Law and Perren batter Western Australia
Stuart Law (126 not out)and Clinton Perren (82 not out) battered Western Australia, adding 222 runs in just short of 50 overs, as Queensland made an impressive fightback on the third day of their Pura Cup match
Wisden Cricinfo staff
17-Feb-2004
Queensland 362 and 1 for 222 (Perren 82*, Law 126*) lead Weatern Australia 523 (North 130, Campbell 91) by 61 runs
Scorecard
Scorecard
Stuart Law gave the Gabba crowd a send-off to remember, as he equalled Matthew Hayden's record of 24 Pura Cup centuries to breathe new life into Queensland's crucial clash against Western Australia.
Law, who has announced his retirement from Australian state cricket, almost broke down in tears as he batted through his final innings in a first-class match at Brisbane. By the close, he had reached 126 not out, after adding 222 for the second wicket with Clinton Perren (82 not out).
"I nearly burst into tears," admitted Law, who will complete his career with Lancashire. "Today was just a great way for me to say thanks to the Brisbane people who have supported me. The fairytale is not quite complete but there's room for it at the moment."
Queensland had appeared down and out when they conceded a first innings deficit of 161, and Martin Love's latest batting failure merely compounded their struggles. He was trapped lbw by Darren Wates for a first-ball duck, and with Jimmy Maher sidelined with a hamstring injury, Queensland were effectively 2 for 0. But Law, who has scored 865 runs at 72.8 already this season, attacked from the outset to bring up his 100 from 114 balls.
It was a batsman's day. Western Australia's wicketkeeper-batsman Ryan Campbell belted 91 from 72 balls to put the finishing touches to a massive first-innings total of 523. Andy Bichel had earlier ended a a match-turning 150-run stand with a sharp return catch off Scott Meuleman (50). He followed up by removing Marcus North (130 from 219 balls) with a superb off-cutter in his next over.