Sheffield Shield round-up: Great catching puts NSW in control
A round-up from the second day of the latest Sheffield Shield matches
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2020
Nathan Lyon took a brilliant catch • Getty Images
South Australia 6 for 135 (Copeland 3-38) trail New South Wales 373 (Hughes 103, Gilkes 83, Mennie 6-103) by 238 runs
Trent Copeland took three wickets as leaders New South Wales cemented their position in Bankstown. He claimed South Australia's top three either side of a stubborn second-wicket stand, which was broken when Nathan Lyon took a stunning catch at midwicket to remove Callum Ferguson. Either side of Lyon's fine grab, Copeland had Jake Weatherald hooking to long leg and Henry Hunt caught on the pull at deep square.
Another brilliant catch, this time by Daniel Solway at short leg, removed Travis Head as the left-hander played a full-blooded flick to the on side towards the end of the day. South Australia scored at under two runs an over as Lyon sent down 22 overs for just 26 runs. Earlier, the home side's lower order added useful runs to extend an overnight 7 for 294. Harry Conway hit a career-best 31 as he and Jack Edwards (48*) added 76 for the ninth wicket.
Tasmania 5 for 188 (Wakim 57, Paris 2-27) trail Western Australia 371 (Green 158*, Philippe 63, Rainbird 5-77) by 183 runs
Cameron Green led the way as Western Australia added 84 runs to their overnight 6 for 287 before being bowled out, and Joel Paris and David Moody then picked up two wickets to push Tasmania on the back foot, as they ended the day on a tricky 5 for 188.
Green started the day on 105 with Paris for company, and though Paris didn't last too long, Matthew Kelly hung around for long enough to let Green build on his and his team's score. Kelly scored 20, facing 53 balls from No. 9, before falling to Sam Rainbird, who went on to return a five-for when he also accounted for Moody, as Green ended on an unbeaten 158.
Paris then struck as early as in the eighth over of the Tasmania innings, sending back Jordan Silk, before Aaron Hardie dismissed Alex Doolan, the other opener. Resistance from Tasmania came in the form of Charlie Wakim, who first added 27 with Doolan and then 58 with Jake Doran before falling to Moody for 57. There were runs after Wakim too, as Tim Paine fell for 20 but Ben McDermott (20*) and Beau Webster (34*) saw off the day, with Tasmania hoping that the two carry on for long enough to give them a chance.
Victoria 3 for 73 (Dean 34*, Gannon 3-8) and 9 for 330 dec lead Queensland 184 (Pfeffer 50, Sutherland 5-34) by 219 runs
Will Sutherland led the way as the Victoria bowlers cut a swathe through the Queensland batting to bowl them out for 184 after they had declared on their overnight 9 for 330, and though Cameron Gannon hit back with three wickets before the end of the day's play, Victoria were nicely placed with a 219-run lead and seven second-innings wickets in hand.
It went a bit pear-shaped for Queensland right at the start of the day as Joe Burns and Bryce Street were dismissed cheaply - Burns lasted just nine balls but Street did hang around for 53 in scoring 5, but at 2 for 30, it wasn't looking good. Lachlan Pfeffer (50), Nathan McSweeney (24) and Sam Heazlett (34) played their part in taking the fight to the visitors, but once Sutherland got his act together, wickets fell in a rush, his 5 for 34 taking Queensland from 3 for 90 to 184 all out.
That gave Victoria a lead of 146, and despite Gannon's burst - he picked up two wickets in the 13th over of the innings and one more in the 17th - Travis Dean (34*) and Matthew Short (15*) made sure they ended the day with their noses well in front.