Smith the lone fighter as Vics give NSW the blues

Steve Smith is averaging more than 100 this summer before heading into the Ashes, but his half-century on Wednesday couldn't save NSW from a 300-run Sheffield Shield defeat to Victoria.

On a dramatic third day at the SCG where both Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott left the ground for hamstring scans, NSW were all out for 125 chasing 425 for victory.

Hazlewood has since been cleared for the first Test but Abbott is out of contention, with their issues just nine days out from Ashes opener in Perth overshadowing NSW's woes.

But by the end of Wednesday, NSW had still been convincingly beaten inside three days, after being bowled out twice in a combined 89.3 overs for the match.

Sam Elliott picked up three wickets for Victoria to go with his maiden five-wicket haul in the first innings, while Fergus O'Neill bowled well for his 2-22.

But what can't be denied is the form Smith will enter next week's first Test in, as he prepares to captain Australia in the absence of the injured Pat Cummins.

Smith's unbeaten 56 on Wednesday means he now has scores of 118, 57 and 56no to start the summer for NSW after returning from an extended holiday in America. 

While he flourished with the drive in the first innings on Tuesday, the bulk of his runs came square of the wicket and behind it as he played a lone hand on Wednesday.

Steve Smith looks in good touch heading to Perth.

There was still one big six down the ground off Todd Murphy, when he lifted the finger-spinner over long off.

But while Smith again looked in good shape, Sam Konstas' 27 in the fourth innings made him the only other Blue to pass 20 in the match.

On a pitch with plenty of variable bounce, six Blues were either bowled or trapped lbw as Will Sutherland also claimed 2-37 and Scott Boland 1-24.

Earlier, Abbott took three wickets in six balls before suffering his injury at the end of a five-over spell.

The seamer bowled Todd Murphy and Peter Handscomb in the same over, before Oliver Peake edged a ball back onto his own stumps in Abbott's next over.

Hazlewood also had Sam Harper caught on the pull shot, before reporting some tightness to Smith and leaving the field for scans.

"Coming into this game, we knew it was going to be a big challenge," Victoria coach Chris Rogers said. 

"It's almost one of those games where you're playing against a bit of a superstar team. If you lose, that's okay. It could be a good health check to see where you are.

"But to come out and play with such a dominant performance, I think it gives our changing room such a lift."

Sheffield Shield 2025-26 standings

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	6	5	1	0	0	0	5.87	5.3	41.17
2 Queensland Bulls QLD	6	2	2	2	0	0	8.18	4.2	26.38
3 South Australia Men SA	6	2	2	2	0	0	4.69	5.6	24.29
4 NSW Men NSW	6	2	3	1	0	0	4.65	4.9	22.55
5 Tasmanian Tigers Men TAS	6	2	3	1	0	2	3.34	5	19.34
6 Western Australia Men WA	6	1	3	2	0	0	1.61	5.5	15.11

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