Southern Redbacks vs Queensland Bulls: Sheffield Shield cricket scores

Day one update:

The Queensland Bulls have taken the spoils on day one of their Sheffield Shield clash away from home against the Southern Redbacks, reaching the massive score of 5 for 357 off their 96 overs.

Matthew Renshaw was the key man for the Bulls, opening the batting and getting out with just seven overs remaining, on the score of 146, with 11 fours and seven sixes. Sam Heazlett was the other big performer for the Bulls, scoring 75 from just 83 balls.

It was a tough day for the bowlers, and it appears to be a typical Adelaide Oval wicket. One that will be hard to take wickets on, with the match seeming destined for a draw.

The pick of the bowlers was Joe Mennis, who took 2/55 from 23 overs and was able to get his line and length consistent all day long. Youngster Tom Andrews also picked up two wickets.

The two players in this game who have been picked in the Australian Test squad for their Tour of New Zealand both had poor days at the office. Joe Burns was first man out to Andrews, who picked up his first wicket in First Class cricket, gone for just 35. Chadd Sayers meanwhile, was the most expensive of the pace bowlers, picking up 1 for 76 from 22 overs.

The Bulls will come back tomorrow with clear intentions, to score lots of runs and score them quickly before declaring and putting the Redbacks into bat.

Queensland Bulls 1st innings: 5/357 (96 overs) – Matthew Renshaw (146), Sam Heazlett (75), Joe Mennie (2/55), Tom Andrews (2/72)

Match preview

With the second half of the 2015-16 Sheffield Shield season getting under way, one thing is clear for the Queensland Bulls – winning is a must if they want to make the final, and a good place to start will be at the Adelaide Oval when they travel to play the Southern Redbacks. Join The Roar for live scores from 11am (AEDT).

South Australia will go into this match with no changes from their big eight-wicket win over Victoria in the last round before Christmas. After a heavy loss in Round 1, the Redbacks have won three of their other four games and been in strong form.

The Bulls meanwhile, have only managed to register two victories from their five games. They came in Round 2 against Tasmania, and Round 3 against the Redbacks, meaning the Bulls have now lost two straight before the Christmas break.

One of the players to really watch in this match will be the Redbacks’ Chadd Sayers. Selected in the Test squad for Australia’s Tour of New Zealand, but not likely to get a match he will be keen to impress and send the selectors a message. Joe Burns is the other player in that squad who takes the field in this match, but his spot is a lot more secure.

Potentially, Sayers and Burns could make the difference for their respective teams.

Despite the differences between the teams on the ladder, which is worse than it seems with only one game and a handful of bonus points between them, the Bulls had a thumping win last time they met at the Gabba.

South Australia would lose the toss and be asked to bat on a Gabba wicket that had plenty to offer for the bowlers. After being knocked over for 203, and that was only thanks to an Alex Ross 92 not out and Adam Zampa 57. James Hopes, on his way to man-of-the-match honours, would take 4/52 from 17 overs.

All the Queensland batsmen would then make runs, as they put on 452, taking them to a lead of 249 runs. Marnus Labuschagne would score 112, with Matthew Renshaw making 94. The Redbacks were then knocked over cheaply once again for just 235, succumbing to the innings defeat as Hopes picked up another four wickets.

Prediction
The result of this one could have a lot to do with the toss. A flat Adelaide Oval pitch has been tipped as is normal, and it could be hard to split the two teams with both carrying relatively strong batting line-ups.

I’ll pick the draw, with South Australia to have the chance at winning late on day four.

Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of this sixth round Sheffield Shield clash from 11am (AEDT) and be sure to add your own comments in the section below as the match unfolds.

Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde