Melbourne: New South Wales (NSW) Blues allrounder Sean Abbott has gone some way in putting the darkness of the past two and a half weeks behind him by ripping through the Queensland Bulls batting lineup and sealing what looked an unlikely victory for last year's champions in their Bupa Sheffield Shield clash at the Sydney Cricket Ground Friday.
Midway through the middle session Abbott routed the Queensland middle order and had figures of six for nine from a remarkable spell, as reported by Cricket Australia (CA) website.
The 22-year-old finished with six for 14 from his seven overs as Queensland were bowled out for 99 to give NSW victory by an innings and 78 runs.
The all-rounder was, at one point, on a hat-trick after removing Chris Hartley and Cameron Brimblecombe with consecutive balls but missed out when Luke Feldman was able to keep out the next delivery.
Abbott endured the toughest of preparations in the lead-up to the first Sheffield Shield round since the passing of Phillip Hughes.
Hughes was hit by a short-pitch delivery from Abbott while batting for South Australia at the SCG Nov 25. He died two days later in hospital with medical professionals describing his injuries as "freakish" and a "one-in-a-billion occurrence".
As the cricket world grieved for Hughes's passing, it also rallied around Abbott, with public sentiments of support added to the counselling offered by Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers' Association, as well as his NSW Blues and Australia teammates.
Abbott received a standing ovation from the Member's Stand as he left the ground. The achievement was also acknowledged at the Test match at the Adelaide Oval when David Warner, who was also at the SCG when Hughes was hit, applauded Abbott when his figures were shown on the scoreboard midway through the afternoon session on day four of the first Test.
