Football

Pope spins South Australia to within touching distance of Shield final

Tasmania had threatened to make a game of a tough chase but none of the batters could convert into a big score

laligoal

Feb 21, 2025 - 13:57

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Pope spins South Australia to within touching distance of Shield final

Tasmania had threatened to make a game of a tough chase but none of the batters could convert into a big score

Lloyd Pope celebrates one of his four wickets, South Australia vs Tasmania, Sheffield Shield, Adelaide Oval, February 21, 2025

South Australia 93 (Elliott 6-23) and 388 (Sangha 75, Scott 69*, McInerney 61) beat Tasmania 101 (Doggett 6-40) and 293 (Radhakrishnan 68, Doran 65, Webster 53, Pope 4-76) by 87 runs

Lloyd Pope missed out on a hat-trick but played a crucial role as South Australia continued their quest for a drought-breaking Sheffield Shield title with an 87-run win over Tasmania.

Set 381 runs for victory, Tasmania moved past 200 for the loss of three wickets as they sought to pull off an improbable run chase on Friday's final day of play at Adelaide Oval.

But legspinner Pope claimed three of the last seven wickets to steer table-topping SA to their fifth win of the season from eight matches. SA now have one foot in the door of the final as they chase their first Shield title since 1996.

Fighting half-centuries from Nivethan Radhakrishnan, Jake Doran and Test allrounder Beau Webster weren't enough for Tasmania, who were bowled out for 293 before tea.

Webster belted five fours and a six in his 59-ball innings but was the last man out when he skied a catch to Jake Lehman off Nathan McAndrew.

Lehman had dropped a couple of catches earlier in the match and almost spilled the last chance, before grabbing it at the second attempt.

It brought down the curtain on a remarkable match, after 20 wickets fell on day one. It was the first time SA have won a Shield match after batting first and posting fewer than 100 runs in the first innings.

They were skittled for 93 but responded by knocking over Tasmania for 101 on Tuesday, thanks largely to 6 for 40 from player of the match Brendan Doggett.

Ben Manenti made the crucial breakthrough on the final day when he removed Radhakrishnan, and was busy in the field with four catches.

Radhakrishnan, an Indian-born 22-year-old who can bowl spinners with right and left arms, put on 79 runs for the fourth wicket with Doran as Tasmania briefly eyed victory.