Sam Truloff impresses with bat and in the field as Queensland surge to bonus-point win
Michael Neser and Mark Steketee again dominated with the ball against Victoria
AAP
15-Nov-2022
Sam Truloff was superb in the field and then made a half-century • Getty Images
Queensland 3 for 173 (Truloff 55, Bryant 41*) beat Victoria 171 (Steketee 3-30, Neser 3-48) by seven wickets
Queensland's bowlers and batter Sam Truloff fired to secure the Bulls their first Marsh Cup success of the summer in a comfortable seven-wicket win over Victoria.
Bulls captain Usman Khawaja won the toss and elected to bowl at Brisbane's Allan Border Field, with Michael Neser and Mark Steketee taking wickets at the start and end of the visitors' innings to dismiss Victoria for 171.
In reply, Truloff played with panache with his drives off the quick bowlers a highlight. Khawaja and Matt Renshaw chipped in with sold knocks before Max Bryant upped the ante to secure a bonus point for Queensland with victory in the 36th over.
Truloff, 29, has been in and out of the Queensland system after making his first-class debut in 2016. He broke an all-time season aggregate record in Brisbane first grade cricket last summer while batting for Wests to earn a recall and a new contract.
"I am a big fan of Sammy. He has been a terrific player for a long time and has scored a truckload of runs," Khawaja told AAP. "He will get a few more opportunities as more boys leave for representation with the Aussie team and the [Prime Minister's XI]. He is a very good batsman and it is terrific to see him doing well."
Queensland's fielding was also top shelf, with none better than Truloff who took two catches and was the instigator of the run out of Marcus Harris.
Neser and Steketee had taken 15 wickets between them in the recent Sheffield Shield win over Victoria at the same venue and picked up where they left off.
"They both got injured early last season and that hurt us but they have both been on the park this year and when that happens you can string a few good games together," Khawaja said.
Fast bowler Kane Richardson, who joined the Queensland squad after completing his T20 World Cup duties with Australia, played his first game for state.
His impact was immediate in a spell of 1 for 12 off eight overs that dried up the runs. Campbell Kellaway (34) and Sam Harper (31) steadied the Victorian innings but were unable to press on and make a big score.