Sheffield Shield round seven: Rising talent Will Pucovski’s stunning century, Warriors cop beating

ONE of Australian cricket’s most exciting prospects has hit a stunning maiden first-class century, while two understrength sides have come in for some heavy treatment.

Victorian youngster Will Pucovski is regarded as one of Australia’s most promising young batsmen — and has shown exactly why he has good judges taking note by peeling off a classy century against Queensland at the MCG on Sunday.

Pucovski made his first-class debut last summer, but his match ended early when he was struck in the head and suffered a concussion.

He missed three months of cricket as a result of that blow.

Read about how he has bounced back in Sheffield Shield round seven match summaries below.

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VICTORIA V QUEENSLAND

Victoria’s match against Queensland appears destined for a certain draw thanks to a massive maiden century from Will Pucovski and more batting-friendly conditions at the MCG.

At stumps on day three, Queensland are 0-7 after Victoria declared late in the day at 9-436 to concede a first-innings deficit of 16 runs.

Victoria’s innings consumed 154 overs, while Queensland reached their tally in 128 overs.

Pucovski scored his debut first-class century in just his fourth match, eventually being the seventh batsman out having hit 188 in a marathon 414-ball innings.

Knowing a draw would keep Queensland in touching distance on the ladder, Victoria seemed intent on saving the match as their main priority, adding just 46 during a laborious middle session.

The Bushrangers, however, turned up the pace significantly in the final session, with wicketkeeper Seb Gotch scoring 63 in a 124-run stand for the sixth wicket with Pucovski.

The 20-year-old Pucovski earlier shared a crucial 175-run partnership for the fourth wicket with skipper Cameron White (62) after the Vics slipped to 3-59.

Queensland’s bowlers struggled for penetration on a low and slow wicket, which resembled that used for the drawn Fourth Ashes Test earlier in the summer.

Queensland entered the round as Sheffield Shield leaders only to be tipped out of top spot by Tasmania’s innings’ victory on Saturday.

TASMANIA V WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Tasmania have thrashed an inexperienced Western Australia by an innings and 87 runs in their Sheffield Shield match at Bellerive Oval.

Tigers skipper George Bailey lauding his young pace battery after they wrapped up victory before lunch on day three.

The Warriors were dismissed for 277 after they were forced to follow on. Resuming at 5-176 on Sunday morning, WA skipper Ashton Turner launched a counter attack.

But when he edged medium pacer Simon Milenko and was caught behind for 81 thoughts of an unlikely revival evaporated.

Tasmania all-rounder Tom Rogers (3-46) ran through the tail, after taking 4-9 from three overs in WA’s first innings and hitting a valuable 48 with the bat.

“He’s a captain’s dream and always has a real crack. He has a real knack of taking wickets,” Bailey said of the 23-year-old.

Missing eight players to Australia T20 or Test squad duty, the Warriors were skittled for just 67 on day two with the Tigers’ attack near unplayable under overcast Hobart skies.

Bailey praised his attack for sharing the load in the absence of injured spearhead Jackson Bird.

“A lot of the younger ones will take a lot of confidence out of it,” he said.

“Most of the teams will say you need to have depth and can’t rely heavily on one bowler.

“I think they’re starting to have bigger impacts on each and every game.

“The young ones are starting to step up and believe that they can be match winners.”

After being sent in to bat, Tasmania posted 9-431 (dec), headlined by a dogged century from dumped Test wicketkeeper Matthew Wade.

“His innings I thought was very special,” Bailey said.

“He’d been really patient and put in the hard yards and deserved to get three figures.”

The result sent Tasmania top of the Shield table, with the two other round seven matches still to finish.

NEW SOUTH WALES V SOUTH AUSTRALIA

South Australia are closing on their second win of the Sheffield Shield campaign following a near-perfect day three against New South Wales at the SCG. The Redbacks reached 3-146 at the close of play on Sunday and require just 43 more runs to for victory against a Blues side that was top of the Shield ladder for the first half of the season.

Rookie left-arm seamer Nick Winter starred with the ball to take 5-61 for a 10-wicket haul in just his second first-class match as the Blues were bowled out for 213.

Winter, who made his debut only last weekend, has 15 wickets from just two matches.

South Australia appeared on track to mow down the 189-run victory target by stumps off the remaining 38 overs.

SA opener Jake Weatherald got the run-chase off to a perfect start with a confident 56 and the in-form Callum Ferguson (35 not out) maintained the Redbacks’ momentum.

The match seemed wide open at lunch with NSW at 3-141 only for them to lose their seven wickets for 68 runs.

Kurtis Patterson and opener Daniel Hughes both made 41 for NSW, while captain Moises Henriques (26) was unable to rescue his side.