He fell agonisingly short of another century but Michael Spaseski's blistering 99 for the ACT Comets on Monday is set to launch him into the Twenty20 Big Bash League this year.
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Adelaide Strikers coach Darren Berry and selector Jamie Cox watched as Spaseski smashed 99 off 97 balls in the Comets' Futures League match against the South Australian team in Adelaide.
The Strikers have already recruited star Comets Jono Dean and Ben Oakley for the Big Bash, which starts next month.
But it was Spaseski who took centre stage, smashing 14 boundaries and four sixes before the Comets were bowled out for 313.
Spaseski has belted a double ton for Eastlake and a century for the Comets this month. His only failure was a score of 59 in the Cricket ACT first-grade competition last weekend.
Having previously been on the radar of the Brisbane Heat and the Melbourne Renegades for a Big Bash contract, Spaseski is just concerned about taking advantage of career-best form.
''I did see the guys in the crowd … scoring quickly just happens when you're in good form,'' Spaseski said.
''I don't worry about how fast I'm going. I haven't spoken to anyone from the Strikers but they were around the ground.
''I've been on the radar for the last couple of years and I've just needed consistent performances.''
Spaseski, 23, was on the verge of another century when he got a half-track ball from leg-spinner Brenton McDonald.
''I got it out of the middle straight to mid-off. In hindsight I could have put it anywhere straight over the fence,'' Spaseski said.
''You're never happy with 99. It still stings.''
South Australia will start day two at 2-39 after Oakley and Josh Bennett claimed early wickets.