Queensland are in prime position to post their first win of the Sheffield Shield season after ladder-leaders Victoria collapsed badly on day two at the MCG.
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Victoria started play at 2-43 after Queensland were bowled out for 172 in the first innings but they couldn’t make the visitors pay.
Marcus Harris, who is fighting for a Test recall, top scored with 42 but only Peter Handscomb (24) and Tom Rogers (11) joined him in double digits.
Queensland seamer Xavier Bartlett (5-32) enjoyed a day out, dismissing four of the opening five batsmen in a scintillating spell.
Mark Steketee (3-32) and Jack Wildermuth (2-25) cleaned up the tail before the visitors batted again on a decent deck.
After the top order failed to fire, Steketee (48 not out) picked up where he left off and put on a 119-run partnership with Jimmy Peirson (82) for the eighth wicket.
Opener Matt Renshaw (24) was the only other batsman to contribute as the visitors finished day two at 8-195 with a lead of 244 runs.
Fergus O’Neill (3-21) and Sam Elliott were the pick of the Victorian bowlers but it will be a big ask from the batsmen to pull off a comeback win from here.
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TASSIE IN STRIFE
Tasmania are in deep trouble at stumps on day two of their Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia, after a top order collapse.
After being put to the sword by SA duo Jason Sangha (151 off 257 balls) and opener Henry Hunt (136 off 297) at Bellerive Oval, Tasmania couldn’t navigate their way through the 31 overs the visitors left them on Saturday.
Two quick wickets to Nathan McAndrew left the home side reeling late in the day as Tasmania limped to 4-96 – still trailing SA by 302 runs.
Earlier on Saturday, South Australian skipper Ben Manenti declared at 6-398 after a quick-fire 43 (off just 37 balls) from Australian one day opener Jake Fraser-McGurk.
Jake Weatherald (12 off 36) was the first man to go when he chopped on, and he was followed back to the sheds by fellow opener Nivethan Radhakrishnan (43 off 73).
When McAndrew nabbed both Tim Ward and Jordan Silk in the space of four overs, Tasmania were in all sorts at stumps.
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KONSTAS NEARING ANOTHER TON
NSW rising star Sam Konstas is closing in on yet another century and improved his score to 80 not out against Western Australia on a rain-delayed day two at the SCG.
The Blues started the day at 0-97 and are now 1-137 in response to WA’s 211, with opener Konstas and Tanveer Sangha (6) at the crease.
Blake Nikitaras (38 off 99) was the only dismissal of the day when he was caught by Cameron Gannon off Test-hopeful Lance Morris.
Konstas’ century for Australia A against India A in Canberra last week was his 23rd in all competitions since 2019.
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