SYDNEY, March 29 (Reuters) – South Australia claimed their first Sheffield Shield title in 29 years after hundreds by Jason Sangha and Alex Carey helped them pull off a record chase in the final against Queensland on Saturday.
Sangha smashed an unbeaten 126 and forged a 202-run stand with Australia test wicketkeeper Carey (105) to secure their four-wicket victory on a flat Karen Rolton Oval pitch.
The match was shifted to a smaller venue after Australian Rules team the Adelaide Crows refused South Australia permission to host the Shield final at Adelaide Oval.
Chasing 270 for victory, South Australia slumped to 3-28 but Sangha and Carey combined in a massive fourth wicket stand to guide them towards victory.
Sangha got a reprieve on 13 when Ben McDermott spilled him at second slip and the batter, in his first season with the side, did not look back after that.
Queensland skipper Marnus Labuschagne packed the off-side with eight fielders and asked Jack Wildermuth to bowl short outside the off-stump but the ploy did not work.
Carey departed chopping a Mark Steketee delivery onto his stumps but Sangha stayed put to hit the winning runs triggering wild celebrations.
The highest successful chase in the final also helped South Australia complete the Shield and One-Day Cup double for the first time under captain Nathan McSweeney and coach Ryan Harris.
“We’re going to try and win a few now,” Harris said.
“We will definitely enjoy this one but I have already started thinking about next year.” (Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Kirsten Donovan)
