Comeback quick James Pattinson stars for Victoria before Chadd Sayers lifts Redbacks off the canvas
FORMER Test tearaway James Pattinson made a rousing first-class return as he floored South Australia before Chadd Sayers opened an escape route against Victoria going into the final day at the MCG.
FORMER Test tearaway James Pattinson’s rousing first-class return floored South Australia before Chadd Sayers opened an escape route against Victoria at the MCG.
Sayers’ (56) maiden first-class Sheffield Shield half-century afforded the Redbacks a slim chance of salvaging a draw.
Top-ranked Victoria is targetting a third straight win but rain and thunderstorms are forecast for Melbourne Cup day.
The Bushrangers 2-22 trail SA by 101 runs entering the final day after in-form Mennie (2/4) struck before stumps.
One-Test seamer Mennie claimed opener Marcus Harris (7) for the 11th time, shouldering arms, then comprehensively bowled Peter Handscomb (2). Mennie has 17 wickets at 15.58 this season behind leading Shield wickettaker Scott Boland’s 24 at 13.1.
Victoria was frustrated by Sayers’ 55-run, eighth-wicket stand with keeper-batsman Harry Nielsen (34) as SA’s second innings total swelled to 230.
Sayers eked out 16 runs with unbreaten No.11 Pope (4) before falling chasing a seventh boundary from leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed (3/54).
Pattinson - fronting in his first Shield game since the 2016-17 final against the Redbacks in Alice Springs - triggered a 5-39 collapse with his hostile nine-over barrage.
Pattinson’s convincing showing after back surgery is the silver lining in another dark passage for Australian cricket.
A fit Pattinson adds to serious depth to Australia’s pace battery but his exploits on Monday highlighted the batting collapses afflicting the Shield and Justin Langer’s national teams.
Test seamer Peter Siddle (1/29) trapped opener Jake Weatherald (16) in front for the initial breakthrough.
Callum Ferguson (17) was excused for his exit to a world-class Pattinson off-cutter. Skipper Jake Lehmann (22) was cramped by 17-Test paceman Pattinson before cutting to Travis Dean at gully.
Tom Cooper had recorded consecutive tons but chopped Pattinson on without scoring as the Redbacks unravelled.
McInerney (63) dug in for his highest first-class score and second half-century over 146 balls in a timely confidence boost for the five-game opener. Having taken 7/54 in SA’s first innings 244 Boland went around the wicket to force an edge to keeper Seb Gotch from McInerney before tea.
Fawad continued his career resurgence deceiving Cam Valente (5) and Mennie (0).