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Scott Boland (6-46) decimates NSW | 01:09
Scott Boland has further pressed his claim 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 on Thursday morning as NSW lost 6-39 in a frantic collapse.
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.
Victoria, having trailed by 56 runs in the first innings, has been set 231-run target for victory.
Boland has been Australia’s perennial 12th man since his unforgettable Test debut at the MCG during the 2021/22 Ashes series. However, 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.
Elsewhere in the Sheffield Shield, Tasmania is staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat at Adelaide Oval with South Australia cruising at 8-352 with a lead of 344 runs.
Across in Brisbane, Queensland was 3-109 after 39 overs against Western Australia at the Gabba, leading by 56 runs.
