Shield run home: SA lock in home final, five contenders remain

Just one round remains in the 2024-25 Sheffield Shield season, and it's been one of the closest in recent memory. 

Only 4.31 points separate the sides ranked between two and five (a win is worth six points), after Queensland eliminated sixth-placed Tasmania from the race to reach the Shield final from March 26-30.

Here's a reminder of the first innings bonus points rules, which will be crucial in the final round as four teams jostle for position:

Teams get six points for an outright win, one point for a draw, plus 0.01 of a bonus point for every run over 200 they score during the first 100 overs of their first innings (ie: 350 after 100 overs nets you 1.5 bonus points) and 0.1 of a bonus point for every wicket a team takes during the first 100 overs of their opponent's first innings (ie: 10 wickets before 100 first-innings overs elapses nets you 1 point).

Below is a look at each state's remaining match and their path to the end-of-season decider.

Click here to see the Sheffield Shield fixtures

1. South Australia (6 wins, 51.76 points) 🔒

Most runs: Henry Hunt (633) | Most wickets: Nathan McAndrew (32)

Remaining matches:

Home v Queensland, Karen Rolton Oval (Mar 15-18)

 

Final v TBC, Karen Rolton Oval (Mar 26-30)

South Australia will host their first Shield decider since 2017-18 after a sensational fourth-innings chase of 300 to beat Victoria in round nine. Jake Lehmann (105 not out) and Liam Scott (83) were the stars with a 148-run fifth-wicket partnership to secure an unassailable lead at the top of the standings.

The result means South Australia will host the final at Karen Rolton Oval, irrespective of how they fare in their final-round match against Queensland at the same venue in Adelaide.

Having already secured the Dean Jones Trophy by winning the One-Day Cup under new coach Ryan Harris, South Australia are seeking to break a 29-year Sheffield Shield title drought.

They last qualified for the final in 2016-17 (drew with Victoria) and last hosted the decider the year prior (lost to Victoria by seven wickets).

2. Queensland (3 wins, 36.80 points)

Most runs: Jack Clayton (586) | Most wickets: Michael Neser (28)

Remaining match:

Away v South Australia, Karen Rolton Oval (Mar 15-18)

It's been an up and down campaign for Queensland but the men in maroon were somewhere near their best in completing a comprehensive nine-wicket win against Tasmania in the penultimate round. And while that early finish lifted them up to second in the Shield standings, they may yet rue their inconsistency this summer. Back-to-back wins either side of the Big Bash kept them in the hunt but that was soured by an innings defeat to WA at home before trouncing Tasmania. 

If they can maintain some form, they will worry South Australia in their final round match-up, where if the Bulls win and secure a couple of first-innings bonus points, it should be enough to qualify for the final.

The return of Usman Khawaja was a boon for the Bulls, with the Test opener filling his boots with 127 in the first innings in Hobart, while Michael Neser showed exactly why many have been clamouring for him to play more Test cricket with the first six wickets in Tasmania's first innings. Marnus Labuschagne's availability for the final round will be one to watch.

The state's top-scorer Jack Clayton came through the round without worries after the prolific left-hander missed their loss to WA having retired hurt with a hamstring injury in their previous match against the Blues.

3. NSW (3 wins, 35.39 points)

Most runs: Kurtis Patterson (710) | Most wickets: Jackson Bird (33)

Remaining matches:

Away v Tasmania, Bellerive Oval (Mar 15-18)

A draw with Western Australia in round nine wasn't a bad result for NSW, but it's still left their fate hinging on other results.

The Blues are in third, less than a point-and-a-half behind Queensland in second, who play ladder-leaders South Australia in the final round.

First things first, NSW need to beat Tasmania in their day-night pink-ball contest in Hobart, then hope SA do them a favour by knocking off the Bulls or holding them to a draw, which would be unlikely given Queensland will also be pushing for a result to qualify for the final.

NSW's batting has been solid throughout the season, and they again took a first innings lead against WA, until Hilton Cartwright (171 not out) and Cameron Bancroft (86) pulled the hosts back into the contest and ensured they couldn't lose.

Sam Konstas (50) got some valuable time in the middle to see NSW to a draw and Kurtis Patterson was again impressive with 86 in the first innings. Leading wicket-taker Jackson Bird continued his good form with three wickets after claiming eight wickets in their previous game against Victoria.

4. Western Australia (3 wins, 34.43 points)

Most runs: Hilton Cartwright (765) | Most wickets: Corey Rocchiccioli (30)

Remaining matches:

Home v Victoria, WACA Ground (Mar 15-18)

It was looking dire for the three-time reigning champions when they surrendered a 65-run first innings lead to NSW, but a huge partnership between Hilton Cartwright (171 not out) and Cameron Bancroft (86) ensured they fought their way back into the contest to keep their season alive.

Despite the draw with NSW, they'll still be relying on a slew of results to go their way to reach the decider for a fourth straight season.

First, they'll need to beat Victoria at home, and then hope either South Australia and Tasmania both beat Queensland and NSW respectively, or both those matches end in draws. But given the closeness of the season, you can be assured both Queensland and NSW will be pushing for results.

WA were last just two rounds ago and now sit fourth but only 2.37 points behind Queensland in second. WA have finished the regular season with two home matches, a boost in helping keep their four-peat hopes alive.

No side has won the Shield four times in a row in the six-team era (Tasmania joined the competition in 1977-78).

After Sam Whiteman (foot) and Cameron Bancroft's (shoulder) successful comeback from injuries, coach Adam Voges will be hoping for more good news for the final round of the season with Cooper Connolly returning from the Champions Trophy. Test allrounder Cameron Green is less likely for a late-season cameo following back surgery in October, while Josh Inglis and Aaron Hardie both have IPL deals.

5. Victoria (3 wins, 32.49 points)

Most runs: Peter Handscomb (644) | Most wickets: Fergus O'Neill (38)

Remaining matches:

Away v Western Australia, WACA Ground (Mar 15-18)

A fourth straight loss, going down to ladder-leaders South Australia by four wickets, means it's a tough ask for the Vics to reach the final for a third time in four seasons.

Remarkably, they're still a chance, but like WA, they need a few results to fall their way. And the three-time reigning champions are the side they'll need to beat at the WACA Ground to ensure they stay in the hunt.

The Vics will then have to rely on both South Australia and Tasmania beating Queensland and NSW respectively. But given the bonus points in play, draws in both of those matches might not be enough given they sit more than four points behind Queensland in second.

With the closeness of the season and what's at stake, you can be assured both Queensland and NSW will be pushing for results, which could work in the Vics favour if they can first topple WA.

Test paceman Scott Boland (17 wickets) has been exceptional since his return from Sri Lanka, as has Fergus O'Neill who leads the competition wickets tally with 38 for the season.

It was their batters again who let them down against SA with none kicking onto big centuries despite posting near 300 in both innings. Victoria have the fewest batting bonus points of any side this season and have relied on their deep bowling attack to register their three wins.

6. Tasmania (2 wins, 27.61 points) ❌

Most runs: Jake Weatherald (752) | Most wickets: Kieran Elliott (29)

Remaining match:

Home v NSW, Bellerive Oval (Mar 15-18)

If their loss to South Australia stung having had the ladder-leaders on the ropes, then the hefty nine-wicket hiding by Queensland was a hammer blow and has confirmed they will miss a spot in this year's final. 

The Tigers do have a home clash with NSW in the final round to look forward to. And in the hunt for positives, they can look to Jake Weatherald, who put together a pair of half-centuries for Tasmania to remain the Shield's top run-scorer for the season, bouncing back to form after a quiet game against South Australia. 

Sheffield Shield standings 2024-25

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Drawn D	No results N/R	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Bowling Bonus Bowl	Total points PTS
1 South Australia Men SA	10	6	1	3	0	0	7.61	9	55.61
2 Queensland Bulls QLD	10	3	3	4	0	0	9.06	8.7	39.76
3 Victoria Men VIC	10	4	5	1	0	0	5.19	9.3	39.49
4 NSW Men NSW	10	3	4	3	0	0	6.99	8.4	36.39
5 Tasmanian Tigers Men TAS	10	3	5	2	0	0	7.72	8.2	35.92
6 Western Australia Men WA	10	3	4	3	0	0	5.83	8.6	35.43

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

D: Drawn

N/R: No results

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

Bowl: Bowling Bonus

PTS: Total points