Sam Konstas has made a strong case for a return to the Australian Test side after two domestic centuries in a week. The 21-year-old scored 149 off 131 balls for NSW against Western Australia in the One-Day Cup at the WACA on Saturday. Days earlier he made 151 not out in a Sheffield Shield draw with Western Australia. His Test record is modest, with a 16.30 average from five matches, and his highest Test score remains 60, made on debut against India in 2024. NSW next play Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield in Hobart from Friday.
NSW opener Sam Konstas scored an unbeaten 149 off 131 balls as his side beat Western Australia by 78 runs in the One-Day Cup at the WACA Ground. It was his second century in a week, following scores of 71 and 151 not out in a Sheffield Shield match against WA. NSW posted 8-371, and WA were bowled out for 293 in reply. Sam Whiteman made 116 for WA, but the home side fell well short of the target. The 21-year-old, who last played Test cricket in July last year, is seen as a candidate for a Test recall.
Injured Joel Paris and wicketkeeper Joel Curtis batted through 28 overs to save a draw for Western Australia against NSW at the WACA Ground. Chasing 364 for victory, WA had slumped to 9-205 before the pair refused to take easy runs. Paris, batting at No.11 with a runner after hurting his hamstring, finished on 25 not out, while Curtis was unbeaten on 19. NSW dominated the match but could not dismiss the final batter. Sam Konstas was named player of the match for his knocks of 71 and 151 not out.
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Tasmania beat Victoria by four runs to win a Sheffield Shield match in Hobart. Gabe Bell took six second innings wickets, including the final two, to seal the Tigers' first win of the season. Victoria were bowled out for 266, just short of their 271-run target. It is the narrowest winning margin by runs in the competition's 134-year history. Ben McDermott was named player of the match for his first-innings century.
Victoria needed just 19 runs to beat Tasmania at Bellerive when Hoekstra came to the crease. Liam Blackford had been dismissed for 80, and Fergus O'Neill was on 44 when he was caught in the deep with nine runs still needed. Hoekstra reached his mark, and a mix-up saw him safely back in his crease. Victoria needed five runs when Harry was the last man out, caught behind after a slash at a ball that might have won the match.
Sam Konstas scored an unbeaten 151 from 167 balls for New South Wales against Western Australia in their Sheffield Shield match at the WACA Ground. NSW declared their second innings at 5-262, leaving WA a target of 364 runs to win. WA were 3-30 at stumps on day three, with Ben Dwarshuis taking two wickets and Jack Edwards one. Konstas said he felt clear in his batting. His century came after he was dropped from the Test team in July last year.
Tasmania has gained a crucial advantage over Victoria in their Sheffield Shield clash, with Victoria needing 173 more runs to win. At stumps on Wednesday, Victoria were 5-98 at Bellerive Oval, after losing Matt Short and Todd Murphy in the final overs. Gabe Bell took 3-22, including dismissing Short for 17 and Murphy for a duck. Marcus Harris was unbeaten on 39, while Victoria's paceman Harry Hoekstra took 4-52 in Tasmania's second innings, which ended at 236. Nikhil Chaudhary top-scored with 81 for Tasmania.
Queensland beat defending Sheffield Shield champions South Australia by six wickets at Adelaide Oval on day three. Chasing 111 to win, Queensland slumped to 4-29 before Jimmy Peirson (48 not out) and Jack Clayton (37 not out) steered them home. Paceman Xavier Bartlett took seven wickets for the match. South Australia's loss was their first since round two last season, ending a nine-game unbeaten run.
Harry Hoekstra took another wicket on the morning of day three of the Sheffield Shield match in Hobart. His dismissal of Ben McDermott left Tasmania at 5 for 75. Hoekstra has taken seven wickets in the match so far, including 5 for 46 in the first innings. Victoria needs to win after a poor showing in the first round against South Australia. The Tigers were building a lead, which was approaching 150 runs.
New South Wales bowlers Jack Edwards and Sean Abbott took the key wickets as Western Australia trailed by 195 runs at stumps on day two of their Sheffield Shield match. Edwards took 3-23 and Abbott 2-25. WA were 7-245 in reply to New South Wales' declaration of 6-440 at the WACA Ground. Jack Edwards and Sean Abbott had the home side in trouble early, after Cameron Bancroft was run out. Hardie and Curtis put on a 118-run fifth-wicket stand before both were dismissed by Edwards. New South Wales' Kurtis Patterson made 122 before being bowled by Kieran Elliott.
Queensland have taken control of their Sheffield Shield match against South Australia at Adelaide Oval. Replying to South Australia's 203, the Bulls were dismissed for 238, and paceman Xavier Bartlett then tore through the home top order. South Australia were 7-104 at stumps on day two, leading by only 69 runs. Jem Ryan took two wickets in two overs, while Cameron Gannon finished with 2-29. Bartlett ended with 3-33 from 10 overs.
Ben McDermott and Jake Doran are set to be key figures in Tasmania's round two Sheffield Shield match against Victoria, which could go either way. After 14 wickets fell on Tuesday at Bellerive Oval, the pair rescued the home side for the second day running. Tasmania reached 4-39 at stumps, a lead of 73, with McDermott unbeaten on 12 and Doran on 14. Victoria had been well placed before Mitch Owen took 4-58 and Marcus Bean took 3-32, sparking a collapse.
NSW left-hander Kurtis Patterson has posted his first century of the Sheffield Shield season, adding to his form in the opening round. Patterson finished on 117 not out against Western Australia. Former teammate Moises Henriques said Patterson is among Australia's most experienced batters for the Test against South Africa. Patterson said he had spoken with national selector George Bailey but that scoring runs was the only way to improve his chances. He has not played a Test since his last appearance in the Baggy Green more than seven years ago.
Harry Hoekstra was hit on the helmet by Tasmania paceman Mitch Owen in his first over facing, bringing the team doctor onto the field. Hoekstra recovered and scored 10 runs before being dismissed. Victoria trailed Tasmania's first innings total of 241 after making 199 in reply. Hoekstra took 5 wickets for 46 runs off 20 overs, though he dropped an outfield catch. Victoria will hope he repeats the performance in Tasmania's second innings at Bellerive Oval.
Queensland paceman Cameron Gannon took 5-42 to dismiss South Australia for 203 on the opening day of their Sheffield Shield match at Adelaide Oval on Monday. The 37-year-old returned to Queensland after six seasons with Western Australia. South Australia's Jake Lehmann made 62 and skipper Nathan McSweeney 54, sharing a 93-run partnership. Queensland finished day one on 2-63, with Hugo Burdon unbeaten on 39.
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Ben McDermott returned to the crease after retiring hurt and scored 128 to rescue Tasmania against Victoria in their Sheffield Shield match. The Tasmanians had slumped to 7-45 before being dismissed for 241 on day one at Bellerive Oval. McDermott shared a 166-run eighth-wicket stand with Jake Doran, who made 73. Victoria's Harry Hoekstra took five wickets, finishing with 5-46 from 20 overs.
Victoria paceman Harry Hoekstra continued his strong first-class start with a key performance in Hobart on Monday. Batting first on a first-day pitch at Bellerive Oval, Tasmania lost early wickets to him, including Jordan Silk with his third delivery. Hoekstra claimed his second five-wicket haul in only his second Sheffield Shield match. Cricket Victoria said the bounce of the pitch suited his crafty bowling. By lunch, Tasmania were 7 for 45.
Tasmania host Victoria at Bellerive Oval in the annual Scott Mason Memorial match, with Nikhil Chaudhary and Mitch Owen returning. Victoria regain Todd Murphy and Will Sutherland. In Adelaide, South Australia host Queensland, with captain Nathan McSweeney and Liam Scott back in the side. Queensland have called up Tom Campbell for his first-class debut. At the WACA Ground, Western Australia face New South Wales, who will be led by 23-year-old Lachlan Shaw for the first time in the Shield.
Tasmania batted out a draw to deny NSW their first victory of the Sheffield Shield season at Cricket Central in Sydney. Jake Doran (84 not out) and Brad Hope (53 not out) secured the result, with Tim Ward scoring 83. The game was called off late on Sunday with Tasmania on 5-402, a lead of 147. NSW had earlier posted 9 declared for 500, built around Oliver Davies' 253 off 225 balls. Sean Abbott took 4-54 for NSW, but could not break through in the final innings.
Western Australia beat Queensland by two wickets at the WACA Ground in Perth, chasing 201 on the final day. Aaron Hardie was named player of the match after scoring 80 not out from 128 deliveries. Sam Fanning batted on despite a torn hamstring, crab-walking between wickets, and finished the match by hitting the winning runs. Xavier Bartlett took three wickets on the final day, finishing with nine for the match for Queensland. The result gives new WA head coach Beau Casson a winning start in the Sheffield Shield.
