Sheffield Shield: New South Wales seal eight-wicket win over South Australia
All-rounder Steven Smith, with a solid all-round performance, lead New South Wales to an eight-wicket win over South Australia in a Sheffield Shield fixture played at Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday - the same day he was awarded with
a place in the Australia Test squad for the third Ashes Test.
Smith picked up 4 for 112 followed by an unbeaten 46 on the final day of the four-day game as the Blues sealed an eight-wicket win. Though Callum Ferguson and Daniel Christian resisted hard against the strong New South Wales attack
with twin centuries but it was not enough to avoid their third defeat of the season.
The New South Wales, being lead by Stuart http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Australia-c844 declared its second innings at 362 for 9. But the Blues went off to a shaky start as the openers were back to the pavilion after
a combined contribution of just 7 runs. Paul Hughes, another pick for the Perth Test, scored a nine-ball duck while http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Usman-Khawaja-c2729, who was also one of the contenders for the Test call up, ensured
no more loss for Blues with a match-winning stand of 77 runs as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-South-Wales-c823 cruised past the target quite easily. Smith scored 46 runs while Khawaja remained unbeaten on 35.
Smith Claimed two wickets on the final day including the crucial wicket of centurion Callum Ferguson. Ferguson, who scored 131 against Blues, has three tons from three Sheffield Shield games. The outstanding 196-run partnership between
Ferguson and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Daniel-Christian-c1308 gave their side hopes of managing a draw. But a gradual decline for Redbacks started when Christian was trapped leg before off Nathan Hauritz at 106.
Smith has been included in the 12-man Test squad of Australia for the Perth Test, and the balance of the side means he, in all probability, will be playing in place of Marcus North. The match figures of 8 for 169 and the unbeaten
46-run innings would give Smith a confidence boost ahead of the third Ashes Test. Hauritz finished with 3 for 62 and was once again overlooked by the Australian selectors despite his remarkable performance with the bat as he scored his maiden first-class century
after coming in as nightwatchman.
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