In a Sheffield Shield final match, Western Australia scored 244 and 168 runs in their two innings, beating Victoria, who scored 144 and 130 runs, by 138 runs.
Western Australia secured their spot in the Sheffield Shield final for the third consecutive time by beating Victoria and overtaking Tasmania for the top spot on the leaderboard.
The team, which has been champions for the past two years, had to win their last regular-season game to keep their hopes alive for a third consecutive Shield win. They faced Victoria in what essentially was a knockout game at the Junction Oval in Melbourne and came out victorious, winning by 138 runs.
Victoria, needing 269 runs to win, struggled against WA’s bowling attack and were all out for 130 runs on the rain-interrupted third day of the match. Despite some initial resistance, Victoria’s batting lineup collapsed early on, losing key players like Nic Maddinson, Marcus Harris, and Peter Handscomb.
Harris was caught brilliantly by Cameron Bancroft off Joel Paris, while Maddinson fell to Cameron Gannon’s bowling, who had already made a mark with five wickets in the first innings.
Young batsman Campbell Kellaway impressed with a half-century, showcasing his potential with the bat. He held the innings together amidst the fall of wickets around him.
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Western Australia‘s bowlers, led by spinner Corey Rocchiccioli and left-armer Liam Haskett, wrapped up Victoria’s innings efficiently. Rocchiccioli even had a chance for a hat-trick after dismissing two batsmen in consecutive deliveries.
Victoria’s captain Will Sutherland expressed the disappointment of the team, especially with their batting performance, stating that it hurt more than losing a final match.
Injuries also plagued Victoria, with players like Sutherland, Scott Boland, and Fergus O’Neill struggling through the match.
The final match of the Sheffield Shield will be hosted by Western Australia at the WACA Ground, starting on March 21. Tasmania, who lost their chance to host the final after a surprise defeat against South Australia, will travel to Perth for the decider.
Western Australia aims to join Queensland and Victoria as the only teams this century to win three consecutive Shield titles. Tasmania last won the Shield in the 2012-13 season.
WA’s captain Sam Whiteman emphasized the team’s focus on winning this year’s Shield rather than getting caught up in the idea of a three-peat, acknowledging the challenges and uncertainties of the competition.