Cricket

Queensland's Sheffield Shield woes continued as they were forced to settle for a draw against Tasmania at Allan Border Field. Despite a valiant effort from Ben McDermott and Jimmy Peirson, the hosts were unable to overcome Tasmania's dominant performance.Tasmania, led by Jake Weatherald's superb 186, posted a mammoth 461 in their first innings. Queensland's response was hampered by the weather, with most of day two lost to rain. Resuming on 274 for 7, they were quickly bundled out for 291, falling 20 runs short of avoiding the follow-on.Mitchell Owen and Riley Meredith picked up early wickets in Queensland's second innings, leaving them teetering at 126 for 5. However, McDermott and Peirson combined for an unbroken 99-run stand to salvage a draw.Queensland captain Mitchell Swepson acknowledged Tasmania's dominance, stating, "We play Shield cricket to win and unfortunately we haven't been able to get into positions to win." He added, "Tassie were driving the game from the first day when we weren't quite on with the ball."Queensland's winless streak in Brisbane now stands at six games, comprising four losses and two draws. They will face top-of-the-table Victoria in a day-night clash at the Gabba on Sunday, a match they must win to revive their season.Tasmania, meanwhile, will travel to Sydney to face New South Wales, also seeking their first victory of the summer.

Queensland opener Matt Renshaw has reignited his Test aspirations with a defiant century against Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield. The 28-year-old, who had been overlooked for the upcoming India series, struck an unbeaten 120 to lead Queensland's fightback on day three at Allan Border Field.Renshaw's innings was a timely reminder of his class, having struggled for runs in recent Shield matches. However, he displayed confidence and determination from the outset, hitting his first boundary with a purposeful whip through mid-on. He continued in that vein, bringing up his 22nd first-class century with a punch through cover.Renshaw's century came after he had taken steps to block out the hype surrounding Australia's opening slot. "Deleting a lot of apps and not reading any news has been a big one," he said. "It feels like every summer there is a circus about something and it is usually about the openers because Australian cricket wants another opener."Despite missing out on Test selection, Renshaw remains confident in his ability to add to his 14 caps for Australia. "Definitely. I feel like I am not too far away," he said. "Obviously timing is huge in cricket. I missed my time on this occasion but there will be another time in the future when I have to be ready."Renshaw received support from Ben McDermott, Jimmy Peirson, and 19-year-old seamer Tom Straker. McDermott scored 44, Peirson contributed 36, and Straker took 4-87 in Tasmania's first innings.Tasmania had resumed on 394 for 5 on day three, but were bowled out for 461. Allrounder Beau Webster upped the ante as wickets tumbled, scoring a quickfire 32.Queensland finished the day on 274 for 7, needing 37 runs to avoid the follow-on with a day remaining.

Tasmania's Jake Weatherald dominated the Queensland bowlers on day one of their Sheffield Shield clash, closing in on his highest first-class score with an unbeaten 185. The 31-year-old opener, along with fellow left-hander Jake Doran (89*), guided Tasmania to a commanding 358 for 3 at the end of the day's play.Weatherald and Doran forged an unbroken 161-run partnership for the fourth wicket, showcasing their class and resilience against a lackluster Queensland bowling attack. Tim Ward had earlier contributed a valuable 51 at No. 3.Queensland captain Mitchell Swepson's decision to bowl first under overcast conditions backfired as Weatherald and Doran seized control of the innings. The visitors' batsmen capitalized on the poor line and length of the Queensland bowlers, who also committed fielding errors.Weatherald, known for his aggressive batting style, maintained a strike rate of 91.58, sending the ball to the boundary with ease. He expressed satisfaction with his approach, stating that he had learned from his previous match where he had been more cautious.Despite his impressive performance, Weatherald acknowledged that he may have missed his chance to earn a Test call-up. However, he praised the depth of quality opening batters in the Australian domestic scene, highlighting the recent success of Nathan McSweeney, Sam Whiteman, and Caleb Jewel.Queensland's bowling attack, missing strike bowler Michael Neser due to injury, struggled to contain the Tasmanian batsmen. Swepson's attempts to rotate bowlers proved ineffective as none of the six bowlers used could make a significant impact.Tasmania's strong start is a stark contrast to their previous Shield clash against Western Australia, where they were bowled out for 98 in the second innings. The visitors will look to continue their dominance on day two and build a substantial lead.

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 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.

Kurtis Patterson's resurgence and Jack Edwards' timely return propelled New South Wales to a respectable total of 239 against Queensland in their Sheffield Shield clash. Patterson, making his first appearance for NSW since being dropped last season, compiled his highest first-class score in two years, an impressive 91. Edwards, recovering from injury, contributed a valuable 88.NSW's innings got off to a shaky start as Queensland's quicks, led by 19-year-old Tom Straker, reduced them to 59 for 5. However, Patterson and Edwards steadied the ship with a crucial 135-run partnership. Patterson, who had been dropped as NSW captain last season, admitted that he needed to be dropped to rediscover his form."I probably haven't said it publicly but I think I needed to be dropped when I was last year because frankly, I wasn't batting well enough," Patterson said. "I'd be lying if I said that thought never crossed my mind, whether I'd get another go back here. But thankfully I've kind of ticked all the boxes with [grade club] St George and got my opportunity."Edwards, who missed the last round with a hamstring injury, played aggressively to regain momentum for NSW. He was unfortunate to be given out caught behind short of a century. Patterson also appeared unhappy with the decision that ended his innings.NSW lost four wickets for three runs at the end of their innings, but Queensland's openers, Usman Khawaja and Matt Renshaw, negotiated the new ball spells, including Josh Hazlewood's first of the season, to finish the day unbeaten.Queensland's attack, despite missing senior figures Michael Neser and Mark Steketee, performed admirably. Liam Guthrie, Straker, and Angus Lovell all took wickets.

Josh Hazlewood will make his long-awaited return to competitive cricket for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield match against Queensland, marking his first appearance of the season. The experienced fast bowler had been sidelined due to illness but is now set to ramp up his preparations for the upcoming Test series against India.Hazlewood's inclusion in the NSW squad comes as Nathan Lyon has been rested after bowling a significant number of overs in the previous two Shield matches. The legspinner is expected to return for the Test series but will not feature in the upcoming fixture.The absence of Lyon and several other players due to international and Australia A commitments has significantly impacted the teams for round three of the Shield. NSW will be without Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Sean Abbott, Sam Konstas, and Josh Phillippe, while Queensland will miss Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Mark Steketee, Gurinder Sandhu, and Callum Vidler.Despite the player unavailability, both NSW and Queensland have named strong squads. NSW will welcome back allrounder Jack Edwards from a hamstring injury, while Tanveer Sangha will replace Lyon as the legspinner. Queensland will be led by Mitchell Swepson, with Usman Khawaja and Matthew Renshaw providing experience in the batting lineup.South Australia, who are also missing key players due to national and Australia A call-ups, will be captained by Alex Carey. The wicketkeeper-batsman has been in excellent form and will be looking to continue his run-scoring against Victoria.The upcoming round of Shield matches will provide valuable preparation for the players involved in the upcoming Test series against India. Hazlewood's return will be particularly important for NSW, as he aims to regain match fitness and sharpness ahead of the first Test in Nagpur.

Queensland's One-Day Cup campaign got off to a flying start with a dominant nine-wicket victory over South Australia at Allan Border Field. Despite a valiant century from South Australian skipper Nathan McSweeney, the Bulls chased down the target with ease, securing a bonus point in the process.Left-arm paceman Liam Guthrie played a pivotal role in the victory, claiming three quick wickets in six overs to put the visitors on the back foot. Tom Straker also chipped in with three wickets, including the dangerous Alex Carey.McSweeney, who is in contention for a Test berth against India, played a lone hand for South Australia, scoring a magnificent 137 off 131 balls. However, his efforts were not enough to prevent the Bulls from cruising to victory.Wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson led the charge for Queensland, smashing an unbeaten 100 off 98 balls. Peirson's innings was a masterclass in strokeplay, with the left-hander showcasing his full range of shots.Test hopeful Matt Renshaw also played a key role, scoring an unbeaten 72 off 52 balls. Renshaw's innings was a timely reminder of his talent and will give him confidence ahead of the upcoming Test series.The victory was a welcome boost for Queensland, who had lost their first two matches of the One-Day Cup. It also served as a reminder of the depth of talent in the Bulls' squad.

South Australia's Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey has continued his impressive form with an unbeaten century against Queensland in the Sheffield Shield clash at Allan Border Field. Carey's 123 not out from 163 deliveries has put South Australia in a commanding position, leading by 358 runs with a declaration likely overnight.Carey, who is averaging 122 across four knocks this summer, has sent a strong message to the Indian team ahead of the upcoming Test series. Unfazed by the second new ball, Carey notched his second century of the summer by blasting paceman Mark Steketee for three consecutive boundaries in the final hour of play on Tuesday.Earlier, Carey brought up his half-century pulling Tom Whitney's short ball to the boundary. Whitney, who took five wickets in the first innings, backed up his performance with three key scalps early on day three before a minor heel injury prevented him from bowling further.South Australian skipper Nathan McSweeney also continued his excellent form, making 72 to push his case for a Test call-up. McSweeney's innings ended when he was caught at first slip by Usman Khawaja off Mitchell Swepson.In the spotlight since his omission from the Australia A squad, Test hopeful Matt Renshaw grabbed a headline moment late on day three with a brilliant catch at mid-wicket to dismiss Jake Lehmann from Marnus Labuschagne's part-time leg-spin. Labuschagne also took a catch above his head to send Liam Scott packing.With Carey and Jordan Buckingham unbeaten at the crease, South Australia is poised to declare overnight and set Queensland a challenging target.