In an impressive display of raw talent, South Australian batter Nathan McSweeney effectively raised the stakes of the Redbacks’ victory, leaning into the conditions of the Sheffield Shield that heavily favored bowlers.
Undeterred as his teammates found themselves outplayed on the Adelaide Oval, McSweeney stood firm, earning a steadfast 72 runs from 153 bowls. However, the highlight of the day was when he launched into an astounding 28 runs in a single over from novice fast bowler Jack Nisbet, thereby securing a century. This impressive feat took the Redbacks soaring from a score of 9-182 to a lofty 9-210.
Demonstrating the steely accuracy of a seasoned pro, McSweeney, a right-hander, attached a staggering 6,6,2,6,4, and 4 to his scorecard, sending the ball flying over the leg-side and zipping it through third man, securing his third first-class hundred. This accomplishment comes on the heels of a successful season last summer, where the prodigious 24-year-old racked up a total of 492 runs, including two centuries, a performance that earned him co-captaincy for the Australia A side on their tour of New Zealand.
Despite the burgeoning runs, NSW captain Moises Henriques faithfully backed his novice paceman Nisbet who just last week donned the NSW jersey for the first time. Nisbet, undeterred by the rivalling onslaught, managed to bowl McSweeney, ending on a high note with a respectable figure of 5-53.
Even with a target of 323 runs, the Blues turned in a lacklustre start. Their rookie opener Ryan Hackney’s early dalliance with the ball left him caught behind Nathan McAndrew, setting back the visitors to a subpar 1-17.
The game, however, wasn’t without its moments as a last-wicket partnership worth 56-runs between Nisbet and Matthew Gilkes breathed new hope into the match. With Nisbet safely at 20 not out, and Gilkes raking in an impressive 57, the duo managed to bring NSW back into the game by squaring off the initial 110-run lead enjoyed by the Redbacks.
In SA’s first innings, it was McSweeney who once again led the charge, bringing in 64 runs, even as the batting lineups from both sides wrestled with the new ball.
Meanwhile, on the overtly flat conditions of the WACA, Tasmania was unsuccessful in their attempts to counter WA’s seasoned openers. Sam Whiteman powered through another century while Cameron Bancroft finished at an impressive 89 not out at lunchtime on Day 3. As the Tigers reached 439, thanks to a career-best 181 from Jordan Silk, the bowlers found the conditions increasingly challenging. Bancroft and Whiteman’s calculated game saw them securing 219 runs in 82 overs.
