VICTORIA and New South Wales pulled off successful run chases in the Sheffield Shield yesterday, but not without their respective scares. While the Vics scraped past South Australia to shift into second spot, the Blues beat Western Australia to draw closer to the top two.

>> SCROLL for scorecards from all three matches

The equations were relatively straightforward for either side heading into day four. Victoria was two down, requiring 108 runs for victory at the CitiPower Centre, while New South Wales had nine wickets to work with in pursuit of 105 more runs at the WACA Ground.

Things started shakily for the Vics, with Player of the Match and first innings centurion Nic Maddinson removed with the first ball of the day. His dismissal was one of three within the opening 10 overs, leaving youngster Campbell Kellaway (35* off 101) to pivot the chase.

He finished unbeaten alongside Mitchell Perry (6*), who needed just two deliveries to finish the job after Sam Harper chimed in with an important 34 off 28. Brendan Doggett was the pick of South Australia’s bowlers, claiming 3-41 including the first two wickets of day four.

Meanwhile over in Perth, Blake Nikitaras (56 off 133) and Daniel Hughes (59 off 137) did the hard yards in New South Wales’ successful chase of 181. It meant that despite going a collapse of 5-36, the Blues were able to coast home just after lunch via Oliver Davies (24*) and Chris Green (16*).

Green also earned Player of the Match honours having taken nine wickets, including 6-83 in the third innings. He led New South Wales to its first Shield victory at the WACA in over a decade, while also keeping the Blues’ hopes of a final berth alive.

While Tasmania tops the table after defeating Queensland on Monday, Victoria occupies second with an equal amount of wins (four), while New South Wales and Western Australia are primed to strike at three wins apiece. All sides are scheduled to play three more regular season matches.

>> Refresher: 2023/24 Sheffield Shield

SCORECARDS

WESTERN AUSTRALIA vs. NEW SOUTH WALES
WACA Ground, Perth

RESULT: New South Wales def. Western Australia by 4 wickets.
POTM: Chris Green (New South Wales)

New South Wales won the toss and elected to bowl.

1st Innings: Western Australia 10-256 (88.0)
Sam Whiteman 107 (188), Josh Philippe 52* (76), Cameron Bancroft 42 (100)
Chris Green 3-33 (16), Jackson Bird 3-37 (20), Jack Edwards 2-53 (17)

2nd Innings: New South Wales 7-244 (96.0)
Moises Henriques 95 (210), Blake Nikitaras 34 (108), Jack Edwards 34 (88)
Corey Rocchiccioli 4-101 (33.4), Charlie Stobo 3-38 (27), Joel Paris 3-45 (22)

Western Australia led by 5 runs.

3rd Innings: Western Australia 10-176 (56.5)
Cameron Bancroft 36 (108), Corey Rocchiccioli 28 (11), Sam Whiteman 27 (68)
Chris Green 6-83 (20), Liam Hatcher 2-26 (6.5), Chris Tremain 2-28 (13)

Western Australia led by 181 runs.

4th Innings: New South Wales 6-182 (59.3)
Daniel Hughes 59 (137), Blake Nikitaras 56 (133), Oliver Davies 24* (23)
Corey Rocchiccioli 3-104 (26.3), Joel Paris 2-41 (18), Charlie Stobo 1-22 (14)

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VICTORIA vs. SOUTH AUSTRALIA
CitiPower Centre, Melbourne

RESULT: Victoria def. South Australia by 3 wickets.
POTM: Nic Maddinson (Victoria)

Victoria won the toss and elected to bowl.

1st Innings: South Australia 10-173 (70.3)
Ben Manenti 47* (62), Harry Nielsen 45 (96), Jake Lehmann 37 (40)
Mitchell Perry 3-43 (15), Xavier Crone 3-46 (9.3), Fergus O’Neill 2-21 (20)

2nd Innings: Victoria: 10-288 (88.3)
Nic Maddinson 104 (182), Sam Harper 46 (64), Mitchell Perry 38 (80)
Liam Scott 4-18 (12.3), Wes Agar 2-61 (16), Brendan Doggett 2-78 (20)

Victoria led by 115 runs.

3rd Innings: South Australia 10-271 (83.2)
Harry Nielsen 67 (91), Henry Hunt 54 (94), Nathan McAndrew 43 (96)
Fergus O’Neill 5-47 (20.2), Todd Murphy 3-54 (18), Scott Boland 2-35 (16)

South Australia led by 156 runs.

4th Innings: Victoria 7-157 (44.3)
Campbell Kellaway 35* (101), Sam Harper 34 (28), Nic Maddinson 21 (43)
Brendan Doggett 3-41 (11), Nathan McAndrew 2-44 (16), Wes Agar 2-45 (9.3)