Glenn Maxwell accounted for 221 of Victoria's match total of 404 against New South Wales © Getty Images During Victoria's Sheffield Shield clash against New South Wales in April 2014, Glenn Maxwell struck an 89-ball hundred in the second innings. Though that speed of scoring is typical for Maxwell, there was something different this time - before Maxwell's manic innings at No. 8, Victoria had made the worst-ever start to a Shield innings. The scores of their top seven batsmen read: 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 9, 0. They had lost six wickets for 9 before Maxwell clobbered 127 of Victoria's 186.
From 77 for 6, to 675 for 9 dec
Rajshahi Division were 77 for 6 at lunch on the first day against Chittagong Division in Bangladesh's National Cricket League on April 12. What followed was one of the most stunning turnarounds. First, allrounder Farhad Reza and No.8 Sanjamul Islam added 347, the third-highest seventh-wicket stand in first-class history, before Muktar Ali went on a six-hitting spree on day two, sending the ball over the ropes 16 times to equal the record for most sixes in a first-class innings. Reza made 259, Sanjamul scored 172, Muktar blasted 168, and Rajshahi eventually declared for 675 for 9. Chittagong lost by 403 runs.
For three-and-a-half days at the Providence Stadium, Guyana were all over Barbados in their Professional Cricket League game. They posted 261 in the first innings, bowled Barbados out for 101 and enforced the follow-on. Veerasammy Permaul picked up 12 wickets, including eight in the first innings, and Guyana were left with a target of 69 for a straightforward win. Instead on a wearing fourth-day pitch, Guyana completely collapsed against ... Dwayne Smith, who took his first five-for in 13 years of first-class cricket. Guyana folded for 66, and their coach Esuan Crandon was lost for words: "I cannot believe what happened."
Islamabad Leopards were shot out for 54 in the first innings against Multan Tigers. Five of their batsmen were dismissed for ducks, and extras top scored with 18. Leopards then conceded a 67-run lead and soon found themselves floundering at 147 for 5 in the second innings. None of that prevented Leopards from winning by 303 runs. Their turnaround was scripted by a 323-run partnership between Imad Wasim and Faizan Riaz. Wasim's 207 and Riaz's 158 helped Leopards to 575, after which a six-wicket haul from Zohaib Ahmed finished off Tigers.
Badureliya and Bloomfield in low-scoring thriller
Only 548 runs were scored in four innings during Sri Lanka's Premier League Plate Championship between Badureliya Sports Club and Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club. They nearly matched each other run for run in both innings. Bloomfield were first bowled out for 100. Badureliya with 98 all out. Bloomfield went again, but could only manage 175 in their second innings. Badureliya's response: 175, to lose by two runs. Twenty-two wickets fell on the first day of a game that lasted just 150 overs.