Boland Blows Hole in Blues Pursuit


Victoria 240 & 177 beat New South Wales 163 & 216 by 38 runs

Junction Oval, Melbourne
Sheffield Shield

Australian test hopeful Scott Boland (match figures: 8/126) bowled Victoria to a thrilling win against their arch rivals in a see-saw Sheffield Shield encounter.

Ably supported across the two innings by Fergus O’Neill (6/80), Boland took some punishment in a low scoring game but will be part of the seam attack to take on the English next month in the Ashes with skipper Pat Cummins set to miss the Perth opener through injury.

Defending 255 in the fourth innings, it was an inauspicious start for the hosts who saw opening pair Sam Konstas (53) and Blake Nikitaras (39) lay the foundations with a 90-run stand. The former, desperately seeking form and to avenge his first innings duck, displayed little fear and even reverse-ramped his international teammate Boland for six over the vacant third-man region.

However, Todd Murphy (3/17) was on hand to break the resistance by snaring both in quick succession to give the Victorians a foothold.

Several New South Welshman played around middle order stalwart, Oliver Davies (64), but when he was clean bowled by the enforcer, Boland – and given a spicy send off - the game was up.

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