Bulls quick Cutting returns for Shield clash

Updated November 06, 2012 11:14:38

Queensland paceman Ben Cutting will return from a groin injury in this week's Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania in Hobart.

Cutting, named 12th man for last year's first Test of the Australian summer in Brisbane, replaces Michael Neser in the Bulls squad that recorded a six-wicket win over NSW on Sunday.

The 25-year-old burst into contention for his maiden national call-up after a stellar start to last year's domestic season, only to suffer a side strain shortly after being omitted from the opening Test against New Zealand.

Having overcome a series of setbacks, Cutting made a strong start to the 2012/13 first-class season, snaring 11 wickets at an average of 23.9 in three Shield games as well as scoring 240 runs - including his maiden century.

While Cutting proved his fitness in a one-day club game on Sunday, Queensland selectors opted to give skipper James Hopes (knee) another week on the sidelines.

Usman Khawaja, who scored two half-centuries against the Michael Clarke-led Blues, will look to impress national selectors with a big score in the game that starts on Friday.

Tasmania lost to South Australia in Hobart over the weekend and will lose Test squad members Ricky Ponting and Ben Hilfenhaus for the first rematch of last season's Shield final.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia, hobart-7000, tas

First posted November 06, 2012 11:14:38

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Berry blasts bowler-friendly Shield wickets

By Neil Cross

Updated November 05, 2012 16:00:52

South Australian cricket coach Darren Berry has blasted pitch preparation for Sheffield Shield matches.

The Redbacks finally scored a win in Hobart, but Berry condemned too many states as being focused on short-term success to the detriment of Australian cricket in the longer term.

"Wickets all around the country are very, very bowler-friendly," he said.

"It's not just Hobart. Brisbane is the same, Perth is the same and even Melbourne last year was very bowler-friendly."

The statistics back up Berry's claims.

There have been eight outright victories in the 11 completed Sheffield Shield games this season. Six of the eight wins were achieved in less than three days.

"First-class cricket should be won and lost in the third session on day four and regularly last year - have a look at the numbers - games were finished in two-and-a-half to three days and then this year games are finished in three days," said the second-year SA coach.

"I don't think that's good for Australian cricket. I feel the medium-fast bowlers are getting figures that are perhaps not reflective of their true ability and I think it's really difficult for young batsmen - or for any batsmen - or for spin bowlers to play in those conditions to prepare them for Test cricket."

Six bowlers have taken five or more wickets in an innings so far in the Sheffield Shield season, none of them spinners.

Berry notes slow bowlers have been sparingly used because of the nature of the pitches, with Test off-spinner Nathan Lyon only called on to bowl four overs as the Redbacks ended a 19-match winless streak by beating Tasmania.

"You look at this round of Shield matches where all games were finished in three days," Berry added. "That's not good for Test cricket, that's not good for first-class cricket."

The former Victorian wicketkeeper is also concerned about the effect on Australia's Test batting line-up ahead of the series against South Africa which starts on Friday at the Gabba.

"Ricky Ponting and Ed Cowan [are] preparing for a Test match played on a wicket that will be nothing like they're going to get up in Brisbane," he said.

"It's Australian cricket and I do think they need to look into the state of first-class wickets across the country, apart from the best one out here on the Adelaide Oval.

"It's on the agenda for discussion as to how the state coaches feel and I know how they feel about it. I think it's something that will be looked into and it's not just a flippant, throwaway comment - it's based on facts over the last few years where cricket is finishing regularly on day three in four-day matches. That can't be good for preparing the players for the next level."

Never on the back foot in taking up an issue, Berry pointed squarely at those he considered responsible for chasing wins on bowler-friendly surfaces.

"It's no coincidence that last year that Queensland and Tasmania played off in the Shield final," Berry observed.

"Have a look at how many games on their pitches finished in an outright - all of them. It's a fact that outright results are always happening in Brisbane, Hobart and Perth.

"Sure they've got to back themselves to win in those conditions and sometimes the toss can affect the outright result, but I feel that states are perhaps looking for short-term gain rather than long-term gain."

Berry's Redbacks resume their Shield campaign in Perth next Monday against Western Australia.

Tags: cricket, sport, sa, adelaide-5000, tas, hobart-7000, melbourne-3000, vic, wa, qld, nsw, australia

First posted November 05, 2012 15:07:26

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Vics beat WA by five wickets in Shield

Updated November 03, 2012 18:41:27

Test wicketkeeper Matthew Wade hit an unbeaten 50 on Saturday to guide Victoria to a five-wicket win over Western Australia in their Sheffield Shield clash at the MCG.

The Bushrangers claimed their third win from four matches to move to 18 points on top of the table.

The home side clinched victory with four byes off Mitchell Johnson's bowling in the final over before tea on the third day of play, with four sessions to spare, on a pitch that offered plenty of assistance to the seam bowlers.

Victoria made 5 for 171 from 54.1 overs. Western Australia had resumed on 5 for 76 and were bowled out for 138, setting the Bushrangers a target of 168 to win.

Young all-rounder Alex Keath (18 not out) and Wade came together at 5 for 99 and added 72 for the sixth wicket to see the Bushrangers home.

Wade hit four fours and also thumped three sixes off the bowling of spinner Michael Beer.

Opener Chris Rogers (44) shared an important partnership of 76 with David Hussey (37) after the Bushrangers had been in early trouble at 2 for 21.

However, the Warriors hit back as the Bushrangers lost 3 for 2 in 15 deliveries to slump to 5 for 99.

Wade's big hitting swung the match back in Victoria's favour.

Johnson had bowled young opener Peter Handscomb for eight and Johnson's fellow left-arm quick Jason Behrendorff (3-24) removed Cameron White caught at mid-on for 4.

Rogers was dropped early on at backward point and survived a run-out chance on 42 when Adam Voges was unable to throw down the stumps from cover.

However, Rogers' luck ran out two runs later when he was dismissed lbw to Behrendorff to make it 3 for 97.

Hussey attempted a big slog and was caught at mid-off in Behrendorff's next over.

Victoria were looking shaky when Aaron Finch was lbw to Beer for 1 to make it 5 for 99.

Earlier on Saturday, Western Australia had resumed on 5 for 76 and were bowled out for 138 in their second innings.

Victoria's Test quick James Pattinson took two of the five Warriors' wickets to fall in the morning session and claimed 4-42 while Clint McKay (3-52) and Jayde Herrick (3-23) finished with three wickets each.

Johnson was unbeaten on 40 from 32 deliveries.

Victoria had chosen to bowl first on Thursday, dismissing the Warriors for 248 and scoring only 219 in reply.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, melbourne-3000, vic, wa, australia

First posted November 03, 2012 17:27:26

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Pattinson steers Vics to Shield win

Updated October 12, 2012 20:12:24

Career-best bowling figures by James Pattinson set up a remarkable 10-wicket Sheffield Shield win by Victoria over Queensland at the Gabba.

In what would warm the national selectors' hearts ahead of next month's first Test against South Africa at the same venue, Pattinson (6 for 32) was at one stage on a hat-trick as the Bulls lost 7 for 32 to be routed for 125 in their second dig late on day three.

Set just 48 for victory, the Bushrangers shot down the target in just 9.3 overs, with Rob Quiney not out 25 and Chris Rogers unbeaten on 21.

It was the unbeaten Bushrangers' second 10-wicket victory in as many Shield matches.

Pattinson - who had match figures of 8 for 61 - showed no mercy as the Bulls at one stage lost 5 for 9.

Remarkably it was Pattinson's first five-wicket haul in Shield cricket.

His only other bags of five were in Tests, both against New Zealand last summer.

And he continued his love affair with the Gabba - he picked up 5 for 24 against the Black Caps on Test debut at the venue last year.

He lodged a compelling case to line up alongside Bushrangers team-mate and mentor Peter Siddle in the opening Test against the Proteas.

The modest Pattinson refused to believe a Test berth is a mere formality but he did admit to enjoying bowling at the Gabba.

"It's a fantastic wicket for a fast bowler, it's fast and it offers a bit of seam movement as well," he told Grandstand.

"So it's a fantastic start here and I'm pretty lucky that the first Test is here if I'm selected ... so hopefully that can give me the confidence heading into that first Test that I can perform well for Australia."

Siddle is expected to chime into the Test pace attack with fellow hard-hosed quick Ben Hilfenhaus against the Proteas with selectors tipped to rotate young speedsters Pattinson, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc throughout the summer.

Siddle was nursed through the Shield clash, finishing with match figures of 4 for 57 off just 20 overs.

But he also did plenty of damage with the bat - he hit 54, his second-straight half century, in a 112-run seventh-wicket stand with Matthew Wade (89) that ensured the Bushrangers claimed first innings points.

Pattinson landed body blows by striking just before lunch and tea, but the Bulls still had no idea what hit them when the young quick ran amok after the home side emerged for day three's final session at 4 for 93.

Only three Bulls batsmen made double figures in the second innings - patient opener Wade Townsend (42), Joe Burns (30) and Peter Forrest (26).

Pattinson was ably supported by John Hastings (2 for 36).

Earlier on Friday, Wade was denied a century before the Bushrangers were bowled out for 227 in their first dig.

Siddle joined Wade at the crease with the Bushrangers battling at 6 for 68 late on day one in reply to the Bulls' first innings of 149.

They resumed on Friday at 6 for 174 after rain all but washed out day two.

Luke Feldman (3 for 66), Alister McDermott (3 for 45) and Ben Cutting (3 for 47) impressed with the ball for the Bulls.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, brisbane-4000, melbourne-3000

First posted October 12, 2012 18:58:17

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Reborn Hughes nears Shield ton for SA

Updated October 02, 2012 20:14:02

Phil Hughes closed in on a hundred on his South Australia debut as his teammates crumbled around him at stumps on day two of the Sheffield Shield match against Queensland at the Gabba.

In the wake of his dumping from the Australian Test side Hughes opted to leave New South Wales for South Australia this season and the move looks to have paid dividends immediately.

Hughes will resume on Wednesday on 95 not out as South Australia ended the day on 7-164, in response to Queensland's 398 all out.

Illustrating a tighter technique and buoyed confidence from good form for Derbyshire in English county cricket, the left-hander attacked the Bulls before tea hitting 63 off 69 deliveries, including 11 fours.

Then in the final session with South Australia already five wickets down, and with the Queensland bowlers maintaining a tight line, he made steady progress, adding 32 off 75 balls to move towards three figures.

Hitting all around the ground, Hughes looked as impressive as fellow Test hopeful Usman Khawaja did in scoring 88 on day one, though the Bulls' number three faced more difficult batting conditions.

The only batsman to give Hughes support was Tim Ludeman (28) with whom he put on 58 for the sixth wicket, before the wicket-keeper fell to leg-spinner Cameron Boyce.

Alister McDermott (2 for 23) began the South Australian collapse, dismissing opener Michael Klinger for one and Tom Cooper for five, before skipper James Hopes (3 for 26) knocked over Callum Ferguson (11), Travis Head for four and Redbacks captain Nathan Lyon for one.

All-rounder Sam Miller had a debut first-class innings to forget, falling to Luke Feldman for one.

Earlier, Ben Cutting recorded his maiden first-class hundred with a devastating display of hitting.

Coming to the wicket at six for 242, the fast bowler scored 109 off 78 balls including 12 fours and four sixes.

No bowler escaped punishment but he was particularly severe on Australia spin bowler Nathan Lyon whose consecutive overs went for 32 runs.

The Redbacks even resorted to putting seven men on the boundary towards the end of the first session to stop Cutting reaching three figures, but he did so with a leg glance for two off the bowling of Miller from the last ball before lunch.

The Bulls had resumed at five for 202, James Hopes (47), Chris Hartley (34) and Cameron Boyce (31) also helped lift the Queensland total to a potentially match-winning one.

Gary Putland was the pick of the Redbacks bowlers taking 5 for 100.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, brisbane-4000, qld, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted October 02, 2012 19:21:02

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Bushrangers trounce Warriors in Shield

Updated October 03, 2012 08:19:26

Victoria needed little more than two days of cricket to complete an emphatic outright victory over hapless Western Australia in their Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA ground.

The Bushrangers needed just one ball in their second innings to wrap up the 10-wicket win over the beleaguered Warriors before lunch on the third day.

Having lost their last three second-innings wickets for just eight runs, and the last two without addition to the score, the Warriors were dismissed for 200.

In complete command for the entire match after winning an important toss, the Victorians did not even need to call on the services of Test paceman Peter Siddle (2 for 16), who narrowly missed a hat-trick on the second day, for the third morning.

John Hastings, named man-of-the-match, made the most of the easy pickings to claim 5 for 30 and he finished with seven wickets for the game.

The Bushrangers were left needing just a solitary run to wrap up the victory.

Ironically, former Western Australia opener Chris Rogers ended the home team's misery by flicking Mitchell Johnson's first delivery to the fine-leg boundary for four.

The Warriors were dismissed for 175 on the opening day after being sent in to bat by Bushrangers captain Andrew McDonald and resumed on the third morning at 4 for 91, still 109 runs behind Victoria's first-innings total of 375.

Their hopes of fighting back rested with overnight batsmen, brothers Shaun and Mitchell Marsh.

However, those hopes were dashed in just the sixth over of the day, when Hastings removed the latter for 40.

With just his second ball of a new spell, Hastings lured Marsh into guiding the ball straight into the hands of fellow fast bowler Will Sheridan at point.

Just two overs later, Marsh's elder brother joined him in the pavilion, trapped leg-before by Hastings for 30 as Western Australia slumped to 6 for 106, still needing 94 more to make the Bushrangers bat again.

Only some agricultural batting from Nathan Coulter-Nile, belting 45 from 30 balls, ensured the Victorian openers needed to pad up again.

While it was a perfect start to a new campaign for the Bushrangers, it has been a horrific start to the Shield season for the Warriors, who were thrashed by visiting New South Wales in their season-opener a fortnight ago.

The Warriors, who have been unlucky to lose two crucial tosses on green wickets, have no points after two home games.

The Bushrangers also won last season's match at the WACA by 212 runs.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, perth-6000, wa, australia, melbourne-3000, vic

First posted October 02, 2012 15:34:07

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Bulls hand Redbacks a Shield thrashing

Updated October 04, 2012 20:50:25

A flurry of early wickets on day four helped Queensland dismiss South Australia for 271 and secure a 191-run victory in their Sheffield Shield clash at the Gabba.

Luke Feldman (4 for 50) and Ben Cutting (3 for 51) inspired a collapse that saw five wickets fall in as many overs for 18 runs.

Prior to this, Phil Hughes (83) and Callum Ferguson (44) looked untroubled at the crease putting on 90 for the third wicket, 37 of which came on Thursday morning, before the latter reached for the ball outside off stump and presented a catch to Cameron Boyce in the gully off Cutting.

Hughes nicked Feldman to Andrew Robinson at second slip for a disappointing end to a second impressive knock on his Redbacks debut.

With the class of South Australia's batting line-up having departed, the rest of the top order folded, as Sam Miller departed for a duck after being bowled by Feldman in the same over.

Then Travis Head prodded Cutting to Wade Townsend at short leg for 17.

The following over, Tim Ludeman shouldered arms to his first ball only to hear the death rattle as Feldman's delivery crashed into his stumps.

Nathan Lyon and Joe Mennie put up stubborn resistance adding 56 runs before the off-spinner fell LBW to Alister McDermott (1 for 75).

Chadd Sayers (1) soon followed via the same dismissal to Boyce (1 for 70).

There was time for Mennie to complete his first half-century from as many balls with a second six off Boyce over long on and he went on to hold his bat with 79 not out when Gary Putland was caught by Joe Burns off Feldman.

Mennie's cameo was no doubt of little solace to Redbacks coach Darren Berry who would have expected his team to be much more competitive, especially after winning the toss and sending Queensland into bat in the worst conditions of the match.

Usman Khawaja made a cultured 88 to guide the Bulls to 5 for 202 at the end of the first day and man-of-the-match Cutting's explosive 109 from 78 balls then took the total up to 398 all out.

In reply, Hughes played superbly before losing his wicket on the second ball of the third day for 95, but received no support from his team-mates - only two of them reached double figures in South Australia's 184.

The Bulls briefly looked in trouble when reduced to 5 for 64 in their second innings, but another lower-order hundred, this time from Chris Hartley (103 not out) set up a target of 463 that South Australia never looked likely to chase.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, brisbane-4000, qld, australia, adelaide-5000, sa

First posted October 04, 2012 13:55:05

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Blues take two points from Shield draw

Updated September 29, 2012 19:42:17

New South Wales opened up an eight-point lead at the top of the Sheffield Shield cricket ladder after taking first innings points from its draw with Tasmania at Bankstown Oval.

Set 343 to win from a potential 88 overs, the Tigers finished on 7 for 262 with 11 overs remaining when the two teams agreed to end the match.

The Tigers' chase never really moved into serious overdrive though a number of their batsmen made a start.

A 111-run fifth wicket stand between Aiden Blizzard (88) and captain Tim Paine (40) briefly raised hopes of a late charge.

However, they perished in successive overs and James Faulkner (0) also went as the Tigers lost 3 for 6.

In-form Blues all-rounder Moises Henriques was named man-of-the-match.

He followed up his unbeaten first innings 161 not out with a breezy unbeaten 50 off 51 balls and 3 for 41 in the Tigers' second innings.

For the Tigers, opener Mark Cosgrove followed up his first innings 84 with 44.

Test batsmen Ricky Ponting and Ed Cowan scored 34 and eight respectively.

Ponting struck just two boundaries in his 66-ball innings and seemed content to steadily accumulate.

His innings ended when he edged an attempted pull shot to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin off paceman Doug Bollinger (1 for 45).

Haddin, who scored a classy first innings century, was dismissed for seven in his second dig, but also executed a slick legside last day stumping of Alex Doolan (21).

Trent Copeland (2 for 51) passed 100 first-class wickets for the Blues.

Earlier, Blues captain Michael Clarke declared at 6 for 198, with Nick Maddinson (86) top scoring, as the home side added 121 from 22 overs in the morning.

Paceman Jackson Bird (3 for 46) was the Tigers' most successful bowler and finished with six scalps on his old home ground.

The Blues are the only team to have played two Shield matches this season, but they will not have one in October due to Sydney Sixers' participation in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament in South Africa.

The Tigers' next Shield engagement will be against South Australia in Adelaide starting on October 9.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, bankstown-2200, hobart-7000

First posted September 29, 2012 19:42:17

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Blues on top after Shield day one

Updated September 18, 2012 21:42:01

New South Wales appeared to be on top after a rain-affected opening day in the Sheffield Shield clash with Western Australia at the WACA Ground.

At stumps, the Blues were 0 for 2 in reply to the Warriors' 217, the visitors having won the toss and chosen to bowl first.

It was the earliest start ever to a domestic first-class season and there were a couple of rain delays before play was abandoned due to bad light with 9.1 overs still to be bowled.

Peter Nevill was on two and Scott Henry was yet to score.

Nevill got an early fright when he edged a Mitchell Johnson delivery in the first over of the innings, but the ball felt short of second slip.

Not surprisingly, Western Australian captain Marcus North was reluctant to leave the field, as the early finish denied his bowlers the chance to utilise the bowler-friendly conditions late in the day.

There were no such problems for the Blues, with captain Michael Clarke having no hesitation inserting the home side when he called correctly at the toss.

Under leaden skies, with a grassy wicket and strong breeze blowing, Clarke gave his seamers first use of the conditions and they made the most of it, with all five bowlers used claiming wickets.

The Blues claimed the key scalps of former Test batsmen Shaun Marsh (one) and Marcus North (12) cheaply in the opening session, and the home side never really recovered after being 3 for 48 before lunch.

The only sustained resistance for the Warriors came from the richly talented Mitchell Marsh, who made 67 in 211 minutes at the crease.

Marsh, coming off a flashy 78 in a one-day match on Sunday, received little support from his teammates, although veteran Adam Voges made 44.

Voges and Marsh added 69 for the fifth wicket to steady the Warriors innings, but the former fell just before tea, trapped LBW by Copeland (2-54).

Marsh was the ninth batsman to fall, trapped LBW by Doug Bollinger, having survived a confident shout earlier in the same over.

Bollinger bowled with good pace and finished with 3-55, after taking four wickets in a man-of-the-match performance on Sunday.

The former Test paceman claimed the important wicket of national hopeful Shaun Marsh, batting at number three, when the left-hander chased a wide delivery and edged the ball to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

North was guilty of sacrificing his wicket cheaply, top edging an attempted scoop around the corner to Bollinger at deep fine leg from the bowling of Josh Hazlewood.

Despite the presence of nine Test cricketers and the Australian captain, a threadbare crowd of 331 was in attendance for the first day of play.

More rain is forecast for the next three days of the match.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, perth-6000, wa, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted September 18, 2012 16:21:23

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Vics primed for Shield assault

Updated February 05, 2012 19:16:28

Captain Cameron White believes Victoria is primed for a late assault on the Sheffield Shield after crushing South Australia in Adelaide.

The Bushrangers sealed a 186-run triumph over the hapless Redbacks on Sunday to rise to third on the ladder.

While White was bullish about his side's prospects, Redbacks captain Michael Klinger challenged his chronic underachievers to improve.

The Redbacks have not won a Shield match since November 2010.

And with just two points this season, they are headed for a third consecutive wooden spoon.

"The selectors are picking young blokes so sometimes we have to expect these sort of results, but there is no excuse for it," Klinger said after the Redbacks were bowled out for 258 before tea on Sunday's final day.

"The guys in the team, and I'm one of them, should be performing as well as can be every time ... we still have some senior guys in the team who need to be putting their hand up a little bit more."

The Bushrangers were missing frontliners including Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Clint McKay, David Hussey, Aaron Finch and Matthew Wade.

But they still smashed the Redbacks on the back of centuries in each innings from opener Rob Quiney.

White says the Bushrangers, with 18 points and another Shield match against the lowly Redbacks to come, are positioning to challenge second-placed Western Australia (20 points) for a spot in the final against pacesetter Queensland (30 points).

White's lean trot continued with the bat with scores of 3 and 18 but on Sunday he produced the match-breaking moment.

The skipper took a stunning slips catch to dismiss Redbacks strokeplayer Callum Ferguson (79), diving full stretch to his right and horizontal to the ground, White plucked a one-hander.

Ferguson's departure ended a threatening 132-run partnership with Tom Cooper, who top-scored with 93.

Cooper's polished knock finished when caught and bowled by spinner Jon Holland, who proceeded to clean up the Redbacks' tail and finish with 4 for 74.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, adelaide-5000, melbourne-3000

First posted February 05, 2012 16:20:17

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Tigers keep Shield hopes alive

Updated February 10, 2012 06:30:37

Tasmania eased to victory by six wickets over New South Wales on the final day of the Sheffield Shield Clash at the Bellerive Oval.

The Tigers' win lifts them to third in the points table, four adrift of second-place Western Australia with three games remaining.

With the Blues beginning the day at 4 for 75, James Faulkner added to his three wickets of the previous evening by dismissing Peter Nevill for 10.

From this point onwards it was the Jackson Bird show as he took the wickets of Steve O'Keefe (35), Scott Coyte (17) and Sean Abbott (0) before Brendan Drew dismissed Trent Copeland, ending the New South Wales innings with Simon Katich unable to bat after being struck on the head on day two.

Chasing 147, Tasmania started well before losing the wicket of Steve Cazzulino (18) to Steve O'Keefe just before the half-century mark.

Ed Cowan perished for 39, bowled by Josh Lalor, and wickets kept tumbling but not until each player had made a contribution towards the meagre total.

Scott Coyte trapped Alex Doolan (22) leg before and Copeland bowled first inning centurion George Bailey (27).

Mark Cosgrove (25 not out) and Faulkner (8 not out) brought the Tigers home for a well-earned victory.

Tags: cricket, sport, tas, australia

First posted February 09, 2012 18:49:42

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Bulls charging towards Shield final

Updated March 09, 2012 19:36:45

Bulls batsman Joe Burns' sparkling 130 against South Australia at the Gabba on Friday helped boost Queensland's hopes of making the Sheffield Shield final.

Burns' knock pushed the Bulls' first innings total to 356, and an overall lead of 194 over the hapless Redbacks.

In a game the Bulls must win to be a chance of making the Shield final, South Australia was reeling at 1 for 12 in its second dig at stumps on day two.

Burns, 22, struck 15 fours and a six in five hours at the crease before being trapped in front by Redbacks standout Gary Putland, who grabbed career-best figures of 6 for 72.

Burns showed skill to notch his second Shield ton of the summer, but also poise.

He arrived at the crease with Queensland reeling at 2 for 12 on Thursday before sharing a 119-run third wicket stand with opener Alex Kemp (47) that ended early on Friday.

And when Putland sparked a mini-collapse of 3 for 17 to have the Bulls teetering at 5 for 148, Burns stepped up again to put on 120 with Chris Hartley (68).

Then again, Burns has made a habit of breaking South Australian hearts.

Last season, in similar circumstances, Burns struck an unbeaten 140 against South Australia, the third-highest score on first-class debut for a Queenslander.

Burns is now the sixth-highest Shield run-scorer for this summer with 745 runs at 43.82.

After his heroics on Friday, a wagging tail further frustrated the Redbacks.

Steve Magoffin (46 not out) and Alister McDermott (22) put on 54, equalled the record for a 10th-wicket stand by Queensland against South Australia at the Gabba.

Adding to South Australia's pain, Bulls skipper James Hopes trapped his counterpart Michael Klinger (3) in front as the visitors limped to stumps still trailing by 182 runs.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia, sa

First posted March 09, 2012 19:35:14

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Blues hold on for Shield draw

Updated December 09, 2011 20:28:07

New South Wales maintains its Sheffield Shield season is still alive despite taking no points from its clash with Tasmania at Canberra's Manuka Oval on Friday.

The home side was set an intimidating victory target of 401 and while a successful run-chase never looked likely on the final day the Blues held on for a draw to deny the Tigers six valuable points.

An outright loss looked inevitable when New South Wales lost its eighth wicket with 20 overs remaining, but injured skipper Ben Rohrer (49 not out) and paceman Josh Lalor (29 not out) combined for a 69-run partnership to steer the Blues to 8 for 292 at stumps.

Defending Shield champion Tasmania banked first-innings points to move to third on the ladder with 16 points, while New South Wales remains fifth on eight.

The Blues need to bounce back after the upcoming two-month Shield hiatus - during which the Twenty20 Big Bash League will be played - and look to score maximum points in at least two of their four remaining games to be a chance of making the final.

Rohrer, who batted at number 10 on Friday due to a side strain, still believes his side can qualify for the decider.

"We've been playing some really good cricket. We've only lost one game and that was by 10 runs," he said.

"We had three draws - one of them was probably lucky and the other one we fought really hard for - so we just haven't been able to get those wins on the board.

"So I don't think much has changed with our season, we just need a bit of luck going our way."

They used some up on Friday when Tasmania missed two crucial catches that might have ended New South Wales' hopes.

"We expected to take those two wickets," said Tasmania opener Ed Cowan, who blasted 145 not out from 159 balls on Thursday to help set up the daunting target.

"But if you look at the last session in its entirety there were five wickets to take, which was a big job.

"But we missed two catches in the last hour so we've only got ourselves to blame.

"It's a shame having dominated the game for four days that we didn't get the rewards but it's a good blueprint for our cricket going forward."

Tasmania's well-balanced attack worked hard on the flat Manuka pitch, with Jackson Bird (3 for 69), Xavier Doherty (2 for 58), James Faulkner (2 for 71) and Ben Hilfenhaus (1 for 50) all contributing.

Ex-New South Wales paceman Bird was particularly impressive, claiming the key wicket of Simon Katich, who top-scored for the Blues with 76.

Tasmania will square off against New South Wales in the first match after the break in Hobart from February 9-12.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, act, manuka-2603, sydney-2000, nsw, hobart-7000, tas, australia

First posted December 09, 2011 19:23:26

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Warriors dominate Redbacks in Shield

Updated December 05, 2011 22:55:25

Western Australia have humiliated a toothless South Australia on the first day of its Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA ground.

In an incredible day the Warriors claimed first innings points, took a 90 run lead with nine wickets in hand and put themselves in a great position to win outright and consolidate second place on the Shield table.

After a fine display with the ball, routing the visitors for just 93, the WA batsmen then did their bit.

Opener Wes Robinson (71 not out) shared a 113 run partnership with number three Craig Simmons (52 not out) as the home side moved to 1 for 183 at stumps.

After winning the toss and electing to bat in hot and humid conditions WA quick Michael Hogan dismissed opener Dan Harris for a duck with the fifth ball of the innings.

And worse was to follow for the visitors - with Hogan soon having dangerman and captain Michael Klinger back in the pavilion to leave SA at 2 for 12.

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals in the morning session - with quicks Jason Behrendorff and Nathan Rimmington backing up Hogan well to maintain pressure on the Redbacks' batsmen.

Opener Tom Thornton (24) and number six Tom Stray (19) offered a brief period of resistance, but when Thornton fell to a poor shot off the bowling of spinner Michael Beer in the last over before lunch, SA was in deep trouble at 5 for 75 at the break.

Things only got worse as WA captain Adam Voges rotated his bowlers with aplomb, the Warriors taking just 42 minutes to wrap up the SA tail for addition of only 18 more runs.

The main destroyer for WA was strike bowler Hogan - who finished with 5 for 24 in three top-class spells, and he was ably supported by Rimmington and Behrendorff, who took two wickets each.

Hogan was thrilled with his side's day, and said all the bowlers contributed to dismissing SA for such a low total.

"I think we knew there'd be a bit in it (the pitch) in the first couple of hours with the new ball and we had to use it really well, and I think we did that," Hogan said.

"I like to think we put the ball in the right area and gave ourselves every chance so I wouldn't say it was (just) poor batting.

"We'll take the credit for some good bowling."

SA coach Darren Berry had no excuses for his side's dismal display.

"We were happy to bat - Western Australia showed when they batted that it wasn't about the wicket, we just batted badly," he said.

"We've had a really really disappointing day today.

"It's one thing to get knocked over with the bat, but I think we were really poor with the ball as well."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, perth-6000, wa, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted December 05, 2011 22:08:51

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Vics regain Wade for Shield clash

Updated December 01, 2011 14:29:55

Fourth-placed Victoria will regain wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade for Friday's crucial Sheffield Shield match with unbeaten Queensland at the MCG.

Ryan Carters makes way for Wade, who returns from Australia A duties, and top order batsman Aaron Finch has been recalled for youngster Peter Handscomb, who made a duck and 16 in last month's loss to Tasmania.

The Bulls, meanwhile, are considering rushing Ben Cutting into their line-up after the pace bowler was on Thursday named 12th man for Australia's first Test team against New Zealand in Brisbane.

The Bushrangers have lost both their home matches this season. They have 10 points from five appearances, while the James Hopes-led Bulls have claimed 30 points in their five-match winning streak this season.

Victoria: Cameron White (captain), Chris Rogers, Rob Quiney, Aaron Finch, David Hussey, Andrew McDonald, Matthew Wade, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Scott Boland, Jayde Herrick, Jon Holland

Queensland: James Hopes (captain), Cameron Boyce, Ryan Broad, Joe Burns, Luke Feldman, Peter Forrest, Matthew Gale, Chris Hartley, Chris Lynn, Alister McDermott, Michael Neser, Wade Townsend, Ben Cutting (possible late inclusion following omission from Test XI)

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000

First posted December 01, 2011 14:29:55

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Vics wrestle Shield momentum from Warriors

Updated November 12, 2011 11:40:45

A late fightback with bat and ball allowed Victoria to claim the momentum after a see-sawing first day of play in the Sheffield Shield clash with Western Australia.

Sent in to bat on a green-tinged MCG pitch, Victoria recovered from 5 for 153 to be all out for 301.

Exciting young Bushrangers quick James Pattinson has figures of 2 for 2 from three overs after dismissing Liam Davis for two and nightwatchman Nathan Rimmington for a duck.

The Warriors will resume on Saturday's second day of play at 2 for 6.

Visiting paceman Jason Behrendorff had earlier claimed 4 for 76 from 23 overs in a stunning performance on debut.

Opener Rob Quiney top-scored with 92 for Victoria while number seven Glenn Maxwell led a lower-order fightback by belting 61 off 80 balls including 12 fours and one five.

Quiney said the third-placed Bushrangers would take momentum into day two after their fightback late on the opening day.

"Any time you get 300 in the first innings it's going to be OK and it gives the bowlers something to bowl to," he said.

"If you look at their batting line-up, they've got some good batters. If we can get a couple of wickets early tomorrow, it will hold us in good stead.

"Our bowlers might take some momentum in from the Tassie game as well, how we bowled Tassie out on the last day (on Monday in Hobart) and got us a win."

Canberra-raised Behrendorff is confident the second-placed Warriors can post a first-innings lead.

"Definitely. We've got lots of batting to come and we'll get those 300 runs I reckon," the 21-year-old said, although he admitted the Warriors had let their early advantage slide.

"We had some wickets on the board early and just faded away a little bit unfortunately.

"It was a very exciting experience. To make my first-class debut at the MCG was amazing."

Left-armer Behrendorff took the early wickets of Chris Rogers (19) and Aaron Finch (3) as Victoria went to lunch at 2 for 90.

Acting captain David Hussey fell caught behind for 19 shortly after lunch to Rimmington (2 for 64) before standing for several seconds at the crease to show his disappointment at the umpire's decision.

Andrew McDonald (4) popped a catch to third slip off the bowling of Michael Hogan (2 for 82) at 4 for 126.

Quiney dragged a short ball from Behrendorff onto his stumps.

Quiney was nearing his second Shield century this season when he became Behrendorff's third victim at 5 for 153.

The left-hander struck 13 fours and faced 129 deliveries.

Mitch Marsh bowled Matthew Wade for 29 and Behrendorff had Pattinson caught behind for a duck.

Maxwell fell at 8 for 245 but Jayde Herrick contributed 39, helping the Bushrangers add 56 for the last two wickets.

Victoria left out skipper Cameron White because of a shoulder injury while paceman Clint McKay was rested.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, perth-6000, wa, australia

First posted November 11, 2011 19:15:54

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