Bulls on brink of big win after Vics crumble again

Victoria are staring down another sizeable Sheffield Shield defeat after big knocks from Queensland trio Matt Renshaw, Jack Clayton and Michael Neser put them to the sword.

In reply to Victoria's first-innings total of 253 in South Mackay, Queensland declared at 9-501.

Renshaw was the hero on Sunday with 135, and it was Clayton (109) and Neser (90 off 113 balls) who did the damage on Monday.

Victoria went to stumps on day three in all sorts of bother at 7-104, still requiring a further 144 runs to make the Bulls bat again.

The poor display follows on from their first-round defeat to WA by an innings and 53 runs.

The visitors’ top three of Travis Dean (two), Marcus Harris (10) and Campbell Kellaway (19) all failed in the second innings against Queensland.

And when Matt Short, who scored a century in his first dig, fell for a 10-ball duck after edging Gurinder Sandhu behind, Victoria slumped to 4-47.

The Vics were in disarray at 7-87 following an inspired spell from spinner Mitchell Swepson (3-14), before Peter Handscomb (31no) and Todd Murphy (13no) ensured their side made it to stumps.

Neser finished the day with figures of 1-18 from 11 overs, while Mark Steketee (2-46), Sandhu (1-14) and Swepson were also impressive.

Queensland will be aiming to wrap up the win early on day four, with Victoria facing a monumental task to force a draw.

Last season’s finalists Victoria have posted totals of 256, 172, and 253 in their three completed innings so far this Shield season, while their bowling attack has struggled for regular breakthroughs.

WA managed to post 481 against Victoria in the season opener, while Queensland's line-up feasted on the attack in Mackay.

Neser was particularly brutal, cracking nine fours and four sixes in his quick-fire knock.

Clayton was more patient on the way to posting his second Shield century.

Sheffield Shield 2023-24 standings

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Drawn D	No results N/R	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Bowling Bonus Bowl	Total points PTS
1 Western Australia Men WA	10	5	2	3	0	0	5.53	9.4	47.93
2 Tasmanian Tigers Men TAS	10	5	2	3	0	0	6.06	8.3	47.36
3 NSW Men NSW	10	4	3	3	0	0	6.31	9	42.31
4 Victoria Men VIC	10	4	4	2	0	0	4.74	8.2	38.94
5 South Australia Men SA	10	3	6	1	0	0	5.19	9.3	33.49
6 Queensland Bulls QLD	10	2	6	2	0	0	3.54	8.3	25.84

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

D: Drawn

N/R: No results

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

Bowl: Bowling Bonus

PTS: Total points