South Australia have maintained top position in the Sheffield Shield standings after completing an 80-run win against Tasmania at Adelaide Oval this afternoon.
It was four-day cricket at its finest under perfect conditions at Adelaide Oval.
With all results still possible on day four, nobody would’ve thought it was top position playing bottom, as South Australia and Tasmania continued to battle out a close contest.
Requiring 217 runs to win, Tasmania resumed their innings on day four with seven wickets in hand. Attack was the strategy for South Australia, with captain Nathan McSweeney turning to spin and an attacking field from the second over of the day.
Ruing missed chances on day three, McSweeney set the standard early on the final day, taking a fantastic catch off Ben Manenti in the slips to remove the dangerous Nivethan Radhakrishnan (68).
It was exactly the breakthrough SA needed with the new ball due only an over later.
Despite just producing the much-needed breakthrough, Manenti couldn’t stay out of the action, taking a screamer in the cordon off Liam Scott to remove the other set batter in Jake Doran, one of four catches he would take in the day.
From there, SA looked to have their eyes on the prize and a fighting Beau Webster (53) was unable to keep the visitors in it.
Records tumbled earlier in the match as 20 wickets were taken on day one, thanks to mammoth bowling efforts by Tasmania’s Kieran Elliott (6-23) and South Australia’s Brendan Doggett (6-40).
Day one was recorded as the first time in history that 20 wickets had fallen on the first day of a Sheffield Shield match at Adelaide Oval.
After SA mustered up a total 93 in the first innings with Tasmania following with 101, Jason Sangha and Conor McInerney were able to bat out the remaining overs of the day and give both sides a chance to reset heading into day two.
Day two looked to be a completely different game, as the pitch flattened and turned friendly to the batters.
McInerney held strong and Sangha continued his brilliant current form with the bat to put on 100 runs together, a vital partnership in the context of the game.
SA dug in and batted through the entirety of day two, with Sangha (75), Liam Scott (69*), Harry Nielsen (49), Manenti (36) and Nathan McAndrew (41) all notching important runs.
Posting 388 in total and leading Tasmania by 380, McAndrew struck early in the final innings to removal Jake Weatherald for only six.
From there the Tasmanian top order all made starts, taking the match into what was set up to be an exciting day four.
South Australia and Tasmania will meet again in a One-Day cup fixture at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, 23 February 2025.