Marcus Stoinis (L) and David Hussey (R) helped Victoria get first innings points. Picture: Michael Klein. Source: Michael Klein / News Corp Australia
COACH Greg Shipperd calls them "jumbos".
The big scores that put matches out of opponents' reach.
On Tuesday night at the MCG, one of those he'd probably least budgeted on to provide one came through – decisively.
Marcus Stoinis, the 24-year-old who began his Sheffield Shield career with Western Australia as a hard-hitting all-rounder five years ago, blasted Victoria to an almost impenetrable position with a superb unbeaten 164.
Recast as the Bushrangers No.3 after dominating Premier Cricket with four centuries this summer, Stoinis, 24, delivered the long-awaited monster knock to give Victoria its first Shield points since November 16 – ending 108 days of futility with 21 fours and three towering sixes.
Marcus Stoinis was in superb form at the MCG. Picture: Michael Klein. Source: News Corp Australia
With fears of the pink ball in its second evening of day-night cricket all but forgotten, Stoinis shared in the season's highest third-wicket stand of 190 with David Hussey, who himself was desperately unlucky to be stranded on 88 by a dubious LBW decision.
But the powerfully built Stoinis wasn't satisfied with that, racing from 100 to 150 in just 50 balls late in a long day for the Tigers, adding another unbeaten 99-run stand with Peter Handscomb (43*).
The net result of Stoinis' maiden first-class ton in just his seventh match – four for Victoria – was to give the Bushrangers a 187-run lead with two days to play.
Stoinis admitted he was nervous approaching 90, but backed himself to take on the challenge quickly, blasting boundaries to roar through the 90s and beyond.
"I was a bit edgy, but I thought surely I'm seeing them all right now, I can play a few shots and get through that," he said.
"It's a great feeling. I won't be sleeping much tonight – just stoked, buzzing."
Stoinis admitted the journey from highly touted Perth teen to his maiden ton had made him appreciate the achievement.
"Obviously I would have loved to have got here quicker.
"But (in hindsight) it's probably a good thing missing out when you're 19 when it's all come pretty quick, (because) you probably have to earn the right to play with those guys like Dave Hussey.
"I'm hungry for more (on day three), I'm eyeing off 200, for sure. Spirits are always high after a hundred."
The day of carnage for Tassie began well enough with debutant opener Dean Russ trapped LBW by Xavier Doherty.
Rob Quiney's dismissal for 70 then gave the visitors some hope with Victoria at 2-104, still 102 in arrears.
Tim Paine successfully appeals for the wicket of Dean Russ. Source: Getty Images
But just when the Tigers could sense a bit of life in the pink ball, their hopes were first blunted, then later smashed as Stoinis and Hussey took control.
Stoinis notched his 50 with a six into the Members Stand off Doherty to signal his intent.
By the time he repeated the dose to bring up his 150 late in the final session, he'd blasted the Aussie one-day bowler to the fence nine times and over it twice more.
Hussey, who before the match admitted his Bushrangers tenure was likely coming towards an end, carved his fourth half-century of the Shield season.
He savaged Ben Hilfenhaus, so much so with a pre-lunch onslaught that the former Test paceman didn't bowl in the second session.
Butterworth (1-62) was the pick of the Tigers' bowlers, but for the second consecutive day, the pink ball offered little assistance to the seamers.
