Welcome to our live report for the opening day of the Sheffield Shield final between Queensland and defending champions New South Wales at Allan Border Field in Brisbane. Join us for updates throughout the day.
*Most recent entry will appear at the top, please refresh your page for the latest updates. All times are local.
4.30pm: Full house
They had to shut the gates on the second day as the ground reached its Covid-19 limit. Great to see.
4.00pm: Bonus point standings
Doesn’t look like it will need to be the deciding factor given the time remaining, but we’ve now had 100 overs from both sides so have the bonus points confirmed:
Queensland: 1.48
New South Wales 0.3
So if it was a draw, Queensland would take the title. Their leading has now extended beyond a hundred. They aren’t in any rush yet. The forecast says a chance of a shower tomorrow but Sunday and Monday look fine.
3.00pm: Starc takes one, but more needed
Mitchell Starc struck shortly after tea when he had Usman Khawaja caught down the leg side, much to the Queensland captain’s frustration. The ball was still new and it was a small opening for New South Wales but, as yet, they have not been able to claim another. Marnus Labuschagne remains rock solid and there is plenty of batting left for Queensland.
2.10pm: Tea – Queensland 2 for 211
Marnus Labuschagne’s century – his fourth of the Shield season and third against New South Wales – has consolidated Queensland’s position on the second day and they already have a healthy lead with plenty of power to add. It has been another masterful display from Labuschage who has dealt with everything the New South Wales attack has tried. Captain Usman Khawaja has played confidently since arriving at the fall of Bryce Street’s wicket with runs coming at a brisker rate during the afternoon. The new ball became available shortly before the break and it could already be New South Wales’ last chance of staying in the game.
“One of the best Shield hundreds you’ll see,” Darren Lehmann says of Labuschagne’s innings on Fox Cricket
And in case you needed it, here’s a reminder of Labuschagne’s Shield season:
1.15pm: Finally, a breakthrough
It has taken a long time, but New South Wales their second wicket with Nathan Lyon ended Bryce Street’s long innings when the left hander edged low to slip having faced 203 balls for his 46. With the new ball due in 10 overs it could give the visitors the lift their desperately need to stay in the game although they have to get past Marnus Labuschagne as he approaches another century.
Street gave a nice boundary chat to Mel Jones from Fox Cricket:
On the atmosphere: “This is the first major crowd I’ve played in front of in a Shield game so walking off to that kind of ovation was pretty cool, pretty awesome, bit annoyed it was only for 46. Even how the crowd were yesterday when we were bowling, walking off at tea, walking off after we bowled them out, it’s goosebumps stuff.
On his battle with Starc and Lyon: “We’ve had a running battled, played each other three times and he’s managed to hit me every single game. He’s always good for one and he badged me last game as well. This wicket is really slow so it’s a bit harder for him but he still managed to get it done.
“Gaz [Lyon] has always tried to make me talk. There’s nothing I’d love more than to talk to a guy with 400 Test wickets but I don’t want to be dragged out of my comfort zone, stay in my own little bubble, so tried to keep quiet and he got even angrier.
Why he laughed when hit from Starc: “The three blows, all in the same spot, was almost like a funny moment and also, I guess, trying not to show you are intimidated a little bit. He was bowling far pace at one moment, and I was like ‘don’t back out, don’t give him an inch, don’t show you are scared.’ “
11.30am: Lunch – Queensland 1 for 119
Queensland are looking very strong. They have got through the morning session without losing a wicket, although New South Wales will bowl worse and get more rewards. There has been less assistance for the quicks than the first morning but some significant turn for Nathan Lyon. The paltry first-innings total looks like it will be very costly, because batting last on this surface with the spin likely on offer could be very tricky.
Bryce Street, given a life on 27, has gone about his business in his own style – he made just 20 runs during the sessions but rate of scoring is now issue for Queensland. They can wear the bowlers down and look to cash in later, something Street is ideal at setting up. Marnus Labuschagne, meanwhile, looks in the mood to go big again. It’s a long way back for New South Wales from here
10.30am: Wicketless hour
It hasn’t been without a few alarms, but Queensland have got through the first hour without losing a wicket. Marnus Labuschagne has continued his fine season against New South Wales (well, in fact, most teams) with a 93-ball fifty to follow centuries in the previous two meetings. Bryce Street was dropped on 27 by Kurtis Patterson at second slip off the luckless Nathan Lyon who has bowled beautifully without reward. You still sense that wickets could fall in a cluster, but New South Wales need that to happen sooner rather than later.
10.00am: Labuschagne v Lyon
It is proving a terrific contest between two of Australia’s best. Marnus Labuschagne is settling into his work but Nathan Lyon is trying to work him over. Against one delivery Labuschagne opted to pad the ball which brought a loud lbw shout with Lyon then suggesting Labuschagne was one of the best batsmen in the world so should use his bat. He then followed up with a reverse sweep and a conventional sweep.
At the other end Josh Hazlewood has been good as well. In the first over the day he found the edge of Bryce Street with a very full delivery but somehow it flew between the keeper and first slip. New South Wales need every chance to go to hand.
9.30am: New South Wales must strike early
0:53
Neser delighted with Queensland’s opening day performance
Welcome back to coverage of the Sheffield Shield final. It was all Queensland on the opening day and they are in a very strong position. There is some help in the surface for pace and spin – the turn Nathan Lyon got yesterday evening suggested a chase could be tricky – but New South Wales have to keep any deficit manageable. Bryce Street, who had a lively contest with Mitchell Starc, and Marnus Labuschagne did a very good job to get through to the close and Queensland will have visions of only batting once. That, though, is still a long way off against a strong NSW attack.
You can catch up with how the first day played out here.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo