Sheffield Shield: Cameron Bancroft dismissed cheaply again in WA chase

The dominant Sheffield Shield run-scorer of this decade can’t buy a run, and his slump has come at the worst possible time.

Cameron Bancroft is rapidly running out of time to earn a recall as Test opener after four consecutive single-digit scores to begin his Sheffield Shield campaign.

The competition’s leading run-scorer over the last four years was caught on the fine-leg boundary for two as he attempted to hook early in Western Australia’s successful chase of 83 against Tasmania.

Bancroft’s dismissal left him with scores of 0, 0, 8 and 2 to begin the summer, and while he will feature for Australia A ahead of the Test series against India, the 31-year-old has slid behind Victoria’s Marcus Harris and New South Wales teenager Sam Konstas in the pecking order for specialist openers.

Riley Meredith’s wicket of Bancroft and a three-wicket haul to Kieran Elliott, which included the scalp of Mitch Marsh for 6, reduced WA to 4-18 before Hilton Cartwright and Josh Inglis steered them to their small target for a six-wicket win at the WACA.

Cameron Bancroft has 10 runs in four innings to begin the red-ball season as his Test hopes dwindle. Picture: Paul Kane / Getty Images

Inglis was named man of the match after his first innings hundred, and could be considered as a specialist batter for the Indian series with 297 runs at 99.00 to begin the Shield campaign.

Tassie all-rounder Beau Webster, who made an eye-catching ton in the opening game, could only muster scores of 3 and 35 as his focus shifts to the Australia A games.

Matt Renshaw vaulted into the squad as reserve batter for the West Indies Test series last summer, but his spot in the Queensland side could be at risk

The left-hander has 44 runs in four Shield innings after he was out caught behind to Nathan McAndrew for 21 as the Bulls were bowled out for 229 in pursuit of 359.

Marnus Labuschagne sent down more overs with the ball than what he was out in the middle for as a batter as Queensland lost to South Australia at Allan Border Field. Picture: Albert Perez / Getty Images

McAndrew, another Australia A squad member, claimed 5-38 in the second innings as all-rounder Liam Scott chimed in with three wickets including the prized scalp of Usman Khawaja for 39.

Jimmy Peirson’s inclusion in the Australia A squad as keeper could be Renshaw’s saving grace at the selection table, as opener Angus Lovell will be hard to ignore in the next Shield fixture following an unbeaten 250 against Victoria in a second XI game last week.

Marnus Labuschagne was lured into a false shot by McAndrew for 10 to cap off a disappointing game for the Bulls captain, who opted to bowl 27 overs of his medium pace for match figures of 1-86.

Scores of 42 and 123 not out earnt Alex Carey man of the match honours at Allan Border Field.

Vics continue eight-year dominance of NSW

Young fast bowler Sam Elliott cleaned up the tail to extend a mammoth 16-game unbeaten streak for Victoria against New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield on Wednesday.

Elliott claimed career best figures of 4-44, including the important wicket of NSW keeper Josh Philippe for 88, to seal a 141-run win at the MCG and take the Vics to the top of the Shield table.

The result meant Victoria’s streak against NSW will continue into an eighth year, with the Blues having not beaten their old rivals in a red-ball clash since February 2017.

Resuming at 6-185 in pursuit of 383, Philippe looked on track for a fourth first-class hundred before he flashed at a wide delivery from Elliott and nicked it behind.

The wickets of Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Jackson Bird quickly followed, all falling to Elliott, who vindicated his selection over Australia A-capped quick Mitch Perry with match figures of 4-62 from 23 overs.

Sam Elliott claimed career best figures of 4-44 to help Victoria to a comprehensive win over New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield on Wednesday. Picture: Darrian Traynor / Getty Images

“It’s one of the better wins we’ve had over the last few years – and we’ve had some really good ones as well,” Victorian coach Chris Rogers said.

“We’ve had a real focus on understanding moments in the game and how we stand up under pressure.

“We were tested a number of times in this game and I think we had all the answers, and we’re playing a very good side as well. It was a bit of a complete performance from our guys.”

NSW captain Moises Henriques was left extremely disappointed by the result given the quality of his side.

“A tough one to cop,” he said.

“It’s probably going to take a while to digest. I felt like we were outplayed for the duration.”

Originally published as Sheffield Shield: Cameron Bancroft dismissed cheaply again in WA chase