Steadfast Lehmann denies New South Wales
With his team having to bat just 45 overs late on the final day, the South Australia stand-in captain hung around for 126 balls to make an unbeaten 33
ESPNcricinfo staff
19-Oct-2018
New South Wales 246 & 3 for 84 (Nevill 72*, Larkin 39, Sayers 5-101) drew with South Australia 273 (Lehmann 33*, Valente 24, Abbott 3-29)
A fighting 126-ball unbeaten vigil from South Australia stand-in captain Jake Lehmann prevented New South Wales from claiming an unlikely victory in the rain-affected Sheffield Shield clash at Adelaide Oval.
The Redbacks only had to bat for 45 overs late on the final day, after New South Wales set them a fourth-innings target of 253. The chase was quickly aborted when they lost Jake Weatherald and Callum Ferguson in the first four overs.
Trent Copeland and Sean Abbott sent shudders through the South Australian dressing room when they picked up three more to reduce the Redbacks to 5 for 41 in the 16th over. But Lehmann found an ally in Cameron Valente and the pair stonewalled for 12 overs.
The indefatigable Copeland forced his way through the defence of Valente with a hooping inswinger to trap him plumb lbw in the 28th over. Lehmann and Joe Mennie managed to survive in fading light to stave off defeat. Copeland was named Player-of-the-Match for his brilliant all-round display, finishing with nine wickets following on from his crucial 55 not out in the first innings, batting at No. 10.
Earlier in the day, New South Wales skipper Peter Nevill made 72 not out in Blues' second innings to help set a target for the Redbacks to chase. He got good support from Nick Larkin, Sean Abbott, Jack Edwards and Jason Sangha, who all made key contributions. Chadd Sayers bowled tirelessly to finish with 5 for 101 when the declaration finally came. It was his 14th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.