Quantcast

Victoria flying after big Siddle haul

South Australia on the ropes as Bushrangers close in on Sheffield Shield final

A career-best haul from paceman Peter Siddle has given the Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers an inside running to the Bupa Sheffield Shield final.

Siddle took 8-54 to rout South Australia's first innings on day three of their Shield match and put the Bushrangers on track for a precious outright win at Glenelg Oval in Adelaide.

After being bowled out for 175 in their first innings, South Australia were made to follow-on and at stumps on Saturday were 4-237 in their second dig, still 122 runs behind Victoria.

The Bushrangers fancy their chances of wrapping up a victory on Sunday to ensure they keep second spot on the ladder, and maybe even rise to top, with one round remaining before the final.

Siddle had never previously taken more than six wickets in a first-class innings.

But he took four of five Redbacks wickets to fall on Friday - the other was a run out.

And after fellow quick Scott Boland grabbed the initial wicket on Saturday, Siddle took the next four in just three overs.

Only Jake Lehmann, the son of Australian coach Darren Lehmann offered genuine resistance - he top-scored with 54 in his maiden first-class knock.

Siddle was on a hat-trick to start SA's second innings but the last-placed Redbacks, staring at their fifth wooden spoon in six Shield seasons, made a better fist of it when told to follow on.

Openers Kelvin Smith (75) and Mark Cosgrove (68) put on a 137-run stand but the Redbacks then lost four wickets in a span of 43 runs.

Siddle could only take one wicket in the second innings while part-timer Marcus Stoinis enjoyed multiple success with 2-14 from eight overs.

SA's bid for an unlikely draw relies greatly on Travis Head and Lehmann, who are both not out 29.

Victoria
Matthew Wade (c), Fawad Ahmed, Scott Boland, Dan Christian, Peter Handscomb, David Hussey, Rob Quiney, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Marcus Stoinis, Chris Tremain, Jon Holland (12th man)

South Australia
Travis Head (c), Mark Cosgrove, Tom Cooper, Callum Ferguson, Jake Lehmann, Tim Ludeman, Joe Mennie, Kane Richardson, Kelvin Smith, Daniel Worrall, Adam Zampa, Alex Ross (12th man)