NSW overcome scare to take care of Sheffield Shield climb

New South Wales 251 (Henriques 95, Rocchiccioli 4-101) and 182 for six (Hughes 59, Nikitaras 56) beat Western Australia 256 (Whiteman 107, Philippe 52*, Green 3-33, Bird 3-37) and 176 (Bancroft 36, Green 6-83, Hatcher 2-26, Tremain 2-28) by 4 wickets

Chasing 182 for victory, the Blues had been cruising at 117 for 1 earlier than struggling a collapse of 5 for 36 to place the sport on a knife’s edge. Fearless knocks from Oliver Davies (24 not out off 23 balls) and Green (16no off 11) obtained the guests over the road simply after lunch on day 4, handing them their first Shield victory on the WACA Ground since 2012.

NSW’s second success on the trot has lifted them to inside a win of second spot, and they’re additionally now neck-and-neck with defending champions WA.

Green was named participant of the match after returning figures of three for 33 and 6 for 83 to go along with his useful knocks within the low-scoring affair.

“I think these conditions and this wicket kind of suits him. He does rely on bounce a lot,” Henriques mentioned. “In the second innings I thought he found his length beautifully. I felt like he dominated that whole innings.”

But Charlie Stobo’s dismissal of Nikitaras opened the door for WA as NSW’s center order crumbled.

Spinner Corey Rocchiccioli snared Hughes and Matthew Gilkes, whereas Henriques was left in disbelief when he was given out caught behind down leg aspect for 5. Replays steered Henriques did not get any bat to the Joel Paris supply.

NSW endured one other piece of misfortune simply earlier than lunch when Jack Edwards shouldered arms to Paris and was given out lbw, regardless of the ball showing to be too excessive. That left them needing one other 29 runs for victory, however Davies and Green got here out swinging after the break to rapidly put the competition to mattress.

“A big part of what we tried to do today was to hang in there,” Paris mentioned. “I’m sure we gave NSW a bit of a scare in the change room. I’m really proud of the effort, but it’s a disappointing result.”

WA are sweating on the health of paceman Matt Kelly, who tore a pectoral muscle through the match. It comes on the again of a irritating run of soppy tissue accidents for the 29-year-old.

“He’s a bit sore at the moment,” Paris mentioned. “He’s had a rough 10, 12 months after being so durable for such a long time. We’ll get around him as best as we can.”