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Sheffield Shield Round 5: Day 1 summary

The New South Wales take a home game to Coffs Harbour when they take on the Southern Redbacks. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)
Roar Guru
9th December, 2014
7

While most cricketing eyes were fixed on the Adelaide Oval for the rearranged first Test of the summer against India, state cricket also resumed on Tuesday for Round 5 of the Sheffield Shield.

New South Wales are hosting Queensland at the SCG, Tasmania playing South Australia at Blundstone Arena, and Western Australia welcome Victoria to the WACA.

>>FOLLOW THE LIVE BLOG OF DAY TWO

New South Wales (1-17) vs Queensland (268)
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

New South Wales made an excellent start to the 100th match between these two sides at the SCG by bowling out Queensland for just 286.

At stumps, after negotiating a tough nine-over spell in the evening, the Blues had already lost one wicket to the irrepressible Queensland skipper, James Hopes, for their 17 runs.

The New South Wales players were told they would be given up until Tuesday morning to decide whether they wish to play this game, on the same SCG ground where many of them witnessed Phil Hughes’ fatal accident just two weeks ago.

Moises Henriques was named stand-in skipper of a 12-man NSW squad that had been typically decimated by Test call-ups. He was joined by 22-year-old paceman Sean Abbott, who is said to be coping incredibly well with his role in the accident that befell Hughes.

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Fox Sports reported that a number of Blues players were unsure on Monday as to whether they would play, but they threw themselves into action in the best way possible, by taking Queensland wickets.

After a solid start by their openers, Queensland succumbed to the New South Wales bowling pressure. Only Chris Hartley (41) and Hopes (85) were able to apply any pressure with the bat.

Of the Blues bowlers, all eyes were on Abbott, and he would have been left in no doubt as to the level of support he would get from the cricketing public, as spectators clapped and cheered every ball of his first over, including when he bowled a fifth-ball bouncer.

Henriques said pre-game how all the players were “trying to expel his name from the tragedy a little bit, because in my opinion I don’t think he’s any more at fault than any other fast bowler who’s ever bowled a bouncer”, echoing the sentiment of the cricket public.

Abbott bowled his 15 overs for 2-53, along with perennial Test discard Mitchell Starc (3-52). Henriques (1-23), Stephen O’Keefe (1-40) and Doug Bollinger (1-67) chipped in with a wicket apiece to limit Queensland to 268.

Special note has to be made for the performance of Queensland skipper Hopes, who backed up his top score of 85 with the early wicket of Nick Larkin (0). When I spoke to Bulls coach Stuart Law in the last round, he was full of praise for his skipper’s bowling, and he would have been equally impressed with his short, four-over spell which only went for a single run.

Hopes’ form this season has been extraordinary, in particular his economical spells with the ball. But it was his batting performance, when his side were truly desperate and against the wall, that deserved plaudits on Tuesday. Queensland owe their captain a huge amount, and the importance of his 106-ball knock may become apparent later in the game if New South Wales struggle as much as the Bulls batsmen did.

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Tasmania (6-307) v South Australia
Blundstone Arena, Hobart

Tasmania started well after winning the toss and electing to bat in overcast conditions in Hobart, racking up a score of over 300 off the back of a superb century from Ed Cowan (147).

Hughes’ former teammates decided late Sunday night to play their game against Tasmania, although the ABC reported that three of Hughes’ teammates (Kane Richardson, Daniel Worrall and Adam Zampa) felt they were unable to play, and South Australia named an extended squad on Monday.

South Australia honoured Hughes memory by displaying his South Australia cap number on their shirts and by pausing for 63 seconds before the start of the game.

Tasmania made just one change to their squad from the abandoned game against Queensland, with former Test wicketkeeper Tim Paine dropped in favour of Ben Dunk. Paine is struggling with the bat this season, averaging a paltry 14.7, while Dunk stuck his hand up for selection with a double century in the Futures match vs ACT last week.

The Tigers lost Jordan Silk (7) and Alex Doolan (5) early, but Cowan dug in to secure a hard earned 147 off 253 balls before he fell. This was part of a 145-run partnership with captain George Bailey (69), and a 97-run partnership with Jonathan Wells (43), but Tasmania need to rebuild now with Ben Dunk (3*) and Ben Hilfenhaus (10*) at the crease after James Faulker (9) failed to capitalise on the impressive start.

Joe Mennie (3-53) was the pick of the South Australian bowlers, while Chadd Sayers (0-48) was economical without getting a wicket.

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Western Australia v Victoria (6-315)
WACA, Perth

Victoria made a strong start to their match at the WACA, ending the day on 315 with four first innings wickets in hand on what was a beautiful, sunny day in Perth.

The main team news was that Shaun Marsh was released from the Australian Test side on Monday when skipper Michael Clarke was prematurely declared fit, so returned to Perth to front up for the Warriors in the vital top-of-the-table clash.

The Bushrangers were cruising at 0-118 in the West Australian sun, but then lost 3-10 in an inspired spell from Michael Hogan (3-56).

Aaron Finch (53) decided attack was the best form of defence, hitting a 43-ball half-century before falling to Nathan Rimmington (1-58), building a partnership of 73 with Rob Quiney (92).

Quiney, who survived two missed chances earlier in his innings, fell agonisingly short of his 10th first-class century, when he spooned a catch to Michael Klinger off spinner Ashton Agar (1-53). Despite this disappointment, his 192-ball innings held Victoria together and has put the Bushrangers in a strong position.

Glenn Maxwell (24) was the last wicket to fall for the day, taking the shine off the Victorian total and ensuring that tail-end runs carry vital importance in what will be a tight game.

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