Spin to win: If Todd Murphy’s 2021-22 season is anything to go by, the former Moama cricketer could be a force for Victoria. Photo: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
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Darrian Traynor
Moama cricketing talent Todd Murphy’s Victorian season got off to a flyer as the rising off-spinner eyes the beginning of the Sheffield Shield season.
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Kicking off with a one-day fixture on September 23 against New South Wales, Murphy snuck through Blues batter Kurtis Patterson’s defences to snare the first wicket of the summer before sending Jason Sangha on the way in the 45th over.
From Murphy’s 10 overs, the wily offie claimed figures of 2/29 as the Victorian’s claimed a three-run win via Duckworth-Lewis in a rain-affected clash.
Those figures were enough for Murphy to claim player of the match honours, but Victoria’s fortunes shifted against an imposing Western Australia outfit two days later.
WA’s bats adjusted faster to the favourable CitiPower Oval pitch with Murphy claiming 1-55, extracting the wicket of Sam Whiteman.
A 19-run cameo from Murphy in Victoria’s chase-setting total of 9-274 proved to be in vain as WA chased it down with five wickets to spare.
Murphy, a revelation for Victoria in the 2021-22 season, will be looking ahead to the Sheffield Shield clash against South Australia at Karen Rolton Oval on October 6 to get the red-ball season underway.
A productive season was recognised with a call-up to Australia’s A squad for the tour of Sri Lanka, an effort that has Murphy firmly in the conversation for higher honours as the summer of cricket gets under way.
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