South Australian star batters Bulls in record fashion

Steve Barrett |

South Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk celebrates his century during their Queensland shellacking.
South Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk celebrates his century during their Queensland shellacking.

Swashbuckling Jake Fraser-McGurk has smashed the fastest half-century in Australian domestic 50-over cricket and the third-quickest ton in the competition’s history to catapult South Australia to a crushing 126-run win over Queensland in their One-Day Cup clash.

After being sent in to bat at Karen Rolton Oval on Saturday, Faser-McGurk (122) and captain Nathan McSweeney (106) helped top-of-the-table, undefeated SA bludgeon 7-397, the Croweaters’ third-highest total ever.

Lachlan Hearne impressed with a career-best 121 as the Bulls were knocked over for 271 off 40.1 overs in reply.

jake
Jake Fraser-McGurk has given national selectors something to think about with his record showing. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)

Fraser-McGurk, who has played 15 white-ball games for Australia, put his name back under the national selectors’ nose, belting five sixes to raise a whirlwind 50 off just 14 balls, the fastest-ever recorded in this country, and the fourth-fastest worldwide in the format.

When Fraser-McGurk raced to 74 off 21 deliveries in the eighth over, he was on target to break his own record for the tournament’s fastest-ever 100, a 29-ball ton against Tasmania three years ago at the same venue.

He was restricted to ‘only’ 26 off his next 28, raising his second List-A century off 49 balls.

Jake Lehmann (left) congratulates Nathan McSweeney on his century.
Jake Lehmann (left) congratulates Nathan McSweeney on his century. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)

Tasmanian Mitch Owen hit a 48-ball ton against SA at Adelaide Oval in 2024-25.

Fraser-McGurk blasted nine sixes in his 63-ball knock, dominating a 129-run opening-wicket stand with Mackenzie Harvey, whose 46 off 35 went almost unnoticed.

McSweeney, who starred in the recent Australia A tour of India, moved to his third List-A century – and second in 12 days – combining with Jake Lehmann (58) for a 115-run fifth-wicket partnership.

Queensland’s response spluttered from the start, crashing to 3-46 in the seventh over.

Hearne came in at No.5 and resurrected the visitors’ innings, striking three sixes in his 104-ball dig.

Hearne and skipper Jimmy Peirson (45) put on 103 for the sixth wicket to avoid total embarrassment.

Left-arm speedster Spencer Johnson captured a career-best 5-59 and finished the match when he yorked Hearne.

AAP