining light, however, in experienced keeper-batsman Carey hitting 128 off 106 in promising signs for the summer ahead. He reached his century in little more than 80 balls.
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Carey is gunning for the Test wicketkeeping job if Tim Paine fails to recover from neck surgery in time for the Ashes, starting on December 8.
Philippe is younger and less experienced but is regarded as one of the best up-and-coming keeper-batsmen in the country, and he will surely come into calculations for a Test debut if Carey is overlooked.
For Marsh, he hasn’t played a Test match in two years but his first innings of the campaign could be a sign of a big summer ahead.
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