Worst ever Shield start costs Victoria match

Victoria crashed to 6 for 9 in the worst ever opening to a Sheffield Shield innings before a Glenn Maxwell century helped them recover, but it was not enough to prevent New South Wales cruising to an innings win in Sydney. The Bushrangers began the day at 3 for 0 and then collapsed to 6 for 9, the lowest total at six-down in Shield history - the previous record was 6 for 11 set by Queensland in 1957-58.

Maxwell and Cameron White managed to squeeze past the all-time lowest Shield total of 27, set by South Australia in 1955-56, but when White was run out Victoria were 7 for 32, struggling in overcast conditions on a green pitch. Then came a partnership that was remarkable under the circumstances, a 92-ball eighth-wicket stand between Maxwell and Daniel Christian, which ended when Christian was lbw to Steve O'Keefe for 30.

They were the only two men to reach double figures in the innings and all the more exceptional was that Maxwell went on to score an 89-ball hundred and finished with 127 of Victoria's total of 186, to add to his 94 from the first innings. Trent Copeland picked up 3 for 24 for New South Wales, who wrapped up victory by an innings and 48 runs and jumped to the top of the Shield table.