That round of the Shield was a low-scoring affair with only Tassie able to top 300 runs in an innings. Was it the Duke balls ? If it was someone needs to let NSW in on the secret.
It was also a tipsters nightmare. NSW received a setback for their final hopes with only a draw after the Apple eaters had the upper hand for the first 3 days, at last their batsmen lent Gorgeous George Bailey some support.
Table leaders Vic were rolled in two days by Jason Behrendorff in his return from injury.
It was Behrendorff's match with 9/37 being the 5th best innings figures in shield history and 14/89 being the 9th best match figures and the best bowling performance in the last 35 years.
SA were the favourites to get up due to their pace bowlers but at 4/92 in their second dig it looked like they were goners but at last their batsmen made some runs. Chad Sayers being the first to 50 wickets this season.
With 2 rounds to go there is nothing in it, only Tassie is out of the running for the final. Vics will be in if they can win one of their games. Everyone else needs to win both games to make it. As is now traditional, it will depend on the results of the last round to determine the final contenders.
Batting
Vic Harris 561, Dean 513
SA Cooper 586, Lehmann 576
WA Wells 547, Turner 546
NSW Cowan 637, Henriques 605
Qld Burns 642, Labuschagne 526
Tas Bailey 759, Milenko 486
George Bailey is now the leading runscorer,and the only realistic chance of topping 1000 runs for the season.Milenko still the Apple eaters second best runscorer.
Burns in second place, while the former frontrunning Vic bats Harris now 7th and Dean, 12th, are falling down the list, not scoring much since the break. Only Finch made any decent runs in the last game.
Despite the Croweaters poor batting performances Lehmann was been consistent while Cooper has made some big scores.
Over west Wells has been the first top-order batman to overtake Turner.
Cowans last three scores 212,0,115 and 51no has him well up the list.
Bowling
Vic Holland 38, Tremain 34
SA Sayers 50, Richardson 31
WA Mackin 33, Behrendorff 28
NSW Somerville 31, Copeland 17
Qld George 22, Feldmann 15
Tas Milenko 22, Stevenson 21
Sayers still the standout bowler of the season with 50 wickets with 2 games to go.
Somerville joins Holland as a spinner leading the bowling for their state.
Mackin and Holland both wicketless this round.
Feldmann is still the Bananabenders 2nd best bowler despite not playing the last 3 games.
Qld leading wicket takers 10th on teh list , Tassie's is 11th.
Highest average of the top 7 wicket takers is Richardson with 23.The Dorff's ave is now 14.75. Sayers is averaging 16.7.
Boland in 8th is averaging 30 and none of the rest average below 25.
Zampa 9th is now the 3rd spinner in top 10 with 23@ 28.
Spinners
Holland 38@20, Sommerville 31@19, Zampa 23@28, Agar 16 @27,O'Keefe 11@19,Webster 11@42 Swepson 10@43, Floros 9 @55
While there is not much depth it has been a better year than last year to be a spinner.
Stumpers Batting
Nevill NSW 512@ 64
Hartley Qld 460@92 (8no)
Carey SA 371@28
Doran Tas 288@24
Whiteman WA 230@26
HArper Vic 150@25
Double Centurions
Henriques 265
Hansdcomb215
Cowan 212
Doolan202 no (314 in 10 innings)
Bailey 200no
Down among the Dead Men (sic)
Heazlett 234 @21 6 games
Ferguson 211@15 8 games
Dunk 147@ 15 5 games
Forrest 161 @16 5 games
Silk 278@ 25 6 games
Vics need to learn to bat in Autumn
NSW need some wickets (Is the curtain coming down on Dougie? )
SA need their batters to match their bowlers
Qld need some bowlers
WA looking good
Tassie hope to have turned a corner
Next round starts 7th March
Vics play Sandgropers again, in the Alice
Bluebaggers vs Croweaters in Sydney
Appleeaters vs Bananbenders in Hobart
