Scott Boland has further pressed his claims for selection in the World Test Championship final by snaring a six-wicket haul during Victoria’s Sheffield Shield clash against New South Wales in Sydney.
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The 35-year-old continued his SCG love affair by claiming 6-46 from 21 overs in the second innings to help roll the Blues for 174 in 69 overs. He finished with match figures of 10-102, the best performance in the Sheffield Shield, to secure the second ten-wicket haul of his first-class career, the other occurring during last month’s New Year’s Test against India at the same venue.
Having removed teenage opener Sam Konstas and wicketkeeper Josh Philippe the previous evening, Boland went on a rampage as NSW lost 6-39 in a frantic collapse on Thursday morning.
Nightwatcher Liam Hatcher spooned towards cover for a 26-ball duck before Blues captain Jack Edwards edged behind to wicketkeeper Sam Harper for 10. Boland sealed his five-fa when batter Ollie Davies top-edged a pull shot towards deep square leg for 4 before he and spinner Todd Murphy cleaned up the tail.
Boland has been Australia’s perennial 12th man since his unforgettable Test debut at the MCG during the 2021/22 Ashes series, but after taking 21 wickets at 13.19 during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign, the seamer is heaping pressure on the injury-prone Josh Hazlewood.
However, the Bendemeer Bullet’s superb bowling record in England means he is unlikely to miss selection for June’s World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s.
Victoria, chasing a 231-run target for victory, was bowled out for 154 in 38.4 overs after veteran seamer Jackson Bird decimated the top order in the afternoon session, with the Blues clinching a 76-run victory.
The tourists crumbled to 5-31 after Bird’s devastating opening spell, which included his 400th Sheffield Shield wicket and the dismissals of opener Marcus Harris and batter Peter Handscomb.
The 38-year-old, who finished with figures of 5-68 and was later named player of the match, becomes just the fifth cricketer to take 400 wickets in the Sheffield Shield, joining Clarrie Grimmett, Michael Kasprowicz, Andy Bichel and Jo Angel on the illustrious list.
Elsewhere in the Sheffield Shield, Tasmania is staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat at Adelaide Oval after South Australia posted 388 in the second innings, setting the tourists a 381-run target for victory.
Across in Brisbane, Western Australia secured an innings and 12-run victory over Queensland after the hosts were bowled out for 153 at the Gabba. Speedster Lance Morris was the chief destroyer with three scalps, while seamer Cameron Gannon snared two wickets against his former teammates.
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