New South Wales defeated Victoria by 76 runs in a Sheffield Shield match, scoring 238 and 174 against Victoria’s 182 and 154. Scott Boland was instrumental for NSW with match figures of 10 for 102, while Jackson Bird claimed 5 for 68, marking his entry into the 400-wicket club. Bird expressed pride in the milestone but emphasized his desire to win a Sheffield Shield title, a feat he hasn’t achieved yet. Victoria struggled, with only one player reaching 40 as they collapsed early in their innings. The defeat marked Victoria’s third consecutive loss, complicating their path to the final.
New South Wales scored 238 (Davies 89, Boland 4-56) and 174 (Gilkes 49, Boland 6-46) to defeat Victoria, who tallied 182 (Bird 3-24) and 154 (Murphy 40, Bird 5-68), by 76 runs.
On the third day, Bird took 5 for 68, exploiting a pitch that was becoming increasingly difficult for batting, as Victoria was all out for 154 while chasing 230. The gap was only slightly closed thanks to a late surge from Todd Murphy, who scored 40 runs off 32 balls.
Bird’s initial wicket in the final innings, achieved by getting Marcus Harris to edge the ball, marked his entry into the exclusive club of bowlers with 400 wickets, joining the ranks of Clarrie Grimmett, Michael Kasprowicz, Andy Bichel, and Jo Angel.
“It probably signifies that I’ve been around for a long time,” Bird shared. “Hitting milestones along the way is rewarding, but a good team win like this makes it even better. It’s truly a splendid team effort.”
“Being part of the [400] group is great, but my main aim now is to secure a Sheffield Shield. I’ve never won one before, so that’s the priority for me right now and what motivates me to keep playing at my age.”
At 38, Bird noted that he would decide on his future at the end of the season. “I’m taking it one game at a time for now,” he remarked. “I really felt spent after this afternoon’s play. I don’t want to overstay my welcome. It’s uncertain if I’ll be mentally ready for another pre-season. If I do play next year, my availability will likely be different.”
Victoria’s top five batsmen failed to reach double figures, plummeting to 31 for 5, which effectively sealed their fate. Bird sent Tom Rogers to first slip, got Harry Dixon to mishit a pull, and forced Peter Handscomb into a mishandled rising delivery. He later dismissed Fergus O’Neill for his fifth wicket, concluding the game with a seasonal total of 30 wickets at an average of 13.96.
This victory elevated NSW to second place in what appears to be a race for the final against South Australia. For Victoria, it marked their third straight loss, complicating their path to the finals with challenges ahead against SA and an away game against Western Australia.
“Dropping Ollie Davies in the first innings really hurt us,” lamented coach Chris Rogers. “Our batting fell apart around breaks, and we simply weren’t up to the standard required to win matches. There are numerous questions we need to address.”
“I never expected to be in this position before our last Shield match against Queensland ahead of the BBL break. We have no one to blame but ourselves. It’s disheartening and highlights the competitiveness of this league. We must understand why so many crucial moments have slipped away from us.”
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo