Victorian bowler Sam Elliott claims state record One-Day Cup figures

The son of a former Test cricketer has obliterated Tasmania in an extraordinary spell in Victoria’s season opener at the Junction Oval.

Young fast bowler Sam Elliott has claimed a record seven-wicket haul to announce himself in Victoria’s first competitive match of the season against Tasmania in the One-Day Cup.

The son of former Test opener Matthew Elliott ran rampant on a green-tinged pitch under cloudy skies at the Junction Oval as Tasmania crumbled to 9-92 before they were bowled out for 126.

Playing only his 11th domestic 50-over game, Elliott also made an important 19 not out with the bat as he and captain Will Sutherland (36 not out) steered Victoria home with four wickets to spare.

Elliott, 24, claimed 7-12 from eight overs to surpass Jon Holland’s 6-29 as the best figures by a Victorian bowler in the One-Day Cup.

The right-arm quick was introduced in the 11th over and struck with his first ball as Jordan Silk chased a full delivery outside off stump and edged it behind the wicket to Sam Harper.

Sam Elliott (left) celebrates his maiden five-wicket haul for Victoria against Tasmania at the Junction Oval. Picture: Darrian Traynor / Getty Images

He had Jake Weatherald caught behind for 31 five balls later to leave Tasmania 4-55 before he went on to take five more wickets on the trot, four in total snapped up by Harper, who also claimed two dismissals off the bowling of veteran Peter Siddle (2-26).

The pick of Elliott’s wickets was his seventh, with a length ball rising awkwardly and seaming away to catch the outside edge of Bradley Hope’s bat.

“It is quite remarkable what Sam Elliott is doing. He’s been around the mark now for a couple of years for Victoria … but to have this sort of performance is out of this world,” commentator Adam White said on Fox Cricket.

Elliott’s haul sat behind only Shaun Tait’s 8-43 for South Australia against Tasmania in 2004 as the best figures in an Australian domestic 50-over match.

Victoria will chase 126 after Elliott’s seven wickets stunned Tasmania. Picture: Darrian Traynor / Getty Images

“I think the biggest record I broke was I beat Dad’s total wickets for Victoria, which was 13 in 250 games or whatever it was,” Elliott quipped after the game.

“Just one of those days where everything sort of clicked. I’m just excited it all came together today.”

Elliott said a technical adjustment he made with his wrist position only in the warm-up had helped spur the breakout performance.

“I actually changed something at the start of the game in my wrist, so it was a bit inconsistent, but I felt like the good balls were really good,” he said.

“I think the most exciting thing is I can probably go back to training and work on a few things, just consistency-wise.”

Victoria’s batting line-up also struggled in the seam-friendly conditions, with Sam Harper (43 off 32) the only player to fire as Queensland recruit Josh Brown was trapped lbw for 3 and Test hopeful Marcus Harris departed two balls later, caught at first slip to Tasmania’s Tom Rogers (2-38).

Tigers all-rounder Beau Webster claimed 3-20 off seven overs with his medium pace, but Sutherland played a steady hand with 36 off 48 balls as the captain and Elliott took Victoria from a perilous 6-72 to the target with 33.1 overs to spare.

Left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann was introduced into the attack late in his Tasmanian debut and finished with 0-20 from 3.5 overs.