Courageous Centuries Salvage Queensland’s Victory in Sheffield Shield Final While Brendan Doggett Achieves 10-Wicket Haul

Fast bowler Brendan Doggett achieved a remarkable 10-wicket match haul during an impressive display for South Australia on day three of the Sheffield Shield final. However, Jack Clayton and Jack Wildermuth both struck centuries, giving Queensland’s aspirations for victory a significant boost.

Doggett began the day already boasting six wickets from the first innings and added the scalps of Test stalwarts Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja, as well as former limited-overs international Ben McDermott and the threatening wicketkeeper-batter Jimmy Peirson, to secure his first-ever 10-wicket haul in first-class cricket.

It was when Doggett clean-bowled Peirson, trapping him lbw with a quick delivery, that Queensland found themselves at five wickets down and only 16 runs ahead in the contest.

Clayton, who was already on 41 and batting at No. 4, went on to complete a century off 249 balls at Karen Rolton Oval.

Off-spinner Ben Manenti eventually got the better of the left-hander, trapping him for 100, which had Queensland leading by 148 runs at that stage.

Wildermuth further enhanced Queensland’s chances of clinching the match by notching up his own century off just 118 balls. With the Bulls at seven down and leading by 226 runs, the accomplished all-rounder, batting at No. 8, flicked a ball from paceman Liam Scott off his pads for a boundary.

The 31-year-old erupted in joy, dedicating his milestone to his two young daughters by mimicking rocking a baby with his bat. 

Clayton’s innings included 13 fours and came after a golden duck in Queensland’s first innings, where he prodded a delivery from Nathan McAndrew to cover, set off on a reckless run, turned back under pressure, and was subsequently run out by Scott.

Labuschagne chipped in with 61 runs while batting at No. 3, boosting his World Test Championship ambitions. Meanwhile, Khawaja had a tumultuous week as he managed just 21 runs after scoring only 2 in the team’s first innings amidst his ongoing public spat with Queensland Cricket, a match in which the Bulls were dismissed for a mere 95.

MORE TO COME.