South Australia has completed one of the most stunning Sheffield Shield wins of all-time, beating Tasmania in dramatic scenes at Ninja Stadium with a runout on the last ball of the match.
At 9-426, the Tigers needed four runs off the final ball to win but Ben Manenti and Wes Agar teamed up to run out Riley Meredith following a mixup in the middle, handing SA the equal-closest Shield victory ever in terms of runs.
Tasmania looked like they were home late in the piece but had once looked much more likely to lose, with South Australia getting off to a commanding start on Day 1 despite losing the toss and being sent in to bat.
Jason Sangha was the star of the first innings, notching a career-best 151 in his Shield debut for SA. It was a blistering display from Sangha, punctuated by 16 fours and a six, and one that ultimately earned him Player of the Match honours.
Henry Hunt was in similarly hot form, notching his third Shield ton of the summer to finish with 136. Hunt and Sangha’s dominant 300-run partnership was the foundation of a memorable innings for the visitors, who declared at 6-398.
Following the innings break it was Liam Scott who struck first when he bowled former South Australian batter Jake Weatherald for 12.
The breakthrough was followed by a steady stream of wickets that saw the Tigers dismissed for 203, with the bulk of the damage done by Scott (3-30 from 13 overs), Henry Thornton (3-41 from 12.1) and Nathan McAndrew (3-63 from 19).
When South Australia returned to the crease it was Conor McInerney who seized the moment, notching a quickfire 75 from 73 balls.
Fellow opener Henry Hunt added 31 from 57 balls to become this season’s Sheffield Shield leading run scorer with 537.
Jason Sangha then added 61 runs off 92 balls before the Tigers’ attack sparked a collapse of 6-22, with Tasmanian spinner Matt Kuhnemann leading the way with 4-67 off 20 overs.
South Australia declared at 9-233 and set Tasmania a target of 428 to win.
Tassie fought hard in their second innings on the back of a heroic 142-run stand from Tim Ward, and at 2-229 they were looking dangerous.
Then Henry Thornton dismissed Jordan Silk (65 from 134 balls) and the following over Jake Doran (1) fell at the hands of Liam Scott.
But Tasmania just had so many contributors with the bat, namely Jake Weatherald (65 off 81 overs), Jordan Silk (65 off 134), Brad Hope (69 off 116) and Mitchell Owen (53 off 39).
By day’s end the hosts needed seven runs off the final over, during which Wes Agar clean bowled Gabe Bell and conceded just three runs before the chaotic final-ball runout.
SA now moves to top spot on the Sheffield Shield table and will face Western Australia at the WACA in their next Shield clash on February 8.