In the end, rain ruined not only the final day’s play at the SCG, it ended any hope NSW or Victoria had of securing an outright Sheffield Shield victory.
All but five overs were wiped on Friday as persistent rain and bad light frustrated both sides – with impressive Blues’ quick Josh Hazlewood admitting the hosts left the ground on Thursday night confident they could pull off an upset on a crumbling wicket.
But NSW were able to add only 10 runs to their overnight score, moving to 3-194 and an overall lead of 157, while Victoria left the SCG with first-innings points mainly due to Chris Rogers’ impressive 125.
“We’re very disappointed,” Hazlewood said.
“We thought if we could get the whole 112 overs in today, we were definitely a chance maybe to get another 80 or 90 runs.
“(That would) set them around that 240-250 mark and then have a crack at them.”
Bushrangers’ coach Greg Shipperd admitted a run chase of 250 would’ve been tricky and seemed somewhat relieved to have secured the two points which lifts them into equal first on the Shield ladder alongside Queensland on 20 points.
“Everyone wants to play for six points but circumstances and a lot of lost time in the game didn’t help either side,” he said.
“On that wicket, any run chase would have been a tough one so NSW, in a sense, were in the box seat once they’d recovered from the 3-89 (on Thursday), with a really good partnership (between Scott Henry and Peter Nevill), but we’ll certainly take the two points with a smile on our face.”
Rain also robbed young Blues’ batsman Henry (81 not out) of a chance to score his maiden first-class century, and he was able to add just 10 runs with Peter Nevill (61 not out) to their 105-run fourth-wicket partnership.
Henry had a strong match, also scoring 78 at the top of the order during the Blues’ first innings of 293, which also included a sparkling century from dumped Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
But it was not enough to deny the high-flying Bushrangers first-innings points – that was secured on Thursday on the back of Rogers’ century and skipper Cameron White’s 72.
Blues’ paceman Mitchell Starc improved as the match went on, finishing with figures of 4-72 and the key scalps of Rogers, White and David Hussey before being announced on Friday in Australia’s 13-man squad for the Adelaide Test starting next Thursday.
After a bright start to the season, NSW have endured a second straight game without picking up points and stay fourth on the competition ladder on eight points – though they have played just four games.