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Konstas ramps his way through Shield | 00:40
Victorian discard Kieran Elliott steered Tasmania to a last-gasp Sheffield Shield victory over his former state as former Test batter Peter Handscomb was left to rue a late decision in a thrilling 20-run loss in Hobart.
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Handscomb, who missed selection for Test tour of Sri Lanka, fired 93 in a mighty attempt to reel in a target of 260 on the same day Sam Konstas, who did go to the subcontinent but didn’t play, failed to guide New South Wales to victory over Queensland.
Instead Elliott was the hero for Tasmania, securing second innings figures of 6-84 off a marathon 28.1 overs, taking his match haul to 10, as he rescued the Tigers from a seemingly unwinnable position after Handscomb compiled yet another brilliant innings.
The right-arm seamer was a Victorian just two seasons ago, playing in a Victorian Premier Cricket flag for Melbourne alongside Vics Fergus O’Neill and Sam Harper.
Those former teammates looked to be on the winning side again when the Vics were cruising at 6-212 heading into the final hour before Elliott dismissed Harper for 32.
Victorian captain Will Sutherland (18 off 16) then eased the pressure off Handscomb briefly before he too was undone by Elliott.
Handscomb, accompanied by veteran Peter Siddle, tried to bludgeon the Vics over the line but he skied a leg-side stroke off Elliott to fall short of his ton and victory.
His dismissal came a ball after refusing to take a single having battered the ball to the mid-wicket boundary where it was pulled up by a fielder who lost his footing.
Instead the Vics were short of their target as the Tigers celebrated a famous win.
In Brisbane, the highly-anticipated return of Konstas failed to reach its lofty expectations as the teenager could not ramp New South Wales to victory.
Chasing 418, Konstas pulled out the shots he played against Jasprit Bumrah on Boxing Day in the final minutes of day three against Queensland.
He reverse ramped Bulls quick Xavier Bartlett before charging down the wicket to seamer Michael Neser several times before stumps.
Konstas (22) added just 13 to his overnight score on day four before nicking off to fellow young gun Tom Straker.
In all formats including Test, BBL and Sheffield Shield, Konstas is averaging just 18 across his past eight innings.
The in-form Kurtis Patterson was also unable to continue his golden summer after making a century against England Lions a fortnight ago.
Patterson managed only a single run in the first innings and was dismissed for 18 in the second innings, as Queensland reduced the visitors to 5-66.
Much like Victoria, New South Wales had fought its way back into the match before a frantic final hour before stumps.
A partnership between Jack Edwards (53 off 150) and Josh Philippe (80 off 143) had the Blues close to sneaking away with a draw.
But a terrific final spell from Neser and Bartlett ensured the Bulls would get maximum points, sealing victory inside the final 30 minutes of play, rolling the Blues for 229 with the bowlers sharing the wickets.
