The Sheffield Shield matches are entertaining the fans every now and then. It is good to see cricketers stepping up and delivering the goods when it mattered the most. Batsmen are scoring runs, bowlers are taking wickets, while fielders are saving runs.
However, in this particular Test format, the game demands lots of concentration. If there is any lapse of concentration, then it may slow down their team’s hopes of winning the match. Case in point, the game between Western Australia and South Australia turned out to be an epic thriller.
It is by far one of the best encounters in Sheffield Shield matches. Nobody expected this type of drama in the climax which kept the fans at the edge of their seats. South Australia tried their best to pull off a win but unfortunately that did not happen.
On the other hand, Western Australia played for a draw since they lost almost all wickets. South Australia required just one wicket to win the game. They almost took a wicket in the last ball of the last day of the match.
Western Australia’s hearts almost stopped after the ball bounced right in front of the fielder behind the stumps. Luckily, they escaped with a draw. The tail-ender batsman Liam O’Connor did his maximum best in the last over to draw a suspense thriller in Perth.
Nail-biting climax in Sheffield Shield match
The 14th match of the Sheffield Shield saw many good moments during the passage of play. Western Australia’s lower-order showed a lot of intent on the final day as they played to the best of their potential to play out a draw.
Earlier, South Australia set a target of 332 for the hosts. Thanks to a brilliant 121-run partnership between Alex Carey (82*) and Harry Nielsen (67). The pair added value to the scorecard in the morning session and put them in a strong position.
Chasing a massive target, the hosts lost wickets like a pack of cards and their body language clearly showed that they were going to lose the match. South Australia’s bowlers ripped through the defence of Western Australia’s batting unit.
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In the process, the hosts lost half of their side as they fell prey to the opposition’s bowlers. South Australia required 5 wickets to win the match and had plenty of overs to save the match. However, South Australia had other plans in place.
They removed Western Australia captain Shaun Marsh for 45. After his dismissal, they had a great chance of finishing off the tail. They tried their best to remove the tail and overall, they picked up 9 wickets.
Hilton Cartwright provided some hope by scoring 25 runs but he got out. In the end, Cameron Gannon (13) and O’Connor (0) batted quite well and helped Western Australia pull off a scintillating draw.
Liam O’Connor does the trick
In what was an intense drama in the last over, Liam O’Conner faced 6 balls with ease. Chadd Sayers tried his best to bowl good deliveries. However, Liam defended it quite well but Sayers posed a threat to Liam in the final ball. He bowled a bouncer but he barely survived in the last ball with close in-fielders surrounding him. In the end, he pulled off a defensive masterclass.
