Queensland's Crumbling Shield Dream: A Record-Breaking Collapse
Day one of the Sheffield Shield final? Let's just say it didn't go as planned for Queensland. Honestly, who saw *that* coming? They were bowled out for a measly 95 runs – the lowest first-innings total *ever* in a Shield final! That's a record-breaking collapse, folks. South Australia's captain, Nathan McSweeney, made the right call bowling first, and his team's bowlers absolutely ran riot at Karen Rolton Oval.
Brendan Doggett was the star, snatching an incredible 6-31. Nathan McAndrew wasn't far behind with 2-22. The South Australian quicks used the conditions brilliantly. They were on fire! They even got rid of Test batsmen Usman Khawaja (2) and Marnus Labuschagne (0) early on. Khawaja, despite being dropped twice – twice! – still ended up caught by McAndrew. Talk about a lucky break for SA. Labuschagne's dismissal followed shortly after, showing just how well SA planned to take down the Australian number three.
And then… the Queensland collapse really began. It was like watching a slow-motion train wreck. Five wickets fell for just eight runs! It was brutal. Michael Neser fought back with 34 runs, but it wasn't nearly enough to save the day. The whole innings felt rushed, with poor shots all around. It just spiraled from there. You know how sometimes things just spiral? That’s what it was like.
South Australia's reply at tea? A comfortable 2-39. Still trailing by 56 runs, but that’s way less than they expected. It's a pretty good position to be in after Queensland's disastrous batting performance. However, teenager Callum Vidler provided Queensland with a small glimmer of hope. He bowled both Henry Hunt and McSweeney out for ducks. A great comeback for the Queenslander’s.
That 95 all out smashed the previous lowest first-innings score (102) in a Shield final. It was a historic low, to say the least. The match is far from over, of course, but South Australia is in a commanding position. It's going to be an exciting finish. What an incredible turnaround, right? Will Queensland manage a comeback? We'll have to watch the next few days to find out!
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