Runs galore in frustrating Vic-SA Shield draw
TRY as they might, Victoria and South Australia couldn’t find a way to contrive a result in their drawn Sheffield Shield season opener, with the stupefying stalemate probably a fair reflection of the lifeless Junction Oval pitch.
Tensions ran high with Victoria skipper Peter Handscomb and South Australia counterpart Travis Head unable to reach an agreement on a sporting declaration to set up a final-day run chase.
The flat, slow wicket saw a combined total of 1287 runs scored for the loss of just 12 wickets before the match was mercifully called off half an hour before the scheduled tea break on the final day.
After winning the toss on Thursday, Handscomb declared at 6-616 about 40 minutes before tea on day two, clearly hoping the ageing pitch would help the Vics bowl the visitors out twice.
But SA found the going just as easy on the road-like surface, progressing to 6-671, their highest score against the Vics and their third-highest ever, before play finished.
Handscomb felt Head didn’t do enough to give either side a chance at a win.
“I’m just annoyed the game is dead,” Handscomb said on Saturday night.
A matter of 30 runs proved the sticking point, with Handscomb keen to set the visitors a target of 350 from 80 overs and Head only willing to chase 320.
“We tried but both teams didn’t want to budge,” said Head, who admitted to being annoyed by aspects of Handscomb’s tirade.
Harris gave his chances of holding onto a Test opener’s spot a shot in the arm with a well-made 116, while Nic Maddinson hit a career-high 224 and young gun Will Pucovski impressed with 123.
For SA, Tom Cooper was unbeaten on a career-high 271, Alex Carey made a polished 117 and Tom Andrews (101) broke through for maiden first-class century. Maddinson (bruised finger) and Aaron Finch (back spasms) left the match with injury concerns.