Cricket

South Australia's One-Day Cup campaign has taken off with a resounding six-wicket victory over New South Wales at the Adelaide Oval. The win propelled SA to the top of the table, while NSW suffered their first defeat of the season.SA's triumph was built on a dominant bowling performance that restricted NSW to a modest 197. Former NSW quick Harry Conway led the charge with 3 for 27, while Jason Sangha claimed 2 for 16. Liam Scott also chipped in with two wickets.NSW's batting was led by Matthew Gilkes and captain Jack Edwards, who both scored 35. However, the visitors struggled to build partnerships and were eventually bowled out in the 46th over.In reply, SA lost early wickets but Alex Carey steadied the ship with a superb 75 off 63 balls. Jake Lehmann (46 not out) and Scott (42 not out) then guided SA to victory with an unbroken 89-run stand.Carey's innings continued his impressive start to the season, while Scott's all-round performance earned him the player-of-the-match award.The result was a significant boost for SA, who are also second in the Sheffield Shield standings. The teams will now turn their attention to their Shield match, which begins at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.

New South Wales' Kurtis Patterson has cemented his return to the Sheffield Shield with a gritty performance that helped his side salvage a draw against Queensland.After being asked to follow-on with a 167-run deficit, Patterson's 66 and Ollie Davies' 88 guided New South Wales to 256 for 4 when the match was called off.Patterson, who was once concerned about his first-class career, has now played two crucial innings for the Blues. In the first innings, he scored 91, and in the second, he played a lone hand with 66.Davies also impressed for New South Wales, taking the game on late after being cautious early. His 88 included six boundaries, and he formed a 117-run partnership with Patterson that put Queensland's bowlers under pressure.Queensland had declared their first innings on 406 for 5, with Jack Lovell scoring an unbeaten 146. Bryce McDermott (87), Usman Khawaja (58), and Jimmy Hearne (58) also contributed to the total.The draw leaves both teams without a win from the opening three rounds of the Sheffield Shield, with two draws each. However, it was a personal victory for Patterson, who has shown that he still has plenty to offer at the first-class level.

Queensland's Angus Lovell has propelled the Bulls to a commanding position in their Sheffield Shield clash against New South Wales, scoring a maiden first-class century and leading his team to a 167-run lead.Lovell's unbeaten 146, crafted with patience and determination at Cricket Central in western Sydney, was the cornerstone of Queensland's dominant day three performance. The 25-year-old shared a mammoth 310-run partnership with Ben McDermott, who contributed a valuable 87 off 143 deliveries.Despite the absence of wickets for Test quick Josh Hazlewood, who bowled 24 overs without success, Queensland's top-six batsmen all made significant contributions. Lovell's century was particularly impressive, as he capitalized on two missed chances by NSW fielders.Lovell's heroics with the bat followed his impressive performance with the ball, where he claimed 3 for 13 to clean up the NSW tail. His all-round display continued a remarkable run of form, having recently scored an unbeaten 250 for Queensland's second XI.After McDermott's dismissal, Lovell forged another substantial partnership with Lachlan Hearne, who made 58 before falling to Ryan Hadley. Tanveer Sangha also picked up two wickets for NSW.Queensland will enter the final day with a significant advantage, needing to set a challenging target before attempting to dismiss NSW's batsmen. The Bulls will be aiming to build on their lead and secure a crucial victory in their Shield campaign.

Queensland Trails New South Wales in Rain-Hit Sheffield Shield ClashUsman Khawaja's resilient half-century provided a beacon of hope for Queensland on a rain-marred second day of their Sheffield Shield encounter against New South Wales at Cricket Central in Sydney.Despite the inclement weather, Khawaja, a Test opener, showcased his unwavering form, guiding Queensland's response to New South Wales' first-innings total of 239. However, the match was severely disrupted by persistent rain, with only one delivery bowled across the final two sessions.By the time play was abandoned late on Saturday, Queensland had reached 96 for 2, trailing by 143 runs. Khawaja's contribution of 58 runs, including two towering sixes, was the highlight of the day's play.However, Khawaja's innings was not without controversy. New South Wales' Ryan Hadley believed he had caught Khawaja at fine leg off Tanveer Sangha's bowling, but the umpires ruled in favor of the batsman after consulting with each other. Khawaja had also survived an lbw appeal from Josh Hazlewood earlier in his innings.Hazlewood and Jack Edwards combined to bowl six consecutive maiden overs at the start of the day, but Matt Renshaw finally broke the shackles with a thick edge to the boundary. However, Renshaw's bid to reclaim his Test spot was cut short when he was trapped lbw by Sangha for 25.The wet conditions forced the second session to be delayed, and only one ball was bowled before rain halted play once again. That crucial delivery saw Khawaja edge Edwards to Ollie Davies in the slips, leaving Queensland with a mountain to climb in the remaining days of the match.

Victoria's relentless seamers dismantled a formidable New South Wales batting lineup, securing a resounding 141-run victory at the MCG. The triumph was overshadowed by the exceptional performance of Mitchell Starc, who showcased his readiness for the upcoming Test summer with a match haul of seven wickets.Victoria's victory was sealed before lunch on the fourth day, with Sam Elliott claiming the final four wickets, including the dismissal of Josh Philippe for a valiant 88. Elliott's 4 for 44 was complemented by Fergus O'Neill's player-of-the-match performance, which included figures of 4 for 29, 1 for 28, and crucial lower-order contributions of 28 and 33.Elliott's breakthrough came when Philippe edged a cut behind point, falling just 12 runs short of a century. Starc, who had earlier claimed 1 for 35 in the first innings, fell for 18 after top-edging a pull shot. Nathan Lyon also succumbed to the pull shot, miscuing to a fielder behind square leg. Elliott wrapped up the victory by clean bowling Jackson Bird.While the spotlight had been on Test hopefuls Marcus Harris and Sam Konstas, the post-match buzz centered around Starc's impressive display. NSW coach Greg Shipperd believes India will face a formidable challenge from Starc if conditions resemble those at the MCG."His pace, rhythm, and ability to engineer the sort of pace he was dealing with were exceptional," Shipperd said. "He changed the game when he decided to go short and really change the dynamic of the match. And in the second innings, we thought perhaps he'd done enough, but he kept coming. That's a good sign for Australia and troubles ahead, perhaps, on the right wicket for India."Victoria coach Chris Rogers praised his batting group's contributions in challenging conditions, highlighting the first-innings partnership between Campbell Kellaway and Peter Handscomb and the second-innings stand between Sam Harper and Tom Rogers as match-winning efforts in the face of Starc's barrage."For a 21-year-old kid [Kellaway] to get 50, along with Pete, that's right up there with some of the best batting I've seen him do," Rogers said. "That 100 was critical in us winning the game and having a first-innings lead.""And in the second innings, when they had us four for not many and Mitch Starc's got his tail up, we needed a couple of people to stand up, and two guys who were making names for themselves in Sammy Harper and Tommy Rogers played absolutely out of their skins, and that 130-run partnership was as good as I've seen from a partnership for a long time. Just absolutely fantastic."

Steven Smith and Mitchell Starc will make their long-awaited returns to the Sheffield Shield this weekend as New South Wales takes on Victoria at the MCG. The match, starting Sunday, will serve as a crucial preparation for the upcoming international summer.Smith, who has been sidelined with a concussion since the Ashes, will be eager to prove his fitness ahead of the Test series against India. The former Australian captain last played a Shield match in February 2021.Starc, on the other hand, has not featured in the Shield since the 2020-21 final. The left-arm quick will be looking to regain his rhythm and build up his workload before the ODI series against Pakistan.Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will not play in the Shield match but are expected to feature in the One-Day Cup fixture against Victoria on October 25. Cummins is unlikely to play any red-ball cricket before the Test series against India, while Hazlewood's availability for the third round of Shield may be affected by the ODI series against Pakistan.Sean Abbott will also return for NSW after missing the opening round due to a minor injury. Nathan Lyon, who took eight wickets against South Australia, will again be a key figure for the Blues.Victoria is expected to include Scott Boland in their squad, setting up a fascinating contest with 19-year-old opener Sam Konstas. Konstas was called up to the Australia A squad earlier this week after scoring twin centuries against South Australia.Matthew Gilkes, Ryan Hadley, and Liam Hatcher have been dropped from the NSW squad that drew with South Australia in the opening round.

Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey has sent a resounding message to the Indian team ahead of their upcoming tour of Australia, delivering a magnificent century in South Australia's Sheffield Shield draw against New South Wales.Carey's second-innings knock of 111 from 158 deliveries was a crucial contribution, helping South Australia recover from a precarious position of 23 for 4. The innings marked his most successful start to a Sheffield Shield season since his Test debut in 2021.Carey's efforts came after he finished last summer with an unbeaten 98 against New Zealand, providing reassurance for an Australian side that will be without Cameron Green for at least part of the summer due to a back injury.On Friday, Carey steadied the ship after Test teammate Nathan Lyon sparked a collapse of 4 for 9 as the visitors chased 389 for victory. Lyon dismissed Travis Head, Nathan McAndrew, and Conor McInerney in quick succession, leaving South Australia in dire straits.Carey's arrival at the crease proved pivotal, as he forged a 182-run partnership with captain Nathan McSweeney, who also notched up a brilliant century. Carey's half-century came off a sweep shot past deep midwicket, guiding South Australia into triple figures.Just after lunch, Carey brought up his seventh first-class century with a single to deep cover. He was eventually dismissed for 111, caught at deep leg slip off Tanveer Sangha.Carey's ton was a fitting response to rival gloveman Josh Inglis, who had hit a century for Western Australia earlier this week. McSweeney continued to impress, facing 283 balls throughout the final day and putting South Australia in a strong position.Lyon's early heroics could not be repeated, as Moises Henriques handed the ball to Nic Maddinson late on, acknowledging that a result was unlikely.Carey's performance is a timely reminder of his quality and will be a boost for Australia as they prepare for the Indian tour. With Green's absence, Carey's experience and form will be invaluable to the team.

Alex Carey's blistering 90 has given South Australia a glimmer of hope in their Sheffield Shield clash against New South Wales, but Nathan Lyon's late burst has put the Blues firmly in control.Carey, who has been in impressive form for Australia in white-ball cricket, carried his momentum into the red-ball arena, smashing 90 from just 85 balls. His innings was a counter-attacking masterclass, peppered with four sixes and numerous boundaries.After arriving at the crease with South Australia in trouble at 87 for 3, Carey took the game by the scruff of the neck. He targeted Tanveer Sangha, who had earlier dismissed Travis Head, and hit him for a series of boundaries.Carey's knock came after Head had also hit two sixes in his 30, but the left-hander was dismissed by Sangha when he was drawn into an edge outside off stump.Undeterred, Carey continued to attack, hitting back-to-back boundaries off Jack Nisbet and slog-sweeping Lyon for another six. He also reverse-swept and drove Sangha to the boundary, showing his full range of strokes.However, Carey's aggression ultimately proved his undoing, as he was caught in the deep trying to take on Lyon. His dismissal triggered a collapse of 4 for 5, with Lyon taking three wickets in 14 balls to finish with 3 for 45.Lyon's wickets included Daniel Drew, who was caught-and-bowled for a duck, and Ben Manenti, who was bowled by a ball that spun out of the rough. Captain Nathan McSweeney was also run out on 55, adding to South Australia's woes."I've been itching to get back playing. It's what I love doing," Lyon said. "I feel like I've been training the house down and in a really good headspace."South Australia will need to bat with more resilience on day three if they are to avoid a heavy defeat. The Blues, on the other hand, will be confident of wrapping up the match quickly and securing their first win of the season.

New South Wales (NSW) has bolstered its squad for the 2024-25 season with the addition of three promising youngsters from the Under-19 World Cup-winning team: Sam Konstas, Ryan Hicks, and Charlie Anderson. These talented players join experienced recruits Nic Maddinson and Josh Philippe, who bring a wealth of knowledge and skill to the team.Konstas, a 19-year-old batter, made an impressive debut for NSW last season, scoring a century in the Under-19 World Cup and a half-century in the Shield. He has earned a full contract, while Hicks and Anderson have been awarded rookie deals.Hicks, a wicketkeeper-batter, showcased his potential with a century in an Under-19 Youth Test against England. He will develop behind established keepers Philippe and Matthew Gilkes. Anderson, a bowler, impressed at the Under-19 World Cup and takes Jack Nisbet's rookie spot. Nisbet has been upgraded to a full contract after a successful debut Shield season.NSW chief of cricket performance Greg Mail expressed his delight at adding the trio to the squad. "Sam and Jack confirmed their talent last season and deserve their full contracts," he said. "Ryan and Charlie have also shown their readiness for professional opportunities."The addition of Maddinson and Philippe further strengthens NSW's squad. Maddinson, a former NSW captain, returns after six seasons with Victoria, while Philippe brings his experience from Western Australia."Players of their caliber don't become available often," said Mail. "They will enhance our balance and depth."Jason Sangha and Baxter Holt have departed the squad, with Sangha likely to join South Australia and Holt heading to Western Australia. Kurtis Patterson remains on the list despite exploring options elsewhere.The NSW squad for 2024-25 includes:* Sean Abbott (CA contract)* Charlie Anderson (rookie)* Jackson Bird* Pat Cummins (CA)* Joel Davies (rookie)* Oliver Davies* Ben Dwarshuis* Jack Edwards* Matt Gilkes* Chris Green* Ryan Hackney* Ryan Hadley* Liam Hatcher* Josh Hazlewood (CA)* Moises Henriques* Ryan Hicks (rookie)* Daniel Hughes* Hayden Kerr* Sam Konstas* Nathan Lyon (CA)* Nic Maddinson* Blake Nikitaras* Jack Nisbet* Kurtis Patterson* Josh Philippe* Will Salzmann (rookie)* Tanveer Sangha* Lachlan Shaw (rookie)* Steve Smith (CA)* Mitchell Starc (CA)* Chris Tremain* Adam Zampa (CA)