South Australia to play in tribute match for Phillip Hughes in Coffs Harbour before resuming Shield title chase

TRAVIS Head says South Australia will regroup then reload as it strives to honour Phillip Hughes and remain in title contention against NSW.

Travis Head (South Australia) is out to the bowling of Fawad Ahmed. South Australia v Victoria, Sheffield Shield Cricket, at Adelaide Oval, Day 4. 17/02/16 Picture: Stephen Laffer

TRAVIS Head says South Australia will regroup then reload as it strives to honour Phillip Hughes and remain in title contention against New South Wales next week at Coffs Harbour.

Victoria is on course for a successful title defence after an emphatic 218-run triumph at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday that consigned the Redbacks to consecutive home defeats.

Head’s men face a herculean task to reach the Sheffield Shield final after succumbing to the champion and Queensland. SA must battle emotion and the might of powerhouse New South Wales next week. A road trip to Perth follows before hosting Tasmania in the final round at Glenelg.

“There won’t be black armbands but in the back of my mind it is still there. We will go in calm and stick behind each other,” said Head of the tribute match for the late Test batsman Hughes in Coffs Harbour.

Victoria enjoys a substantial buffer with four wins and 44 points, 14 ahead of SA which entered the game in second.

“It makes for an interesting last three rounds, we know we have to win two of them at least. We have to learn from the last two games,” said top-scorer Head (59) who fell yesterday advancing to leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed (5/24). SA missed Chadd Sayers on international duty while speedster Kane Richardson (back) and leading run scorer Callum Ferguson (knee) are sidelined for the season.

Joe Mennie has been the Redbacks stand-out performer with a competition high 31 wickets at 21 but needs more support. Tom Cooper is averaging 17 and Mark Cosgrove 30 this season – the openers must fire if SA’s to challenge for a first Shield in two decades.

“We have had players injured but need senior players to be standing up, we are still in the hunt for a Shield final. We have to be moving on and being positive,” said Head, who loses leg-spinner Adam Zampa to Australia’s World Twenty20 campaign but regains swing-man Sayers next round.

“We have hit a road bump and had a good, honest chat in the change-rooms.”

The Redbacks resumed at 4/126 but endured a 6/63 collapse inside the first session of the final day of the second pink ball round. SA has made great strides this season under Jamie Siddons but will be disappointed Victoria wasn’t challenged on the final day.

Fawad looms as a tantalising option for Australia’s Test tour of Sri Lanka in August after his eighth first-class, five-wicket haul bowling with above-the-eye loop and turn.

Scott Boland finished with match figures of 8/90 which will further encourage national selectors. The fringe Test paceman can make things happen with speed through the air and late seam movement.

Peter Handsomb impressed with a second innings ton (102) that took the game away from SA.

Originally published as South Australia to play in tribute match for Phillip Hughes in Coffs Harbour before resuming Shield title chase