The Sheffield Shield 2013-14 final continues on its fourth day at the Manuka Oval in Canberra with New South Wales hoping to perform the last rites against Western Australia and bring home the title.
Josh Hazlewood continued where he had left off on the second day, adding two wickets to take his tally to six, in bowling Western Australia out for 180.
Only the Marsh brothers resisted, but once the stand was broken the visitors’ struggles were ended. The two added 98, with Mitchell running out of partners on 92.
The pair played a total of 372 deliveries out of a team total of 509, bearing testimony to how easily the others fell away, while the pair’s 132 runs also showed how slowly they batted, draining the interest out of the game.
Having conceded a lead of 267 in the first innings, Western Australia’s only chance of coming back was through early wickets then maintaining that momentum.
Jason Behrendorff and Ryan Duffield did send back both New South Wales openers for a duck, but Steven Smith and Ben Rohrer partially pulled their side out of trouble. Both were unbeaten at the close, having taken NSW from 2 for 4 on to 2 for 46.
The lead had moved up to 313, and another hundred runs should be more than enough. What Smith and company would want, however, is to bat out most of the day and get 500 runs in front. A draw would be enough for the title.
The way they batted in the first innings, the Warriors can only take a cue from their previous match against New South Wales, where they improved dramatically in the second dig and almost made a match out of it.
Join me for this Sheffield Shield final on Monday and you can follow the live score of this game from 10.30am AEDT and post your comments below.
IanW
Guest
This crowd appears comparable to GWS' intraclub at Blacktown. Just saying.
Bluebag
Guest
You can't control the weather Andrew. What if it rains every day for another week or so? Under the old rules the team which finished as minor premiers would have won the Shield outright so having the advantage rest with them is not a problem for me. It's a bit like if an Ashes series is drawn - the urn remains with the team who had won the right to hold it.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Yep, they'd have to declare overnight and what would be the point? You don't want to give the other team a sniff when you've got both hands on the Shield through a draw.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
So that's that then, the play has been abandoned for today, which means that we will have a half-hour early start tomorrow. A total of 105 overs need to be bowled too but it will depend on the weather. Just to recap the situation, New South Wales are 326 runs ahead and have seven wickets standing. See you tomorrow!
Andrew
Guest
I still think a bowl-off is the best way to break out draws in sheffield shield final. Team that first on the ladder should have home ground advantage only, not need for a requirement of a draw to win the shield. This move should encourage positive cricket in some sense. i MENTION THIS BEFORE BUT CRICKET AUSTRALIA DOES NOT WANT TO CHANGE THE WAY HOW DRAW ARE HANDLED IN SHEFFIELD SHIELD WAY, they think the host team need more real advantages then the right to select a venue to host ie A DRAW IS ENOUGH FOR THE HOST TEAM TO CLAIM A SHIELD. Is it better to let the host team decide who bat first and let them select a venue to host in.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
I doubt it would have made too much difference though. It's such a dead track, once the new ball's gone it's really difficult to pick up wickets anyway.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Shame about the weather although doubt the Blues will mind too much,
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
No real update apart from to say that it's still raining. Wonder why are they not calling it off yet.
maca146
NSW dont need the win... they will bat it out
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And it's still raining, so it looks increasingly doubtful we will have any play today.
jameswm
Guest
Just realised this is a 5-day game. NSW effectively 3 for 326. They'd love another 160 today and send WA in tomorrow chasing 500.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The forecast wasn't good since the start of the game I think. The first three days passed by without rain although it did rain on the night between the first and the second day and that moisture prevented any reverse swing from happening early second day. This game is all but dead as it is, so it may not be a bad idea if it rains tomorrow too.
Ducko
Guest
I believe the forecast is for similar tomorrow as well.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
It's still raining in Canberra, so we don't have any play yet. This is what I can gather from the official Cricket Australia site: "The weather radar looks less than promising, and there are pools of water collecting near the covers."
Hutchoman
Roar Pro
How's it looking? From the radar it looks like it may have settled in for the day?
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Still raining at the Mahuka Oval in Canberra.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The players are going off the field:
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Okay, so it's happening now, it's started raining! The players are slowly moving back to the pavillion while the umpires are still out in the middle, which means it's not too heavy but heavy enough to take them in. It's dark alright, and the floodlights are fully on. NSW are 3/59 in the 26th, which means the lead is 326 already.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Kurtis Patterson, at five, comes in to replace Rohrer. The lead's 324.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Gone! Rohrer's nicked it to the keeper! It's been an excellent last couple of overs from Behrendorff there, and his feet were barely moving. He gets a fuller one from the bowler, and he pushed at it, gets an edge and caught behind. 3/57 in the 25th