Cricket

South Australia's first-innings total of 314, anchored by Henry Hunt's 136, was met with a spirited response from Queensland on day two of their Sheffield Shield clash in Brisbane. Young quick Tom Whitney, who made history with a five-wicket haul on debut, played a crucial role in Queensland's fightback.Whitney's impressive performance continued on Monday as he claimed the wickets of Nathan McAndrew and Wes Agar, becoming only the 12th Queenslander to achieve a five-wicket haul on debut. Michael Neser also contributed with three wickets, including the key dismissal of Hunt.In reply, Queensland's batting lineup faced early setbacks. Test opener Usman Khawaja and Matt Renshaw were dismissed cheaply, while Marnus Labuschagne failed to make a significant impact. However, Ben McDermott's 52 and a 97-run partnership between Neser and Jimmy Peirson provided some resistance.Peirson, who hit 14 boundaries in his knock, looked set for a century before being run out by Jake Lehmann. Despite the setback, Queensland managed to reach 308 in their first innings, trailing South Australia by just six runs.Whitney's late cameo with the bat, an unbeaten 24 from 11 balls, helped Queensland close the gap. The 21-year-old's all-round performance has been a major boost for the Bulls, who will be looking to take the lead on day three.

Western Australia's One-Day Cup title defense is back on track after a thrilling four-wicket victory over Queensland at the WACA Ground. Chasing 301, WA looked shaky at 149 for 6, but Hilton Cartwright's unbeaten 66 off 49 balls, including five fours and three sixes, guided them to victory with six deliveries to spare.Ashton Agar's unbeaten 21 off 27 balls played a crucial role in a match-winning 62-run partnership with Cartwright. WA's hopes of a fourth consecutive one-day title were in jeopardy after losses to South Australia and NSW. However, Cartwright's heroics have kept their hopes alive.Queensland's total of 300 was built around Usman Khawaja's 76 and Lachlan Hearne's 76. Michael Neser's late fireworks, including six fours and two sixes, gave Queensland's total a significant boost.WA paceman Jhye Richardson was named player of the match for his 3-36 in 9.3 overs. Richardson's dismissal of Ben McDermott in the third over and Michael Neser later in the innings prevented Queensland from posting a larger total.Cameron Bancroft, who had posted twin ducks in the recent Sheffield Shield draw with Queensland, managed 33 before being trapped lbw by Marnus Labuschagne. Sam Whiteman's half-century and Cooper Connolly's 39 off 42 balls set the platform for WA's victory.

Glenn Maxwell, the enigmatic Australian all-rounder, is set to make his long-awaited return to red-ball cricket in Cricket Australia's Second XI four-day competition. Maxwell has been named in Victoria's 12-man squad for the match against Queensland at the Junction Oval, starting on Monday.This marks Maxwell's first four-day match in over 12 months as he gears up for a potential Test tour of Sri Lanka early next year. However, it is unlikely that he will feature in Victoria's next Sheffield Shield match, which begins just three days after the Second XI game.Maxwell's inclusion in the Second XI squad is part of a carefully managed workload, given his history of injuries. The 36-year-old has played only two first-class matches in the last five years.Despite his limited red-ball experience, Maxwell remains a serious contender for Australia's Test tour of Sri Lanka. His experience in the subcontinent, where he played in the 2022 Sri Lanka tour, makes him a valuable asset.Maxwell's ability as a spin-bowling allrounder is seen as an advantage in the spinning conditions of Sri Lanka. All of his seven Test matches have been played on the subcontinent, with his last appearance coming in Bangladesh in 2017.While Shield cricket is not considered a direct indicator of Test performance in Sri Lanka, Maxwell's participation in the Second XI game is crucial for his physical conditioning.Victoria's Second XI squad also includes state captain Will Sutherland, who is returning from a serious back injury. Sutherland will bowl under restrictions in the match.

Western Australia's hopes of extending their Sheffield Shield dominance were boosted by a resilient batting display on day three against Queensland. Despite losing Cameron Bancroft for a duck, Mitchell Marsh and Hilton Cartwright steadied the ship with an unbroken 59-run partnership.After gaining a 98-run lead, WA stumbled to 47 for 3 in their second innings. Bancroft's untimely dismissal raised concerns, as he had been touted as a potential Test recall. However, Marsh and Cartwright's partnership has put WA back on track.Marsh, batting at No. 4, played cautiously but occasionally unleashed his trademark power hitting. He finished the day on 40 not out, while Cartwright contributed 19. Their partnership has given WA a solid foundation to build on.Queensland had earlier fought back with the ball, taking three quick wickets. Michael Neser dismissed Bancroft for the second time in the match, while Jack Wildermuth and Tom Straker accounted for Jayden Goodwin and Sam Whiteman respectively.However, WA's bowlers responded with a strong performance in the second session. Cameron Gannon led the charge with a five-wicket haul, including the crucial dismissal of Jack Clayton for 85. Ben McDermott also fell for 68, sparking a collapse that saw Queensland lose six wickets for 66 runs.The match, which had appeared destined for a draw, has now been thrown open. The surface has flattened, but the second new ball has brought life back into the contest. WA will be looking to press their advantage on day four, while Queensland will need to find a way to break the Marsh-Cartwright partnership.

Western Australia's batting heroes, Sam Whiteman and Josh Inglis, defied a hostile Queensland attack to rescue their team from a disastrous start on day one of the Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA.After Test hopeful Cameron Bancroft fell off the first ball, Michael Neser wreaked havoc, claiming two more wickets to leave WA reeling at 18 for 3. However, Whiteman and Inglis combined for a mammoth 203-run partnership, turning the tide in WA's favor.Inglis, known for his aggressive style, smashed 122 off 117 balls, while Whiteman played a more measured innings, batting for almost the entire day to score 102. Neser, who has been on the fringes of Test selection, inspired a late rally with the second new ball, dismissing Whiteman and Matthew Kelly to finish with 5 for 48.Queensland skipper Marnus Labuschagne's decision to bowl first paid off initially, but Whiteman and Inglis's heroics proved too much for the visitors. Hilton Cartwright and Cooper Connolly also contributed valuable runs, while first-class debutant Tom Straker impressed with his lively spell.Both teams entered the season with injury concerns, but WA's depth was tested with several key players sidelined. Queensland, too, were without quick Xavier Bartlett.As the match enters day two, WA will look to build on their strong position, while Queensland will need to find a way to break through their resilient batting lineup.

Victoria emerged victorious in a thrilling six-run victory over Queensland at the Junction Oval, thanks to a brilliant cameo from Michael Neser and some exceptional fielding.Chasing a modest target of 241, Queensland started strongly with Usman Khawaja and Ben McDermott putting on a 90-run opening stand. However, Test offspinner Todd Murphy turned the tide with a superb spell, dismissing McDermott and Josh Brown to break the partnership.Marcus Harris then produced a stunning one-handed catch to remove Matt Renshaw, while Peter Siddle picked up two wickets in the middle overs. Murphy struck again, claiming two more scalps to swing the game in Victoria's favor.Despite the setbacks, Neser kept Queensland in the hunt with a blistering 49 from 41 balls. He launched two massive sixes in the final over to bring the Bulls within seven runs of victory. However, Jono Merlo took an excellent catch at deep square to dismiss Neser and seal the win for Victoria.Earlier, Victoria had posted a competitive 240 for 7, thanks to a vital 63 from Marcus Harris. Will Sutherland and Sam Elliott added late-order heroics with a 63-run stand off the final 35 balls.Queensland's stand-in captain Mitchell Swepson praised Neser's efforts but acknowledged that the team fell short. Victoria's win moves them to the top of the One-Day Cup table, while Queensland departs Melbourne with just two points.

Queensland and Tasmania shared the One-Day Cup points after rain and bad light curtailed their match in Melbourne to just 16 overs.Matt Renshaw's half-century was the only highlight for Queensland, who posted 128 for 5 in the rain-affected encounter. The left-hander struck 51 off 36 balls, including four fours and three sixes.Persistent rain delayed the start of the match by four-and-a-half hours, and the game was eventually reduced to a 20-over affair with 50-over powerplay rules.Tasmania, who had been skittled by Victoria on the same surface two days earlier, unsurprisingly sent Queensland in to bat.Gabe Bell and Beau Webster made early breakthroughs for Tasmania, removing Ben McDermott and Max Bryant respectively.Renshaw and Lachlan Hearne then combined for a 79-run stand in just 8.4 overs, striking seven fours and four sixes between them.Webster broke the partnership, and Matt Kuhnemann picked up his first wicket for his new state against his old side, bowling Jack Wildermuth for 8.Hearne holed out to deep midwicket off Bell in the 15th over, and the umpires checked the light after 16 overs and called a halt to proceedings.Play never resumed, and the points were shared.Queensland will remain in Melbourne and face Victoria on Friday, with Australia Test opener Usman Khawaja set to play after missing the clash with Tasmania.

England batter Lauren Winfield-Hill has signed a contract with Queensland to play in Australia's Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) next summer. The 33-year-old, who has played in nine matches for Queensland in the past, will join the team after the conclusion of the English domestic season.Winfield-Hill's decision to join Queensland comes after she expressed concerns about the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) decision to defer Yorkshire's entry into Tier 1 of the new women's domestic competition. She described the move as "unsettling" for her Northern Diamonds team.Winfield-Hill is based in Brisbane during the Australian summer as she is married to former Queensland and Brisbane Heat pace bowler Courtney Winfield-Hill. She has been a consistent performer for Queensland in the past, scoring 194 runs at an average of 32.33 last season, including a half-century in the final.Queensland have also added four teenagers to their squad for the upcoming season: Sienna Eve, Elsa Hunter, Lauren Kua, and Kate Pelle. Eve and Hunter are both all-rounders, while Kua is a wicketkeeper-batter and Pelle is a batter.New South Wales have also announced their female contract list for the 2024-25 season. The Blues have added four teenagers to their squad: Eve, Hunter, Kua, and Pelle. They have also released Scotland international Saskia Horley, who has moved permanently to the UK.The WNCL is Australia's premier domestic women's cricket competition. It is contested by eight teams from around the country. The competition will be played from October 2024 to March 2025.

Queensland and New South Wales are locked in a thrilling battle at Allan Border Field, with the home side holding a slender lead of 115 runs heading into the final day.NSW resumed play on Wednesday well-placed at 222 for 5, and Ollie Davies took the game by the scruff of the neck to post a deserved century. The 23-year-old thumped 131 off 147 balls, lifting his side to a competitive total of 316.Queensland's response got off to a shaky start, as they slumped to 42 for 4 and 118 for 5. However, Jimmy Peirson and Jack Wildermuth combined to help them avoid an innings loss. Peirson, who scored 64 in the first innings, is still unbeaten on 57, while Xavier Bartlett has contributed a valuable 57 not out.The pair will resume at the crease on Thursday, with captain Peirson still hopeful of pulling off an upset victory. "I'd love another 50 or 60 runs," Peirson said. "There's a crack developing at one end for the quicks to hit that, and there's certainly some divots there to play with as well. So if we can get another 50 or 60 runs - it's a funny game."NSW spinner Tanveer Sangha has been the pick of the bowlers, finishing the day with 4 for 116. The most special of those dismissals was that of Jack Clayton, with Davies snaring a one-handed reflex catch at leg slip.NSW opener Sam Konstas suffered a potential concussion after hitting his head on the turf while dropping a catch late on day three. Konstas is set to miss the final day, which could be a blow to NSW's hopes of victory.