Stunning last-gasp scenes in thriller; bold Konstas gamble backfires... again — Shield wrap

Fergus O’Neill shone as Victoria claimed a thrilling victory in the dying moments of the final day, while New South Wales opener Sam Konstas fell slogging in his final chance to press his case for an Ashes call-up.

The rain-affected contest between NSW against Queensland at the Gabba ended as a stalemate, but wet weather did not stop the Victorians from getting a result as they bowled Tasmania out for 210 at the Junction Oval to claim a 144-run victory.

O’Neill was the star of the show, claiming four Tasmanian scalps to finish with 4/54, while fellow pace bowler Mitchell Perry (2/38) sealed the win by knocking over No.11 Riley Meredith with the second new ball in fading light at 6.20pm local time.

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Rain interruptions made a draw look on the cards for much of the day, but Victoria’s bowlers persisted with skipper Will Sutherland, Test tweaker Todd Murphy and centurion Campbell Kellaway all chipping in with a wicket each.

Tasmanian No.3 Tim Ward offered the most resistance with a fighting knock of 52 before he was run out following an unfortunate mix up where he slipped over.

Test all-rounder Beau Webster was dismissed by Perry for just 6 after flashing at a wide delivery and chipping towards a floating backward point.

The 31-year-old is fighting to keep his spot in the Test side, admitting earlier this week he was at risk of being “squeezed” out of Australia’s Ashes XI.

Elsewhere, Western Australia reached tea 2/95, needing 208 runs to win on the final day against reigning champions South Australia at the WACA.

Cameron Green is unbeaten on 25, with Cameron Bancroft not out on 55 at the other end.

With the match headed for an inevitable draw at the Gabba, Konstas survived a probing opening spell from Bulls captain Marnus Labuschagne before miscuing a rash swipe against Queensland debutant Sam Skelly towards mid-off, gone for 41 The Blues were 1-79 in their second innings when players shook hands.

Konstas, Australia’s incumbent Test opener, has scored 122 runs at 20.33 in this season’s Sheffield Shield, with one fifty in six knocks. The 20-year-old had never played a first-class match at the Gabba before this week.

“Cricket is just a tough game. It’s so tough batting up the top of the order, extremely tough,” Test opener Usman Khawaja said of Konstas on Thursday.

“He’s playing first-class cricket, it is tough. I have played for 18 years, and it’s still tough. It’s not an easy game, the new ball is as hard as it gets.

“At the age of 20, I still remember, I was still figuring out my game. I wasn’t playing first-class games, I was playing first grade.

“Everyone’s trying to, especially at that age, figure out what works, what doesn’t work, and I’m sure he’s going to be better for it in the future.”

Earlier on Friday, Bulls batter Jack Clayton notched his fifth first-class hundred, dismissed by NSW seamer Liam Hatcher for 113 before Queensland declared at 8-347.

Elsewhere in the Sheffield Shield, South Australia declared their second innings at 8-394, setting hosts Western Australia a 303-run target for victory at the WACA.

Down in Melbourne, Tasmanian all-rounder Beau Webste

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