Victoria farewell Shipperd with Sheffield Shield title

Victoria 381 and 4 for 158 (Quiney 53) drew with Western Australia 421 and 2 for 293 (Harris 158)
Scorecard

Victoria have won the 2014-15 Sheffield Shield by staving off Western Australia's bowlers and securing a draw on the fifth day of the final at Bellerive Oval. As the away team, the Warriors had to win the match in order to claim the title and they set Victoria a chase of 334 on the final day; the Victorians made no attempt to chase down the runs, and finished the day on 4 for 158.

The triumph is a fitting farewell for coach Greg Shipperd, whose 11-year tenure with Victoria is ending, and probably for veteran opener Chris Rogers, who is expected to retire after this year's Ashes tour of England. It was the state's first Shield title since 2009-10 and their fourth under the stewardship of Shipperd, who took over after the tragic death of David Hookes in 2004.

It was also an especially impressive turnaround after they finished on the bottom of the table last summer in what was Matthew Wade's first season as captain. Victoria won six matches under Wade this season, despite playing only twice at the MCG, and by the end of the summer their side was so strong that Wade's predecessor Cameron White could not even squeeze into the XI.

The final day was always going to be a challenge for Western Australia given Victoria needed only a draw, but they perhaps did not help themselves by batting on for six overs in the morning. They declared on 2 for 293 with Marcus Harris on 158 and captain Adam Voges on 36, but the target of 334 was never likely to interest Victoria.

Rogers made a determined 17 from 66 deliveries on his way to a second Shield title with Victoria, before he was bowled by Nathan Coulter-Nile, and his opening partner Rob Quiney settled in for a long stay. Marcus Stoinis was caught and bowled for 8 in unusual fashion when his cut ricocheted off Cameron Bancroft at silly mid-off and back into the hands of the bowler.

Victoria were 2 for 70 in the 37th over of the 96 allocated for their innings, and that became 3 for 98 in the 56th over when Quiney was caught behind off Andrew Tye for 53. But the only other breakthrough was when Peter Handscomb was bowled by Coulter-Nile for 13 in the 65th over, which left Victoria at 4 for 123 and gave the Warriors a sniff.

However, Wade and veteran David Hussey settled in to steer the Victorians to safety and to the Sheffield Shield title, their unbeaten 35-run partnership coming from 30 overs. At the end, Victoria were 4 for 158 with Hussey on 37 from 169 deliveries and Wade on 9 from 99.