Halfway through the shield season already
The latest was the same as the last round, two draws and a win to Tassie, so what else is new ?
In a fine turn around in form the Tassie batting has finally found form and only lost 4 wickets while their bowlers collected 20 of the Bluebaggers. In real turn up Jordan Silk made a century and Matthew Wade also made his first runs for season, Only Dougie could collect a couple wickets.
In a good team bowling effort Bell, Bird and Rainbird lead the way and young Rogers got 5 for the game.
Bluebaggers captain Neville was the only batsman to make runs in both innings. Cowan got a sixty and a duck, Maddinson a duck and 39 and Larkin a pair of ducks.
The Vics spin twins Holland and Fawad knocked over the Sandgropers cheaply in the first innings and Maxwell continued his good form and Seb Gotch made his first runs of the year out for 98 and top score. Vics couldnt repat the trick Bosisto making 98 after his first dig 57 and Wells making a ton.Th evics giving everyone except teh keeper a trundle in an effort to get WA to set a target.
Ferguson,132, and Carey,139, piled on the runs for the Croweaters and gave Swepson his first decent haul for the summer 5/142. The Bananabenders declared five down and a hundred behind after Burns made the fourth double ton of the season to date. In good round for the batting keepers Pierson made 82no. The game fizzled out after Qld declined to chase the target set.
Batting
NSW Hughes 287, Smith 268
Qld Burns 514, Labuschagne 356
Tas Bailey 385, Doolan 375
WA Bancroft 442, Marsh 402
SA Ferguson 541, Weatherald 457
Vic Maxwell 590, Harris 367
3 players over 500 at the half way mark.
The 2 leading runscorers are in the 2 bottom teams, while for the top team their leading runscorers are 19 and 20 on the list .
A mix of youth and experience at the top of the list.
Bowling
NSW Starc 17, Copeland 12
Qld Feldman 17, Swepson 16
Tas Bird 25, Bell18, Rainbird 18
WA Richardson 17, Kelly 13
SA Sayers 17, Mennie 17
Vic Tremain 22, Boland 21
Bird has leapfrogged the Vics Tremain and Boland to the top being the only bowler with 25.
Tassies improved form shows with Bell and Rainbird also at the top of the list
Sayer and Mennie still doing the work for SA.
WA suffering from the injuries to nearly all their frontline pacers
Swepson makes his first appearance in the list, Feldman having a consistent season.
Startc still the best NSW bowler despite having played only 2 games. Copeland 20th on the list.
Spinners
Swepson 16@36.7, Fawad 16@38.3, Zampa 14@43.9, Holland 11@18.6, Lyon 9@23.2
A better round for the twirlymen but Holland is the standout, having played only 2 games.
Keepers
NSW Neville 19/-, 221, 28b
Qld Pierson 15/- ,156, 26b
Tas Wade 18/-, 154, 17b
WA Inglis 10/-, 169, 13b
SA Carey 12/- , 301, 13 b
Vic Gotch 8/2 ,99, 19b ,Harper 10/1, 28, 6b
Carey now the leading runscorer out of the glovemen but nearly all had a good round with the bat, even Gotch who finally made more than 1 !
So the table is now fairly even, even the Vics have a chance to make the final from their current winless position at the toe of the table. NSW have come back to the pack with a loss and a draw since the test men are no longer playing, their bowling has not looked good.Perhaps Ed Cowan can turn it on after Christmas like he did last year.
Meanwhile everyone's tip for the wooden spoon Tassie, has have had two wins on the trot and were beaten only by the rain against Vic while last years finalists are languishing in the last two places with only a win between them. The SA batting seems to have improved but Sayers and Mennie don't seem to be getting the support of past years,although the Vics have only lost one game, they lead the comp in draws with 4. In contrats to SA the Vic bowlers are doing well and with teh exception of the Big Show, the batting is letting them down.
Qld had a good start but have come back as well while the tip for the big improvers WA have struggled, their batting is strong but the bowling is ravaged with injury.
There have been 6 draws out of the 15 games more than than the entire last season, interesting to see if the trend continues.
Next round 8th Feb