Victoria’s Sheffield Shield title hopes are hanging by a thread after they suffered a four-wicket loss to a Jake Lehmann-inspired South Australia at the Junction Oval.
Chasing a challenging 300 for victory, SA were in big trouble at 4-108 after Henry Hunt (66) joined Conor McInerney (1), Nathan McSweeney (18) and Jason Sangha (0) back in the pavilion.
But a 148-run stand between Lehmann (105 not out off 193 balls) and Liam Scott (83 off 137) turned the match on its head, helping propel South Australia to victory.
Lehmann notched his 12th first-class century and also brought up the winning runs by striking three consecutive boundaries off Xavier Crone.
The result means South Australia will host the Sheffield Shield final, irrespective of how they fare in their final-round match against Queensland in Adelaide.
With AFL season underway, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has stepped in to broker a deal for the Shield final to be played at Adelaide Oval in between Crows and Power AFL matches.
“I did spend a bit of time on the weekend making a few calls,” Malinauskas said on ABC Radio last week.
“I’m pretty optimistic that with some hard-headed reason, there’s a compromise to be had here that would allow it to be played at Adelaide Oval – but everyone is going to have to give a little bit.
“There’s a whole bunch of moving parts to this, but after the calls I’ve made, I’m pretty optimistic we’re going to get the right outcome if wiser heads prevail.
“I think the Crows have an appetite for pragmatism here, and that is to their great credit. The AFL has got a role to play.”
In another major boost for local fans, the South Australian Cricket Association is expected to throw open the gates with free admission as they chase their first Shield title in nearly three decades.
If Victoria had won, they would have finished the round as high as second.
But the loss has left them struggling for survival in fifth spot, now requiring a minor miracle to scrape into the final.
Not only do the Bushrangers need to beat WA at the WACA in the final round, they must also rely on South Australia beating Queensland, and last-placed Tasmania defeating NSW.
Victoria were all smiles early on Sunday when they made significant inroads into South Australia’s top order.
McSweeney was the first batter to fall for the day, trapped lbw by Fergus O’Neill after South Australia had added just seven runs to their overnight total of 1-47.
O’Neill found the edge of Sangha two balls later as SA slumped to 3-54, and Hunt’s resistance was over when he skied Sam Elliott to the deep.
But it was the Scott and Lehmann show from that point on, with the pair’s partnership taking the game away from Victoria.
South Australia needed just 44 more runs when Scott fell, edging Scott Boland to slip to end his hopes of scoring a maiden Shield ton.
Lehmann was dropped on 80 by Campbell Kellaway at short cover with the score reading 5-258, and he made the most of the reprieve to guide his team to victory.
Konstas cool under pressure
NSW rising star Sam Konstas has kept his cool to help thwart Western Australia’s victory bid in the drawn Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA Ground.
WA declared at 4-346 in their second innings soon after lunch on day four, leaving NSW a victory target of 282 from 57 overs.
The Blues weren’t interested in the run chase, with the visitors content to do their best to grind out a draw.
Konstas crafted 50 off 107 balls to help NSW recover from 1-0 to reach 4-130 by the time the two captains shook hands on Sunday evening with two overs remaining.
Ladder leaders South Australia (51.76 points) have already earned hosting rights for the Shield final given they are guaranteed to finish on top, irrespective of what happens in the final round.
The race for second spot will be between second-placed Queensland (36.8 points), third-placed NSW (35.39), fourth-placed WA (34.43) and fifth-placed Victoria (32.49).
South Australia take on Queensland in Adelaide next week, while WA host Victoria and NSW visit Tasmania.
Hilton Cartwright was the standout in WA’s second innings, with a career-high 171 not out off 294 balls featuring 19 fours and a six.
Cameron Bancroft, in his return from the fractured shoulder suffered during a sickening collision in the BBL, scored a patient 86 off 277.
NSW’s chase started disastrously, with Nic Maddinson edging Joel Paris to slip on the third ball of the innings.
It was 2-50 in the 25th over when Kurtis Patterson was bowled by Joel Paris (2-8) for 13.
Konstas held the innings together with a crucial half-century.
But the 19-year-old’s decision to trot down the pitch to block spinner Corey Rocchiccioli proved to be his undoing, with Konstas stumped well out of his crease.
When Rocchiccioli had Josh Philippe caught next ball, NSW were 4-86 and a tad vulnerable.
Matthew Gilkes (53no) and Oliver Davies (11no) held off WA’s charge, ensuring NSW escaped with a draw.
“Five an over was probably a bit too much,” NSW allrounder Jack Edwards said.
“They probably batted us out of the game. Losing the early one as well, we decided to pack it up.
“He (Konstas) played well. It was good to see him apply himself and show us how much of a good, natural player he is when he’s applying himself.
Sam Konstas bats. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
“It was a nice knock, and hopefully next time he can make it a really big one.”
Cartwright said WA were wary not to hand NSW an easy run chase.
“We wanted anywhere between 250-300,” he said.
“Last night just before they had the new ball, it was really easy to score when that ball got soft, so we didn’t want to give them too many overs with not enough runs.
“If we gave them 70 overs to chase 250, it probably would have been quite easy for them.”
Bulls thump Tassie to stay in final hunt
Queensland have romped their way to a nine-wicket Sheffield Shield victory over Tasmania, ensuring their hopes of reaching the final will go down to the last round.
The Bulls started the last day at 1-26 in their second innings, needing just another 56 for victory.
Jack Clayton (34no) and Usman Khawaja (33no) ensured there would be no miracle comeback from Tasmania.
The result ended Tasmania’s hopes of reaching the final, leaving them last on the table with just one match to come, at home to NSW.
Queensland now have their destiny in their own hands, with the Bulls jumping to second spot on the ladder with one round to play.
The Bulls will guarantee themselves a place in the final if they beat South Australia in Adelaide next week.
A loss or a draw would open the door for NSW, WA or Victoria to leapfrog them into second.
Khawaja helped set up Queensland’s comfortable win over Tasmania by scoring 127 in their first innings total of 9(dec)-425.
Tasmania were rolled for 161 in reply, with man-of-the-match Michael Neser snaring 6-37.
The Tigers were forced to follow-on, and although their second-innings total of 345 was much better, the 82-run victory target wasn’t nearly enough to pose Queensland any problems.
“Maximising that new ball (was the key), that new ball nipped around a bit,” Neser said.
“And then it went dead and it was a lovely batting wicket.
“It was a no-brainer to (enforce the) follow on. That wicket was getting flatter.
“The way Uzzie batted was superb. He set the game up for us.”
Queensland’s win over Tasmania was a perfect response from their recent flop at the WACA, where they were thumped by an innings and 12 runs by Western Australia.
“We have a massive game in Adelaide now. It’s going to be tough there,” Neser said.
“We know it can be flat at times, so spin will be a huge factor for us.
“Going in with a win is massive for us, so hopefully we can carry that momentum through.”
Tasmania opener Jake Weatherald rued his team’s poor batting display.
“If we had got (a lead of) 200, 230, we would have been a good chance,” Weatherald said.
“We’re just not batting or bowling well enough.
“Michael Neser was just too classy. He bowled very well throughout this game in good batting conditions.”
with AAP
