Cameron Green and Cameron Bancroft have rescued Western Australia on day four of the Sheffield Shield contest against Tasmania in Hobart, compiling centuries in a marathon partnership at Bellerive Oval.
After declaring overnight, the Tigers needed ten wickets on Monday to clinch a victory against the defending champions, boosting their odds of booking a spot in the Sheffield Shield final.
However, Green and Bancroft combined for an unbeaten 156-run partnership for the third wicket to escape with a draw, keeping the state’s three-peat dream alive for another week.
Bancroft was on 50 when Green walked to the middle in the 31st over, but the young all-rounder raced towards triple figures in just 138 deliveries, reaching the milestone before his teammate.
The patient Bancroft followed suit a couple of overs later, bringing up his 26th first-class hundred in 205 deliveries. Moments after he saluted the crowd, players and umpires shook hands.
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Green, who thumped 14 boundaries and a six during his 142-ball knock, had not mustered a first-class century in nearly 12 months, previously achieving the feat during last year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India. The West Australian lost his spot in the Test side during last year’s Ashes series in England, but was recalled ahead of the recent campaign against the West Indies, where he registered scores of 14, 8 and 42.
National selectors opted not to select Green for this week’s T20 series against the Black Caps so he could focus on Sheffield Shield cricket ahead of the upcoming Test tour of New Zealand, a decision that has seemingly paid dividends.
“He’s a quality player, I thought he played really nicely today,” Bancroft said at stumps.
“He probably got a bit more flow into his batting as the innings went on.
“I’m sure he’d be really pleased with that, and hopefully it’s something he can carry forward into New Zealand.”
Meanwhile, Bancroft has continued his stellar form in the Sheffield Shield, reclaiming the title of the competition’s leading run-scorer. The 31-year-old has accumulated 692 at 57.66 in the red-ball tournament this summer, including three centuries in eight matches.
The right-hander, also the leading run-scorer of last summer’s Sheffield Shield, missed selection for the Test tour of New Zealand, with Queensland’s Matthew Renshaw preferred for the two-match campaign.
“I’ve just tried to be really consistent with myself, no matter what happens outcome wise.” Bancroft said.
“I know if I can do that, I can give myself a really good chance to play well.
“It was nice to and contribute and play a role to what we needed to do here today.”
Western Australia will next face New South Wales in the Marsh Cup final at Silverwater’s Cricket Central on Sunday, with the first ball scheduled for 10.05am AEDT.
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Meanwhile NSW escaped with a draw despite being on the brink of a humiliating Shield loss to Victoria.
The Blues were 8-116 after a first innings total of 252, still chasing the Vics’ 6-454 (declared) when rain forced an end to proceedings in Sydney.
Most runs in the 2023/24 Sheffield Shield
692 — Cameron Bancroft (WA)
664 — Beau Webster (TAS)
594 — Charlie Wakim (TAS)
519 — Nathan McSweeney (SA)
518 — Jordan Silk (TAS)
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