Sheffield Shield 2025/26, VIC vs SOA 29th Match Match Report, March 14 – 17, 2026

Victoria 266 for 5 (Kellaway 66) trail South Australia 305 (Hunt 81, Manenti 53, Murphy 4-67, Boland 3-66) by 39 runs

Campbell Kellaway made a patient half-century as Victoria and South Australia locked into an arm wrestle that has become a Sheffield Shield final preview after Queensland’s bonus point failure against Tasmania in Hobart.

Kellaway made 66 as Victoria ground their way to 266 for 5 at stumps on day two at the Junction Oval, with Oliver Peake 44 not out and Will Sutherland 42 not out, after Todd Murphy took a fourth wicket early in the morning session to bowl SA out for 305.

That handed SA 1.05 batting bonus points but there would have been minor concern in the SA camp midway through the afternoon when Kellaway and Peter Handscomb settled into a 102-run stand. The pair had come together after the in-form Sam Harper nicked a brute from Nathan McAndrew and No.3 Dylan Brasher threw his wicket away after cruising to 35 before miscuing an attempted lofted drive off Ben Manenti.

Kellaway had to work hard against some excellent bowling from McAndrew. But he settled into a groove against Jordan Buckingham and Henry Thornton who overpitched a number of times to allow Kellaway to punch down the ground repeatedly. Handscomb survived an early edge that did not go to hand before continuing his excellent season. South Australia’s bowlers strayed too straight to Handscomb and he picked them off consistently.

The pair played the spin of Manenti well. But a change at the northern end brought a change of fortune for SA. Nathan McSweeney’s inconsistent spin undid Kellaway. He played back to a good length ball that spun more than expected and the edge was beautifully pouched by Alex Carey.

The third wicket, combined with Queensland’s capitulation for only 178 in the first innings in Hobart, meant that SA had accrued enough bonus points to not need a result against Victoria to qualify for the Shield final at the same venue against the same opponents on March 26. It took the sting out of the contest somewhat despite Victoria losing 3 for 21 either side of tea.

Handscomb looked impregnable until he was on 48 when he was unable to get enough bat on a short ball down leg from Buckingham and Carey took a stunning one-handed grab diving full stretch to his left.

Carey took a third catch, the easiest of the lot, when Marcus Harris attempted a loose drive on the up off Thornton. That left Victoria 181 for 5. Peake and Sutherland dug in to see the home side to stumps without further loss.

Peake struggled for fluency after missing the previous game following his head knock against Western Australia. He survived a few edges that landed short of the cordon as well as a number of play and misses. But he fought hard alongside Sutherland who continued his good form with the bat. He flicked Liam Scott for six over deep square and out of the ground. But he was given a life on 38 against the second new ball when he edged Thornton into the gully and Henry Hunt spilled the sharp chance moving to his left.

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