Bulls secure crucial draw with South Australia, paving their way to the Shield final
Match Report:
ScorecardQueensland qualify for final after results fall their way
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Update: Queensland have qualified for the Sheffield Shield final after drawing with South Australia and seeing other results fall their way.
By the afternoon of day four, it became clear neither side had a realistic chance of victory, leaving South Australia captain Nathan McSweeney and Queensland skipper Marnus Labuschagne to shake hands.
Having reached 7-614 declared in their first innings, South Australia finished at 5-252 in their second dig after bowling Queensland out for 370, but ran out of time to enter their home final in winning form.
Having secured the draw they needed to remain in contention, the second-placed Bulls had to hope NSW would fail in their chase of a lofty 529 for victory set by Tasmania in Hobart.
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Queensland were also relying on Western Australia not winning and snatching their spot with a big chase - 382 runs - of their own against Victoria.
Neither result happened and Queensland will now be back at Karen Rolton Oval next Wednesday to face South Australia again in the five-day decider.
After resuming at 2-66 in their second innings on day four, South Australia put on 186 runs for the loss of three wickets.
Jason Sangha brought up a fifth first-class century with an unbeaten 103, reaching triple figures by driving Mitch Swepson for six over the cover boundary.
It was one of four sixes for the former Sydney Thunder captain, who had slog swept former Test spinner Swepson over long on earlier in the match.
It's just a six to bring up the hundred ... cool and casual from Jason Sangha 😎
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 18, 2025
LIVE: https://t.co/LIS7yhhKPm#SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/PKf06HLb3n
Sangha's feats came as high-profile teammates fell around him on day four.
After snaring centurion Conor McInerney in the first innings, part-time paceman Labuschagne (2-34) trapped ex-Test teammate Nathan McSweeney (27) to finish as the match's unlikely leading wicket-taker.
Labuschagne posted match figures of 4-107.
Marnus Labuschagne gets the first wicket of the second innings #SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/HdKqRdxuXQ
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 17, 2025
Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey (56) continued his impressive summer with the bat, bringing up his half-century before driving another part-timer in Matt Renshaw to Ben McDermott at cover.
Carey, who made 104 in the first innings, has averaged 120.67 across his past four first-class knocks.
Sheffield Shield standings 2024-25
| Team | M | W | L | D | N/R | Ded. | Bat | Bowl | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
SA
|
10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7.61 | 9 | 55.61 |
|
2
QLD
|
10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9.06 | 8.7 | 39.76 |
|
3
VIC
|
10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5.19 | 9.3 | 39.49 |
|
4
NSW
|
10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6.99 | 8.4 | 36.39 |
|
5
TAS
|
10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7.72 | 8.2 | 35.92 |
|
6
WA
|
10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5.83 | 8.6 | 35.43 |
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
D: Drawn
N/R: No results
Ded.: Deductions
Bat: Batting Bonus
Bowl: Bowling Bonus
PTS: Total points