WESTERN Australia has gone from zero to hero in the Sheffield Shield, jumping from the foot of the ladder into third with an innings victory over Queensland yesterday. The three-time defending champions wrapped the match up on day three at the Gabba after defending their 165-run first innings lead.

>> SCROLL to see all the day three scorecards

Resuming play at 1-39, still 126 runs in arrears, Queensland cut the deficit to 44 by lunch with six wickets in hand. Things quickly fell apart after the break as tearaway quick Lance Morris claimed three quick wickets to spark a 4-5 collapse, leaving the Bulls batters bruised along the way.

After dismissing top-scorer Ben McDermott (33), Morris set up a hat-trick ball as he removed Xavier Bartlett and Mark Steketee consecutively. As is the nature of the firebrand, he unfortunately sprayed the next delivery down leg side, but the damage was well and truly done.

Queensland’s middle session collapse ended up totalling 6-32, leaving the hosts 12 runs short of making Western Australia pad up again – all out for 153. West Australian spinner Corey Rocchiccioli was named Player of the Match for his decisive seven-wicket haul on day one.

Meanwhile over in Sydney, New South Wales broke a 17-game winless streak against Victoria yesterday. The Blues only added 40 runs to their overnight score of 4-134, setting the visitors 231 runs for victory at the SCG. Scott Boland pressed his case for selection in the WTC final with figures of 6-46.

The Vics lost two wickets in their six overs before lunch as Jackson Bird struck twice in the fifth set. The first of those dismissals was his 400th in the Sheffield Shield, becoming just the fifth player to do so. Bird went on to take 5-68 in the innings as Victoria was bowled out for 154, 76 runs short of the target.

It was a reverse scorecard of sorts for the Victorians. Every member of the top five was removed for single-digit figures, with the remaining six batters all outscoring them. Todd Murphy ended up stranded on 40 off 32, with his aggressive approach showing the way for Victoria’s underperforming batters.

The result sees Victoria relinquish second spot on what shapes as an extremely tight Sheffield Shield ladder. New South Wales now occupies the place behind frontrunners South Australia, followed by fellow victors Western Australia in third. Only two rounds remain before the March 26-30 final.

The remaining match in progress, between South Australia and Tasmania, will decide whether the SACAs extend their lead atop the table, or if the Tigers can avoid finishing the round in last place. Tasmania needs 217 runs for victory at Adelaide Oval, resuming on day four at 3-164.

Emerging opener Nivethan Radhakrishnan batted patiently to keep his side in the hunt, facing 189 balls to be 53 not out at the close of play. He will re-enter the crease alongside Jake Doran (19*) who helped guide the visitors into a decent position at the close of play on day three.

South Australia took control after a manic opening day which saw 20 wickets fall. The hosts added 116 runs to their overnight tally of 6-272, finishing all out for 388 to set Tasmania 380 runs for victory. After retiring hurt yesterday, Liam Scott returned to remain unbeaten on 69.

Nathan McAndrew struck early in the Tigers’ second dig and finished the day with 2-41, while leggie Lloyd Pope took the key wicket of Jordan Silk (43). Tasmania still has three potent allrounders to follow, including recent Test debutant Beau Webster and hero of the BBL|14 final, Mitchell Owen.

>> DAILY RECAPS: Day One | Day Two

DAY THREE SCORECARDS

QUEENSLAND vs. WESTERN AUSTRALIA @ THE GABBA

RESULT: Western Australia won by an innings & 12 runs
POTM: Corey Rocchiccioli (Western Australia)
TOSS: Queensland elected to bat first

1st Innings: Queensland 10-147 (53.4)
Ben McDermott 37 (112), Mitch Swepson 20* (23), Xavier Bartlett 20 (30)
Corey Rocchiccioli 7-52 (15.4), Cameron Gannon 2-32 (11), Lance Morris 1-25 (12)

2nd Innings: Western Australia 10-312 (114)
Sam Fanning 95 (229), Sam Whiteman 67 (88), Hilton Cartwright 48* (102)
Michael Neser 4-34 (21), Xavier Bartlett 3-46 (24), Mark Steketee 1-51 (20)

Western Australia led by 165 runs.

3rd Innings: Queensland 10-153 (58.4)
Ben McDermott 33 (89), Lachlan Hearne 33 (65), Angus Lovell 26 (42)
Lance Morris 3-35 (13), Cameron Gannon 2-25 (13.4), Corey Rocchiccioli 2-27 (12)

Western Australia won by an innings & 12 runs.

—

NEW SOUTH WALES vs. VICTORIA @ SCG

RESULT: New South Wales won by 76 runs
POTM: Jackson Bird (New South Wales)
TOSS: New South Wales elected to bat first

1st Innings: New South Wales 10-238 (65.2)
Oliver Davies 89 (94), Kurtis Patterson 37 (86), Nic Madison 33 (27)
Scott Boland 4-56 (14), Fergus O’Neill 3-68 (15.2), Will Sutherland 2-28 (15)

2nd Innings: Victoria 10-182 (60.1)
Harry Dixon 38 (27), Marcus Harris 33 (68), Mitchell Perry 29 (122)
Jackson Bird 3-24 (10), Hanno Jacobs 3-60 (12.1), Liam Hatcher 2-43 (10)

New South Wales led by 56 runs.

3rd Innings: New South Wales 10-174 (69)
Matthew Gilkes 49 (130), Josh Philippe 31 (51), Kurtis Patterson 28 (80)
Scott Boland 6-46 (21), Will Sutherland 2-52 (19), Fergus O’Neill 1-20 (10)

New South Wales led by 230 runs.

4th Innings: Victoria 10-154 (38.4)
Todd Murphy 40* (32), Will Sutherland 24 (18), Sam Harper 20 (33)
Jackson Bird 5-68 (15), Jack Edwards 3-28 (12.4), Liam Hatcher 2-29 (7)

New South Wales won by 76 runs.

—

SOUTH AUSTRALIA vs. TASMANIA @ ADELAIDE OVAL
Match in progress

1st Innings: South Australia 10-93 (47.2)
Jason Sangha 28 (68), Conor McInerney 22 (53), Nathan McSweeney 20 (81)
Kieran Elliott 6-23 (13.2), Gabe Bell 3-21 (13), Beau Webster 1-32 (12)

2nd Innings: Tasmania 10-101 (33.4)
Beau Webster 28 (45), Jake Doran 18 (33), Aidan O’Connor 14 (29)
Brendan Doggett 6-40 (12.4), Lloyd Pope 2-18 (5), Liam Scott 1-12 (6)

Tasmania led by 8 runs.

3rd Innings: South Australia 10-388 (132.4)
Jason Sangha 75 (201), Liam Scott 69* (125), Conor McInerney 61 (162)
Riley Meredith 3-81 (29.4), Gabe Bell 2-68 (29), Mitchell Owen 1-26 (5)

South Australia led by 380 runs.

4th Innings: Tasmania 3-164 (63)
Nivethan Radhakrishnan 53* (189), Jordan Silk 43 (66), Tim Ward 29 (58)
Nathan McAndrew 2-41 (13), Lloyd Pope 1-40 (11)

Tasmania needs 217 runs to win.