The Victoria-SA Sheffield Shield match has descended into farce, with a dull draw now inevitable.
The two teams were unable to agree on what a day-four run chase for SA might look like, leading to plenty of frustration and finger pointing.
It was also a black eye for the Shield competition and its ongoing struggles to draw crowds.
The flat, slow Junction Oval pitch is showing no signs of breaking up after three days.
So SA ended day three on 5-527 in reply to Victoria’s massive first-inning 6 (dec)-616.
Tom Cooper has top-scored with an unbeaten 188 and Tom Andrews is 75no.
Victorian captain Peter Handscomb and fellow trundler Marcus Harris bowled nine overs apiece in the late session on Saturday, once the two sides could not agree on a sporting declaration.
Victoria wanted SA to chase 350 from 80 overs on the last day, while apparently the visitors wanted the target to be 30-50 less.
But the flat pitch has not helped.
Handscomb was adamant that SA was offered a fair run chase.
“I would have set up a game. We’ve done it before,” he said.
“I’m just annoyed the game is dead. At the end of day three we have two more sessions tomorrow that we have to play of dead cricket,” he said.
“We’ll shake hands at tea and tell everyone ‘thanks for coming, sorry for such a boring game of Shield cricket’.”
Cooper and Andrews had several visits from 12th man Wes Agar in the last session as the two sides negotiated behind the scenes.
“I can’t say I’ve experienced it before, it was a weird sort of feeling,” Cooper said.
“I was caught in the middle of it, they obviously couldn’t come to a compromise.”
In SA’s defence, they finished bottom last season and have gone 13 Shield games without a win, while their hosts are defending champions.
Facing a massive first-innings total, they rallied from the loss of two early wickets.
“The pleasing thing was we were able to not throw it away,” Cooper said.
The bizarre final session – James Pattinson also bowled off-spin – was in stark contrast to Saturday’s middle session.
With the field kept up to entice SA, Cooper and Alex Carey seized the moment.
Carey blasted 117 from 115 balls and they put on 207 for the fifth wicket in only 138 minutes, from 215 deliveries.
Cooper said it helped no-one that the wicket is yet to start breaking up.
“It was surprising how flat it’s stayed, (there’s) hardly a scratch on it”
Henry Hunt (75) and captain Travis Head (51) were left kicking themselves when centuries went begging.
Victorian opener Nic Maddinson, who top-scored with 224, had to leave the field with a finger injury as he was struck while fielding at short leg.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Meanwhile the Tas vs WA game had 1100+ runs scored and there's no uproar. No result and 29 wickets falling over four days is nearly as bad.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Thanks Jeff. Not the first time I've been behind the times.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I saw on the news that Hanscomb wanted SA to agree to declaration so as to make a game out of it. Maybe had Vic not gone on to 616 and declared earlier, SA may have been amenable to going for a declaration. A declaration by SA would only gift Vic the first innings points.
Che Kitbaby
Guest
Handscomb's logic is as sus as his batting stance. What petulance. How dare SA not declare behind when he goes and racks up over 600 in a 4 day game! If he doesn't acknowledge his comments last night were a bit OTT the blokes a goose
Timmuh
Roar Guru
What is a farce is the the idea that opposing captains might agree to set up a game. Each should be doing what is best for their own team, and their own team only. Yes, ideally, a game should be entertaining; but primarily it should be a competition.
Johnb
Guest
Plus someone in officialdom needs to look at the rules regarding contrived results
Paul
Roar Guru
So let me see if I've got this right? Victoria batted first on a pitch that could comfortably hold a fully laden road train and instead of making a sporting declaration, decided to bat for 150 overs against a very weak SA attack. The Saffers were then apparently offered the opportunity to bat for 80 overs, at nearly 5 an over, against Pattinson, Holland and co, but declined - and this is SA's fault? Perhaps Mr Handscomb needs to have a serious yarn with whoever sanctioned such a poor pitch for this game. He then needs to look at himself and his lack of forethought, before blaming Head for a situation that was within his control, from the time he won the toss.
matth
Roar Guru
It’s not up to SA to help the Vic’s win the game, especially since the Vic’s are responsible for the pitch
Jeff
Roar Rookie
There aren't points awarded on the first innings anymore though PPVII. Other than brownie points/moral victory.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
SA are allowed to win on first innings aren't they?
AREH
Roar Guru
I get that the wicket is the main issue, but a bit strange from Handscomb after how long Victoria batted for...