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McDermott hits new heights

McDermott hits new heights

02/09/2012 08:30:22 AM

Alister McDermott's amazing rise in 2011-12 has hit new heights, with his 7-24 in Queensland's one-wicket loss to Western Australia catapulting him into the record books with the seventh-best innings figures ever by a Bull.

Although Queensland were pipped at the post, McDermott's devastating spell, in which he almost single-handedly foiled a 68-run chase, may go down as his true emergence as a top-tier swing bowler.

The son of Australian Test legend and current national bowling coach Craig McDermott came into the fourth day with career-best first-class figures of 3-36, but if Ryan Broad had have held the simplest catch at first slip, he would have leap-frogged his old man's 8-44 and claimed the second-best figures ever by a Queenslander in the Shield.

Disappointed though he was for his side to miss out on a historic come-back win, McDermott was proud of his side's bowlers and proud to hit the honours board alongside his father.

"Walking out we said to ourselves that if we put the ball in the right area and get enough early wickets we can put the batters under enough pressure and make them crumble, which I think we did really well," he said.

"We bowled really well as a unit, put the ball in the right area, made it swing, hit the deck had and got some movement off the wicket."

"I've got a little story there. When I got my five-for it was a special moment for me to go up on (the Queensland honours) board inside there with my dad."

The performance is typical of the 20-year-old's season, in which he has gone from the back benches to become one of the first Bulls picked in any format.

"I'm pretty happy with how I've gone this year. I didn't start off in the one-day or Shield side. I was disappointed, as anyone would be, but i just went away and tried to get the performances in grade cricket - which i did - and tried to force my way into the Queensland side," he said.

"I was happy that I'd been able to take my opportunities this year, unlike I had been in previous years... I hadn't really performed to the best of my ability."

Ever-gracious West Australian skipper Marcus North was full of praise for Queensland's fourth day efforts, and paid tribute to McDermott's virtuoso performance.

While the pitch was deteriorating, McDermott was bowling from the Vulture Street end, and away from the areas that were worst cracked and giving inconsistent bounce.

"Allie McDermott was outstanding. To get seven wickets and bowl like he did under that pressure is a credit to him and shows where his cricket is going," North said.

"I think it was a really good cricket wicket. I expect nothing less when i come here."

"Today's game certainly had nothing to do with the conditions or the wicket, it was just the pressure of the game, an amazing spell from a young bowler and some not-so-great batting from WA."

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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