THE 2024/25 Sheffield Shield season is going down to the wire, with just 5.86 points separating second and sixth. Only the top two teams can make the decider (March 26-30), but all six states in contention to claim their spot in the final two rounds. Before they get underway, catch up on the state of play.

>> LATEST: Innings victory propels WA into third

STANDINGS

RECORDS LISTED W-D-L

1. South Australia | 5-2-1 | 43.93 points
2. New South Wales | 3-2-3 | 32.87 points
3. Western Australia | 3-2-3 | 32.63 points
4. Victoria | 3-1-4 | 30.64 points
5. Queensland | 2-3-3 | 28.45 points
6. Tasmania | 2-2-4 | 27.01 points

Win = 6 points | Draw/No Result/Tie = 1 point

BONUS POINTS:
Batting: 0.01 of a bonus point for every run over 200 in the first 100 overs of their first innings.
Bowling: 0.1 of a bonus point for every wicket in the first 100 overs of opponent’s first innings.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

RECORD: 1st | 5-2-1 | 43.93 points

FIXTURES:
vs. Victoria @ Junction Oval, March 6-9
vs. Queensland @ Karen Rolton Oval, March 15-18

South Australia already has one foot in the decider, with a single win required to make that mathematically official. It would also see the SACAs claim hosting rights for the first time since 2015/16 – they last made the final a season after that. SA first travels to face Victoria (fourth) before hosting its final round fixture against Queensland (fifth), boasting a lead of 11.06 points atop the table. The clash between New South Wales (second) and Western Australia (third) will likely eliminate one contender, meaning next-up Victoria will be all the more hungry to nab a result against the frontrunners.

NEW SOUTH WALES

RECORD: 2nd | 3-2-3 | 32.87 points

FIXTURES:
vs. Western Australia @ WACA Ground, March 6-9
vs. Tasmania @ Bellerive Oval, March 15-18

New South Wales’ fate is currently in its hands with a pair of away legs set to round out an up-and-down campaign. The Blues’ trip to face third-place Western Australia will go a long way to deciding which team can claim second, especially if it yields a result. A win would put them in a favourable position to hold on to second before heading down to Tasmania, with the Tigers currently occupying last spot. Two big wins and a pair of South Australian losses could see NSW host the final, against the odds.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

RECORD: 3rd | 3-2-3 | 32.63 points

FIXTURES:
vs. New South Wales @ WACA Ground, March 6-9
vs. Victoria @ WACA Ground, March 15-18

The three-time reigning champions boast arguably the most favourable run home and are well poised to earn a shot at a rare four-peat. WA would become the first state to do so in the six-team era having rocketed back into contention with an innings victory last time out. Laying claim to the greatest home leg advantage, the West Aussies will have to fend off their nearest rivals – New South Wales (second) and Victoria (fourth) to snatch second spot. The first fixture against NSW likely holds the key, along with the potential to be boosted by late-season returns of Cameron Bancroft and Cameron Green.

VICTORIA

RECORD: 4th | 3-1-4 | 30.64 points

FIXTURES:
vs. South Australia @ Junction Oval, March 6-9
vs. Western Australia @ WACA Ground, March 15-18

Victoria crucially lost to New South Wales in the last round, relinquishing second spot to its traditional rival despite adding Test players Scott Boland and Todd Murphy to an already stacked bowling attack. The result now puts Victoria in a position of needing to win two incredibly tough closing fixtures to make the final. Beating ladder leaders South Australia at home will be key before heading across the Nullarbor to face Western Australia. Should WA defeat New South Wales, that clash could essentially be a sudden death match for second.

QUEENSLAND

RECORD: 5th | 2-3-3 | 28.45 points

FIXTURES:
vs. Tasmania @ Bellerive Oval, March 6-9
vs. South Australia @ Karen Rolton Oval, March 15-18

Queensland will have to regroup quickly after its innings defeat to Western Australia, needing to win big in its final two matches. It will be no mean feat given both are away legs, with the second being against ladder leader South Australia. The Bulls also take on last-placed Tasmania. Lose once and they’re out of the running, while a draw won’t help their cause – pending other results. Their best hope is to cash in on Tassie’s dwindling form and potentially catch an already-qualified SA unawares.

TASMANIA

RECORD: 6th | 2-2-4 | 27.01 points

FIXTURES:
vs. Queensland @ Bellerive Oval, March 6-9
vs. New South Wales @ Bellerive Oval, March 15-18

Tasmania would have to come from way back to make the final for a second season running, though the 5.86-point gap to second is a realistic gap to bridge. The Tigers slid back to last place in the previous round but will host both of their last two fixtures in a favourable turn of fate. Opportunity awaits against Queensland, who most recently suffered an innings defeat, meaning the final round clash with New South Wales could be for all the chocolates. Anything is possible.

ALL REMAINING FIXTURES

March 6-9:
Victoria vs. South Australia @ Junction Oval, Melbourne
Tasmania vs. Queensland @ Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Western Australia vs. New South Wales @ WACA Ground, Perth

March 15-18:
South Australia vs. Queensland @ Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide
Western Australia vs. Victoria @ WACA Ground, Perth
Tasmania vs. New South Wales @ Bellerive Oval, Hobart

THE FINAL:
1st vs. 2nd, March 26-30