Teenager Oliver Peake has guided Victoria to an upset four-wicket win over reigning Sheffield Shield champions South Australia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The highly regarded Peake could have been out first ball, but instead played an early career-shaping knock to steer Victoria to the tricky chase of 231 at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
After barely surviving a hat-trick ball to begin his stay, the 19-year-old showed composure beyond his years to finish unbeaten on 70 from 147 balls.<\/p>\n
Seamer Fergus O’Neill (33 not out) provided great support for Peake in an unbeaten 84-run partnership for the Vics, who lost Sam Harper (29) at an important time when the wicketkeeper was batting well.<\/p>\n
O’Neill hit the winning runs in the dying stages of day four, upsetting SA in their first match since breaking their 29-year Shield drought in March.<\/p>\n
It was only Peake’s second Shield game for Victoria, and fifth first-class match, after playing three matches for Australia A this year.<\/p>\n
It came after SA quick Jordan Buckingham (3-43) fell agonisingly short of a hat-trick, with Henry Hunt dropping a sharp chance at short leg.<\/p>\n
After dismissing former Test players Marcus Harris (13) and Peter Handscomb (0) in consecutive balls, Buckingham had the opportunity to make history.<\/p>\n
Peake clipped the hat-trick ball off his legs, but Hunt put down the reflex chance to deny Buckingham and change the momentum of the chase.<\/p>\n
NSW secure important win away against WA<\/p>\n
NSW have opened their Sheffield Shield campaign with a memorable 74-run away win over Western Australia.<\/p>\n
Set 231 to win, WA crumbled for 156 on a tricky pitch at the WACA ground in Perth as unheralded Blues quick Liam Hatcher (4-49) inflicted serious damage on the lower order.<\/p>\n
Batting with injured number 11 Joel Paris, former Australia all-rounder Ashton Agar went down swinging.<\/p>\n
Paris and Agar put on an innings-high 53-run stand for the last wicket to give NSW some nervous moments before closing out the game.<\/p>\n
But Agar was bowled for 46 the first ball after drinks in the second session of day four, slashing onto his stumps off Ryan Hadley (3-30).<\/p>\n
NSW lost serious bowling experience in the off-season with Jackson Bird moving back to Tasmania and Moises Henriques retiring.<\/p>\n
The upset result is a huge boost for veteran Test spinner Nathan Lyon, who has taken on the Blues’ captaincy duties in place of Henriques.<\/p>\n
WA veteran Cameron Bancroft did nothing to impress selectors for a potential Test recall, out for 3 after making 10 in the first innings.<\/p>\n
Test all-rounder Cameron Green fell for 24 on Tuesday, following up after making 19.<\/p>\n
Green, who is being eased back into bowling following serious back surgery last year, sent down just four overs in the match.<\/p>\n
NSW’s contenders for a potential Test spot \u2014 Sam Konstas and Kurtis Patterson \u2014 also failed to capitalise.<\/p>\n
Incumbent Test opener Konstas made 4 and 14, while Patterson, who played the last of his two games for Australia back in 2019, was dismissed for 8 and 4.<\/p>\n
Test hopeful saves Tasmania in draw with Queensland<\/p>\n
Test aspirant Jake Weatherald posted his second fifty for the match as Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield run-fest against Queensland ended in a draw.<\/p>\n
Trailing the Bulls by 233 runs after the first innings, the Tigers batted their way to safety at Allan Border Field on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Tasmania finished on 7-317 in their second innings when the captains shook hands about 45 minutes before the scheduled stumps time.<\/p>\n
In-form Tigers opener Weatherald, one of many in contention to partner Usman Khawaja at the top for the start of this summer’s Ashes, followed up a 67 in the first innings with 57.<\/p>\n
Tasmania number four Caleb Jewell faced 147 balls for his 67 before falling to tireless Bulls quick Michael Neser (2-76).<\/p>\n
Queensland thought they were still an outside chance of securing a win when Jewell departed.<\/p>\n
But Tasmania’s Indian-born Shield debutant Nikhil Chaudhary smashed the Tigers well clear of being in any danger.<\/p>\n
Chaudhary, who claimed 5-108 as Queensland piled on 612 in their first innings, belted an unbeaten 76 from 80 balls from number eight.<\/p>\n
The match will be remembered for important centuries from Queensland Test hopefuls Matt Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne.<\/p>\n