At the Australian Country Cricket Championships in the Margaret River-Busselton area of Western Australia, the Kyabram cropper harvested match winning scores off the Western Australia and NSW attacks on the first two days and also was one of the top contributors with the bat against Queensland in the first of Monday’s two T20 games which the Vics lost.
Mueller posted his highest score of 65 for Victoria in three seasons of representing his state in these championships against Western Australia in the opening round of the 2026 series on Saturday.
He then made the second top score of 60 for the Vics against NSW in the second round on Sunday.
Against the host state he was in rescue missions with the bat with Nathan Walsh and Big V captain Jake Toohey in which the Vics recovered from 5-118 to a final winning score of 271 runs.
Mueller was dismissed on the last ball of Victoria’s innings and his 65 runs consisted of four fours and two sixes and came off 58 deliveries.
In reply, the Vics bowled Western Australia out for 189 in 46.4 overs.
In Sunday’s second round clash, Mueller stepped up again with the bat when the Vics were battling at 5-92, chasing NSW’s healthy score of 248.
He went on to top score for the Vics with a match high 60 off 58 deliveries with five fours and two sixes and was at the wicket while 126 runs were cut from the run chase.
He shared a 78 runs stand for the sixth wicket with Lachie Sperling (39), which helped set up the Vics’ three wickets and 11 deliveries win.
The Vics suffered their first loss on Monday when beaten in their opening T20 round clash by Queensland.
Promoted from seven to five on the batting list after his first two days heroics, Mueller looked set for another healthy score when he was caught on the boundary for 26, which was still the third-highest score for the Vics who posted 9-160.
In a gripping finish, Queensland covered this score with one over to go.
But the Vics bounced back in their second T20 game on Monday and in a tight finish accounted for South Australia.
Mueller, who was promoted again (to first drop), was out lbw for four as the Vics posted a moderate, but what proved to be a winning score of 5-139.
South Australia was in the chase right to the finish, coming up six runs short.
Tuesday, January 6 was a rest day and Victoria rounds off its campaign with T20 matches against Western Australia (at 10am, 1pm Vic time) and Tasmania (2.30pm, 5.30pm Vic time) Wednesday, January 7 and then one day (50 overs) games against Queensland on Thursday, January 8, South Australia on Friday, January 9 and Tasmania on Saturday, January 10.
These games start at 10am in Western Australia and 1pm in Victoria.
Up to Wednesday, Queensland was the only undefeated side and Vics, who are the reigning title holders, are in second place.
There is livestream coverage of the games, but those interested should note there is a three-hour time difference between Victoria and Western Australia.
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