Davies ton caps top season as NSW edge closer to victory

Oliver Davies struck a sparkling century before taking a spectacular one-handed catch to put NSW on track for victory against Queensland at Allan Border Field.

Davies thumped 131 off 147 balls to lift NSW to 316 in reply to Queensland's paltry 144 in the Sheffield Shield clash in Brisbane.

The Bulls went to stumps on day three at 8-287 in their second innings, a lead of 115 with just two wickets remaining.

Queensland sunk to 4-42 and 5-118 before Jimmy Peirson (64) and Jack Wildermuth (47) helped the Bulls avoid an innings loss.

Xavier Bartlett (57no) then combined with Mitch Swepson (7no off 30 balls) to push the Bulls to a small lead.

The pair will resume at the crease on Thursday, with Bulls captain Peirson still hopeful of pulling off an upset victory.

"I'd love another 50 or 60 runs," Peirson said.

"There's a crack developing at one end for the quicks to hit that, and there's certainly some divots there to play with as well. 

"So if we can get another 50 or 60 runs - it's a funny game."

NSW spinner Tanveer Sangha finished the day with 4-116, snaring the scalps of Angus Lovell (10), Jack Clayton (12) and Ben McDermott (31) along the way.

The most special of those dismissals was that of Clayton, with Davies snaring a one-handed reflex catch at leg slip to send the batsman packing.

"I was going right and then it went left, so I stuck the hand out there and got it. It was a nice one," Davies said.

NSW resumed play on Wednesday well placed at 5-222, with Davies on 79 and Jack Edwards on 31.

Although Edwards was only able to add one more run, Davies took the game by the scruff of the neck to post a deserved century.

It marked the 23-year-old's second consecutive Shield ton, following on from his 115 against South Australia earlier this month.

"I felt good out there," Davies said. 

"I played some attacking cricket and tried to put them under pressure.

"The wicket looks like it's getting nice and flat, so hopefully we can clean them up in the morning and be chasing no more than 120, 130."

Davies finished the season with the fifth most runs in the competition at 645 and was the only NSW batter to feature in the top 20 run scorers. 

He put his successful campaign down to spending more time in the nets. 

“I definitely have been hitting a lot more balls at training, been spending a lot more time working with the coaches, not necessarily (on) anything around technique but just decision making," he said.

“I have just been figuring that out by hitting more balls so it’s been awesome.”

Davies has also been working with the coaches on a potential promotion in the batting order. 

"I have been asking to push up the order but, at the moment, I think No.6 is best for me and best for the team," he said.

"So hopefully next season there might be an opportunity to slide up the order a little bit, we will just have to wait and see."

NSW opener Sam Konstas suffered a potential concussion after hitting his head on the turf while dropping a catch late on day three.

Konstas was falling backwards in an attempt to catch a skied ball from Mark Steketee. 

As the ball slipped through his fingers, Konstas' head whipped backwards and struck the turf.

Konstas went off the field for a concussion test and looks set to miss the final day.

"I think he's going to be sitting tomorrow out," Davies said. 

"He didn't look amazing when he was coming off, but hopefully he's all good moving forward."

Sheffield Shield 2023-24 standings