Boland delivers again for Victoria but SA still in Hunt
Joel Gould |
The dream summer of Victoria’s Scott Boland continued and a Henry Hunt half-century for South Australia ensured honours were shared on day one of the Sheffield Shield clash.
Australia’s Ashes series hero Boland took his Shield wicket tally for the season to 25 in just his fifth match after his 3-66 at Junction Oval on Saturday. The 36-year-old’s wickets have come at the Boland-esque average of 14.44.
Hunt’s defiant 81 ensured South Australia reached 9-295 at stumps in the top-of-the-table clash.
Test spinner Todd Murphy (3-60) took the key wickets of Hunt and Alex Carey (38) after the pair had put on 74 for the fourth wicket.
The visitors are in second spot on the Shield ladder and in the box seat to play Victoria again in the final, but can be caught if Queensland has an outright victory over Tasmania.
Boland gave opener Mackenzie Harvey (7) a real working over before finding the edge, which Peter Handscomb gobbled up in the slips.
The veteran paceman then showcased his mobility and class in the field to get rid of the dangerous Nathan McSweeney (24).
The South Australia skipper pulled Sam Elliot high towards fine leg and must have thought he was safe enough.
Boland had other ideas and raced across the ground, put in a baseball slide and took the catch over his shoulder. He somehow managed to defy physics and pull up millimetres before the boundary rope in a stunning effort.
The day was a cut-and-thrust affair, with South Australia spinner Ben Manenti (53) playing a typically pugnacious knock to help add key lower-order runs after the visitors were 6-191 at one stage.
AAP