Victoria 259 for 9 (Handscomb 64, Kellaway 55, Abbott 4-50) vs New South Wales
Sean Abbott put his name in the queue of back-up Test quicks with an outstanding spell while Mitchell Starc won a key battle over Marcus Harris that could shape Australia's side as New South Wales took the ascendency against Victoria on the opening day at the MCG.
In front of a lively Sunday crowd of around 1800, Abbott took four wickets and arguably deserved more on the back of some high-quality sustained fast bowling across the day, including an incredible spell after tea that yielded 3 for 0 in 15 balls and the swung the momentum NSW's way.
Peter Handscomb and Campbell Kellaway made fighting half-centuries in challenging conditions that favoured the seamers.
Harris was unable to kick on after batting the entire first session for 26. Starc bowled impressively in the morning but went unrewarded despite finding swing and extra bounce while operating at high pace. Harris fought hard and played reasonably well without being able to score freely. Shortly before lunch, Starc pinned Harris on the underside of his left arm to leave a large egg-shaped bruise.
The left-armer returned after the break to first beat Harris on the inside edge and nearly bowl him, before picking him up caught down the leg side. Harris bemoaned his misfortune but Starc's extra pace and bounce meant he was not in control of the leg glance.
NSW did not claim another wicket for the next 34 overs as Kellaway and Handscomb shared a century stand against some excellent bowling. Abbott and Starc in particular beat the bat regularly. Abbott had a number of half-shouts turned down while Starc broke Handscomb's bat with a searing delivery that climbed from a length and cracked the splice of his blade.
Kellaway and Handscomb defended against that duo and then expanded against Nathan Lyon. Kellaway launched him for a huge six over wide long-on while Handscomb played him with typical class.
Jackson Bird broke the stand after tea, finding the outside edge with a superb off-cutter to dismiss Kellaway for 55 from 160 deliveries.
Abbott then returned to wreak havoc. Handscomb, on 64, attempted a drive at a fuller length, but Abbott managed to get the ball to straighten a touch and Steven Smith held the edge at second slip.
In Abbott's next over he removed Sam Harper in similar fashion. Abbott went wide of the crease and dragged his length back as Harper shuffled forward. Again the ball straightened off the seam and caught the edge with Nic Maddinson claiming the chance sharply at third slip. Abbott should have had another two balls later but Maddinson grassed an easier catch that went straight to him off Will Sutherland's outside edge.
It cost nothing as Abbott nicked off Sutherland again to the safe gloves of Josh Phillippe. When Lyon had Sam Elliott caught at short leg, Victoria had slumped from 164 for 2 to 185 for 7.
"I thought we bowled pretty well," Abbott said after play. "But equally, I think the Vic boys batted very well on that wicket.
"It felt a bit frustrating at times. We went past the bat a lot. It was just nice to get some reward late in the day after some hard toil all day."
Tom Rogers took 37 balls to get off the mark while watching three of his team-mates fall at the other end. But he and Fergus O'Neill mounted a rearguard against the second new ball with a 58-run stand before O'Neill fell late in the day for 28. Jack Nisbet picked up a second when he had Todd Murphy caught behind in the shadows of stumps.
Handscomb was pleased with Victoria's score given how much pace and seam movement there was in the surface and how well New South Wales bowled.
"They bowled beautifully," Handscomb said. "They're always going to be there or thereabouts, and not really give you any loose balls.
"We just kept telling each other just to try and fight and keep getting through. Because it's tough for us out there but it's also going to be tougher for the next bloke coming in.
"I think it's a really good day for us today. We're really happy with that situation. I think when you get sent in here day one where, if we can get somewhere between 180 to 220, we tend to feel like we're still in the game."
