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Victoria are in a dominant but not unassailable position as the Sheffield Shield Final heads into its fourth day with the onus on South Australia to keep the contest alive. Join The Roar for live scores from 11am (AEDT).
It has been a fiercely competitive season in the Sheffield Shield, with no side having won more than five of their ten games, and so far the final has been no different.
South Australia entered the final with just .5 more points than Victoria, meaning a draw would suffice for them. But as they had not drawn a single game throughout the entire season, playing out the five day final was always unlikely.
They have been edged out on each of the first three days by Victoria, but at the same time have never let the game fully get away from them.
With South Australia 4 for 137 overnight, but only 78 runs in front, Victoria will feel they can manufacture a chase for themselves of no more than 200.
But the reality is, only Jon Holland has been effective in South Australia’s second innings. He has taken three of the four wickets, the other coming from a run-out.
While Holland has looked awkward to play throughout the final, and may pick up a few more wickets yet, with two in-form batsmen at the crease Victoria may need their other bowlers to step up as well.
Both of South Australia’s unbeaten batsmen, Alex Ross and Jake Weatherald, reached their half-centuries in the first innings.
Their team would no doubt have been pleased with their contribution, but part of the reason Victoria took a first innings lead was because Travis Dean and Peter Handscomb both converted their fifties into centuries. No South Australian batter did this.
With Weatherald on 72, he will be looking to reach his maiden first-class century and give his side a defendable lead.
What constitutes a defendable lead for South Australia may be less than normal considering the form of Daniel Worrall.
Without Worrall’s six wickets in the first innings South Australia could be out of the final by now. But if Chadd Sayers and Joe Mennie find their rhythm South Australia’s pace attack could make a low total still look very awkward.
But despite a healthy pace line-up, South Australia will be ruing the fact their main spinner, Adam Zampa, is away at the World Twenty20. As a result, they may not be able to make the most of a deteriorating pitch.
It would be unwise to rule South Australia out at this stage, but unless they produce a great comeback, it will once again be Victoria who lift the Sheffield Shield.
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