South Australia secured their second consecutive Sheffield Shield title on Monday, overcoming Victoria by 56 runs in a thrilling finish. Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey played a pivotal role, scoring a determined 103 runs after the team was precariously placed at 79-5 in their second innings. His crucial partnership with number nine Nathan McAndrew, who contributed 60 runs, proved decisive in turning the match around.
The match took place at Melbourne’s Junction Oval, where South Australia’s bowlers then sealed the victory, denying Victoria their first domestic red-ball championship since the 2018-19 season. South Australia captain Nathan McSweeney expressed relief and admiration for his teammates, stating, “We were very nervous, thinking the game might have slipped away. But Kez (Carey) and Macca (McAndrew) showed great resilience, spending valuable time at the crease and steadily building a lead. Getting 195 runs ahead gave us the momentum we needed to bowl them out.” He also praised the team’s fast bowlers for their consistent performance throughout the season.
Victoria had initially gained the upper hand by dismissing South Australia for 198 in the first innings, with Will Sutherland taking 4-54 and Fergus O’Neill claiming 3-30. Victoria responded with 261 runs, thanks largely to O’Neill’s unbeaten 64 and former Australian opener Marcus Harris’s 40.
Facing a daunting situation at 79-5 in their second innings, South Australia appeared on the brink of defeat. However, Carey and McAndrew’s 105-run partnership shifted the momentum, setting Victoria a challenging target of 196 runs to win. Although Victoria reached 102-3, they subsequently collapsed, losing seven wickets for just 37 runs and being bowled out for 139. McAndrew, Liam Scott, and Henry Thornton each took three wickets in the final innings.
Victoria captain Sutherland acknowledged the significance of the partnership between McAndrew and Carey, noting, “That stand was probably the turning point. We felt we had a chance to win this morning, but our relatively young squad might need more experience to handle such high-pressure chases better.” Notably, South Australia had also defeated Queensland in last year’s final, with Carey once again delivering a standout century to lead his team to victory.
