At 204cm, it is not hard for Western Australia's Cameron Green to stand tall.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But the lanky all-rounder still surprised himself when he struck a maiden first class century to help secure an unlikely Sheffield Shield draw with Queensland at the Gabba on Tuesday.
The Bulls looked set for a quick kill when they reduced the visitors to 7-53 in their second dig ahead of lunch on day four, still trailing the hosts by 26 runs overall.
However, Green - backing up from his impressive 87 not out in the first innings - struck an unbeaten 121 batting at No.9 to steer WA to 9-246 with an overall lead of 167.
In the end Queensland agreed to a draw with 20 overs for the day still remaining, finally succumbing to the 20 year-old's remarkable resistance.
"At 7-53 we looked dead and buried. We have something special in Cameron Green," WA captain Shaun Marsh said.
"He certainly has a bright future for not only WA but Australia."
After steadying WA's first dig of 332 with a 99-run eighth wicket stand with Jhye Richardson, Green was at it again on Tuesday.
First he shared a 115-run eighth wicket stand with nightwatchman Matthew Kelly (46).
Then he dug deep again with Richardson (21), combining for a 52-run partnership.
"We were so close to cracking that game open but Greeny batted beautifully. He saved the game for them," Bulls captain Usman Khawaja said.
Remarkably Green first made a name for himself as a fast bowler.
He became the youngest player to take a Shield five-wicket haul on debut in February 2017 when at just 17 he snared 5-24 from 8.1 overs against Tasmania.
But Green has honed his batting skills in the nets after battling recent back stress fractures - and the results were for all to see at the Gabba.
He struck 13 fours and three sixes in his sublime 172-ball second innings knock.
WA had resumed on Tuesday in all sorts at 4-39, still 40 runs behind the hosts after Marsh was dubiously caught behind for eight late on Monday following his first dig of 77.
Bulls quick Cameron Gannon (4-39) then claimed Hilton Cartwright (17) and Josh Philippe (0) in consecutive balls to be on a hat-trick for the second time in the innings, leaving WA reeling at 6-50.
Young quick Xavier Bartlett (3-41) then had 'keeper Josh Inglis caught behind for two to reduce the visitors to 7-53 with an early finish looming but Green had other ideas.
Australian Associated Press