Harris fails but Vics fight against Bulls in Shield

Victoria's Test aspirant Marcus Harris failed and Queensland leg-spinner Mitch Swepson took four wickets on an even opening day of the Sheffield Shield match at the Gabba.

Harris made only two as the Victorians were bowled out for 186 on Sunday, with Queensland 5-94 in reply at stumps.

Swepson claimed 4-31 while paceman Mark Steketee (3-45) and Liam Guthrie (2-46) also proved a handful for Victoria's batsmen in the day-night encounter.

Harris, overlooked for the opening slot for the first Test against India, had a horror dismissal.

The left-hander attempted a glance to a wide leg-side Guthrie delivery but got an edge and Bulls wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson completed a smart catch diving to his right.

Harris's dismissal in the fourth over followed his opening partner Campbell Kellaway falling for a duck two overs earlier, leaving the visitors 2-5.

The Victorians struggled to recover with Matt Short the only batsman to capitalise on a promising start.

Short top-scored with 54 and struck seven boundaries from 70 balls but fellow top-order batsmen Sam Harper (33), Sam Elliott (26), Peter Handscomb (19) and Tom Rogers (18) were all dismissed when appearing set.

Short was Swepson's first victim and the tweaker then took the next three wickets as the Victorians slid from 5-143 to all out 186.

Queensland openers Matt Renshaw (14) and Bryce Street (seven) both fell cheaply to Sam Elliott (2-22) and Jack Clayton made 22 before two late strikes from Victoria's Xavier Crone left the game in the balance.

Crone (2-12) snared two wickets in three balls just before stumps while first-drop Angus Lovell remains unbeaten on 30.

Sheffield Shield standings 2024-25

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 Victoria Men VIC	4	2	1	1	0	0	3.76	3.4	20.16
2 Western Australia Men WA	4	2	1	1	0	0	3.85	3.2	20.05
3 South Australia Men SA	4	2	1	1	0	0	2.64	3.6	19.24
4 NSW Men NSW	4	1	1	2	0	0	3.03	3.3	14.33
5 Tasmanian Tigers Men TAS	4	0	2	2	0	0	5.41	3.2	10.61
6 Queensland Bulls QLD	4	0	1	3	0	0	3.75	3.6	10.35

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