Victorian Premier Cricket: Will Sutherland plays ‘Stokes-like’ innings for Prahran

Melbourne coach Ben Vague declared Victorian allrounder Will Sutherland’s knock of 136 was as good as he had seen in Premier Cricket.

Prahran star Will Sutherland celebrates after taking a wicket against Melbourne. Picture: Valeriu Campan

It was a spectacular innings, and it took a superb catch to end it.

Will Sutherland’s 136 off 120 balls for Prahran lifted his team to the shadows of a stirring run-chase victory after it had slumped to 3-25 in reply to Melbourne’s 6-260 at the Albert Ground on Saturday.

But a running catch on the boundary from Jack Prestwidge off the last ball of the 47th over sent Sutherland back to the pavilion before he could finish the fightback he had started.

Sutherland cracked Fergus O’Neill through midwicket and was entitled to think it would earn him another boundary.

But Prestwidge dashed 20m to his right, dived and took a thrilling catch.

Sutherland had to go after an innings studded with 5 sixes and 6 fours, his second century in Premier ranks.

Prahran finished at 8-252.

Melbourne coach Ben Vague said Sutherland’s hand was as good as any he had seen in Premier Cricket.

“We had them in real trouble – three for not many - and from about the 22nd over they needed something like seven-and-a-half an over,’’ he said.

“It was Ben Stokes-like in the Ashes.

“He obviously had support from Jake Hancock for a while but he would have won that game off his own bat. While he was out there, and even when it got up to 10 an over, we were never, ever comfortable. We were so nervous the whole time he was out there batting.’’

Will Pucovski at the creases for Melbourne. Picture: Valeriu Campan

He added: “And he didn’t slog. He just played good cricket shots. We bowled really well. But he batted brilliantly.’’

Vague said it was “game over’’ if Prestwidge hadn’t taken the catch; he was sure Sutherland would have taken the visitors to victory.

He put Sutherland’s innings in the same class as centuries he saw Andrew Kent make against Northcote and Matthew Brown’s ton on Black Saturday.

The right-hander was dropped off leg-spinner Kyle Williamson before he had reached 50, with Will Pucovski unable to hold on to a catch he’d normally swallow.

Pucovski top scored for the Demons with 70 off 94 balls (with 4 fours).

But the key innings came from the unheralded Charles Lill, who slapped 64 not out off 64 balls to take Melbourne past 250. O’Neill’s 21 not out off 15 deliveries was handy too.

Prahran quickie Matt Wilcox goes at Melbourne. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Prahran shed Nick Blaich (5), James Billington (5) and Damon Egan (14) early in the chase, but recovered through captain Hancock and Sutherland.

They’d put on 127 when Keiran Elliott had Hancock LBW for 43 (off 77 balls, with 3 fours).

Sutherland lost Cameron Hemp (1) and Bailey Moon (14) but he powered on, reaching his century with a single in the 43rd over, off exactly 100 balls.

The Trues Blues were 6-223 off 46 overs and 6-234 off 47. But with two overs to go Sutherland was gone and the Demons held on to win a memorable match.