Wily NSW seamer Trent Copeland has collected a career milestone he never thought possible while stifling South Australia in their Sheffield Shield match.
Copeland bagged his 300th first-class wicket in his haul of 6-86 on Thursday at Adelaide Oval.
The Blues will enter the final day with a 57-run lead, at 3-84 in their second innings, after Copeland helped bowl SA out for 273.
Copeland now has 303 first-class wickets and admits: "I never thought I would get one, honestly".
"I was a wicketkeeper-batsman until I was 20," he said.
"I'm a cricket nuffie and love the game and, really, every time I get to pull on the baggy blue (NSW cap) I feel blessed.
"So to be able to contribute significantly over a lot of years now is something that no doubt when I finish, I will look back on with a lot of pride."
Copeland's precise line and length nagged Redbacks batsmen into submission in the rain-affected match.
SA started the day at 2-113 but could only claim a 27-run innings lead with acting captain Jake Lehmann (61), Tom Cooper (40) and Callum Ferguson (36) failing to capitalise on promising starts.
Copeland's haul continues his love affair with Adelaide Oval, where he also took six SA wickets in an innings last summer.
The 32-year-old said he gained great satisfaction from taking wickets in all conditions over his career.
"It's across different conditions - flat wickets, good wickets, nice ones to bowl on, not-so nice ones to bowl on," Copeland said.
"It's against very good players from a lot of states and some international teams as well.
"It's a little reiteration of the fact that you don't have to bowl rapid, you can put the ball in a nice area and hope for the best and it can work in your favour.
"There's a lot of good bowlers in this country who take wickets regularly and it's not all about pace."
Australian Associated Press
