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Posted: 2022-11-10 04:14:25

Queensland pace duo Michael Neser and Mark Steketee have continued their scintillating form to leave Victoria in a shambles in the Sheffield Shield clash at Allan Border Field.

The Bushrangers went to lunch on day one at 8-47, with Steketee (4-12 off eight overs) and Neser (3-16 off 10) wreaking all sorts of havoc.

The pair split the last two wickets — with Steketee finishing with 5-18 and Neser taking 4-22 - as the Bulls wrapped up the innings within six overs of the resumption to clean up the Bushrangers for just 63. 

It was Victoria's lowest score since recording 35 against New South Wales in 1927.

Ashley Chandrasinghe (16 off 84 balls) was the standout in an ugly scorecard, with Mitchell Perry and Scott Boland the only other batsmen to reach double figures.

Steketee and Neser entered the clash as the leading wicket-takers this season, and their reputations were further enhanced following a magical morning session on Thursday.

Victoria's decision to bat first on the green-tinged deck proved disastrous, with the visitors reduced to 2-0 and 5-13.

At that stage, Victoria were in danger of recording their lowest-ever Shield total — beating the 31 posted against NSW in 1907.

Neser started the carnage by bowling Travis Dean for a duck with the third ball of the day.

The in-form Marcus Harris followed soon after in embarrassing fashion, with the ball hitting the back of his bat and ballooning to Marnus Labuschagne at cover.

Peter Handscomb entered the match with 518 runs to his name this season at an average of 172.7.

But he was out for 5 when he was trapped LBW by Neser, leaving Victoria rocking at 3-5.

Alarm bells were ringing ever louder when Nic Maddinson and Sam Harper fell cheaply to leave the Bushrangers at 5-13 after nine overs.

The wickets continued to tumble, with only Chandrasinghe able to offer any real resistance.

Amazingly, the damage could have been even worse for the Bushrangers.

Harper was lucky to survive a strong LBW shout when he shouldered arms to a Steketee delivery that reared back in to the stumps.

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