Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell played two rapid knocks in Victoria grade cricket on Saturday (December 13).
Glenn Maxwell hits 48 (22) and 74 (32) on the same day in grade cricket
The 10th and 11th rounds of the Kookaburra Men's Premier Firsts T20 tournament took place on Saturday, and Maxwell turned out for his club, Fitzroy Doncaster.
In their first match of the day at the Bill Lawry Oval, Fitzroy Doncaster skipper Liam Banthorpe elected to field against Northcote. Maxwell sent down four wicketless overs for 21 runs as Northcote posted 130-7. In the run-chase, Maxwell batted at No.5. Coming in with the score 64-3, he hit five sixes en route to 48 off 21, before being caught by Michael Rogneda off the bowling of Joe Medew-Eden. Fitzroy Doncaster got over the line in 16.4 overs, Zachary Elliott hitting his first ball for six to seal the deal.
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Moving to Princes Park for their second game, Fitzroy Doncaster elected to bat against Carlton. Matthew Spoors (22 off 9) gave them a quick start, and they were 89-3 in the 12th overs when Maxwell walked in to replace Jack Rudd.
Australia U19 spinner Aryan Sharma was hit for a six and three fours in one over, before Maxwell took down former Melbourne Stars teammate Evan Gulbis, hitting him for four sixes. By the time Gulbis struck back to dismiss him, Maxwell had made 74 off 32, and lifted Fitzroy Doncaster to 183. They finished on 184-9.
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It was not quite as successful for him in the second innings. The Aussie star had sent down three overs for 15 runs when he came on to bowl the final one of the contest, with Carlton needing 19 runs to win.
Dominic Sullivan hit the first and third balls for four, and the fifth for six. He also collected two doubles in between, bringing the equation to one off one for victory, which he duly completed to give Carlton a two-wicket win.
Maxwell is set to turn out for the Melbourne Stars in this year's Big Bash League, which begins tomorrow. The Stars' first game is on Thursday (December 18), against defending champions Hobart Hurricanes.
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