The second day of the Sheffield Shield 2013-14 final will see the two teams, New South Wales and Western Australia start off on an even keel at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.
It was an interesting opening day of the final, with fortunes fluctuating for the two teams over the 90 overs of play.
It started with a reasonably early wicket for Western Australia in the first session of Nic Maddinson, but things changed drastically in favour of New South Wales over the next session and a half.
Ryan Carters and captain Steven Smith tread on the cautious path to kick-start their partnership but as it grew, the confidence also shot up and so did the scoring.
The 121-run stand ensued and for most part of this partnership – that lasted 45 overs – the pair looked inseparable. Almost unassailable.
Then, much to the disgust of his captain and partner, Carters fell on the stroke of the tea break to a rash slash and Western Australia had something to chew on at the start of the third.
Having gotten the wicket of Carters before tea, Michael Hogan sent back Ben Rohrer early in the final session before Jason Behrendorff joined in the fun.
In a matter of less than six overs, he had turned the game on its head by sending back the well-set Steven Smith Kurtis Patterson and Peter Nevill to peg the hosts back to 6/189.
Remember, the Blues were 1/164 at one stage, which meant a loss of five wickets for 25 – it couldn’t have gotten worse for them.
Fortunately for New South Wales, the pair of Moises Henriques and Steve O’Keefe gritted it out to survive the remaining 20 overs of the day’s play and in turn added 53 for the seventh wicket. It was an unbeaten stand that took the Blues to some total of substance.
The objective for the second day will be as straightforward as they get. With the track expected to make batting even more difficult, New South Wales’ aim will be to get to 350 over the next session and a half.
Western Australia have the option of taking the new ball and if the quicks fail to extract the same reverse swing from this old one, it could well be replaced with the shinier and hopefully a more swinging cherry.
Join me for this Sheffield Shield final on Saturday and you can follow the live score of this game from 10.30 am local time and post your comments below.
jameswm
Guest
Wickets off the first two balls of the innings. How often do you see that? How well has Hazlewood been going lately? Hazlewood and Moises battling for MOM for now.
Jameswm
Guest
And WA still won't win
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
So that's that, two off the final over of the day's play to end the second day's proceedings. In a matter of the last 40 minutes, the game has gone from being slightly in favour of New South Wales to them now heavy favourites to clinch a win. Western Australia have ended on 4/15 thanks to Josh Hazlewood's three-wicket burst. Earlier Moises Henriques scored 140 and was involved in 90, 66 and 95-run stands for the seventh, eighth and the ninth wicket to prop up the Blues. Uphill battle for WA from here on and they will need something rather special. Back tomorrow with the third day's play then.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A maiden to start things off for Lyon. Marsh safely negotiates that penultimate over... ...which means it's up to Hazlewood to bowl the last over, to Duffield.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A couple of runs off the Hazlewood over, the seventh of the innings and we have the first sign of spin. Nathan Lyon comes on to bowl.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Duffield has walked out as the night watchman. And Marsh has incidentally gotten off the mark, so that will be a bit of relief. 4/11 in the 6th
Tom from Perth
Guest
Bring on the Shaun Marsh double century, the first Whiteman century and the inaugural Ash-Ton.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Gone!!! What is happening here? Run-out! Marcus North has been run-out here and WA's lost fourth. And would you believe it, it's Hazlewood's run-out. Pushed into the outfield by Marsh and off they went, but Hazlewood was on it quickly and throws the stumps down! Risky single and that's fourth down.
Nudge
Guest
Yep
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And gone! Captain Voges has to depart! Voges cracks one for a four and off the next goes to repeat the stroke, goes after it and edges it to the third slip. Good catch by Carters and they have lost three. All three to Hazlewood too. 3/8 in the 3rd
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Josh Hazlewood's done with his opening over. Four from it... ...and Trent Copeland starts off from the other end and starts off with a maiden. 2/4 in 2
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Looking even more doubtful now. Minor's changed to major now.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Hat-trick averted and only just. Adam Voges gets one that swings away from him and he's able to defend it to the off-side. And then drives one through the covers for a couple, opens the account for himself and the team. 2/2 in the 1st
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Oh my my, second wicket in two balls! Marcus Harris gone! That looked quite adjacent, it was full and thuds into the batsman's pads, who was looking to play it away. Was full and it swung and hits the pads, the umpire takes his time and gives it. Two down and Josh H is on a hat-trick!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Gone first ball! Bancroft's given! That's a huge start! Hazlewood pitched it right up to the bat and the batsman wanted to go hard at the ball. It swung a little, away from the bat and it's taken. Umpire Fry gave it out but the batsman was not convinced at all and took his time time walking back. Without a replay, cannot make out! 1/0
Tom from Perth
Guest
WTF WA!
Tom from Perth
Guest
Also, when is Lyon going to be challenging for spot above 11 in the Test batting line up? He'd currently be above Siddle and Bird... Getting pretty close to Harris; Johnson, Pattinson and Starc are still a while ahead for mine.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Back on now and Marcus North and Cameron Bancroft will open the innings for WA. Josh Hazlewood has the new nut.
Tom from Perth
Guest
Hmm... Looks like NSW have locked in a win or draw here. Gonna take something very special from the WA batsmen to reclaim the Shield.
Nudge
Guest
WA have to have a positive mindset. If they can bat till the middle of day 4 then who knows they could still pull off a minor miracle late in the match