Late wickets open up contest after Sutherland's half-century
Victoria had earned a handy first-innings lead but Liam Guthrie hit back for Queensland
AAP
18-Nov-2023
Will Sutherland made an important half-century • Getty Images
Victoria 300 for 7 dec and 156 for 6 (Sutherland 66, Guthrie 4-38) lead Queensland 219 (Wildermuth 40, Boland 4-47) by 237 runs
Queensland took two crucial late wickets to set up an absorbing final day in their Sheffield Shield match against Victoria.
The home side were 156 for 6 in their second innings, an overall lead of 237. Victoria looked like they were taking firm control after tea on a see-saw third day, with captain Will Sutherland and Campbell Kellaway posting a crucial 90-run stand for the fifth wicket.
But Mitchell Swepson bowled Kellaway for 30 and eight balls later Liam Guthrie had Sutherland caught behind for 66 in a massive double breakthrough.
Sunday's morning session will be telling, with Victoria needing a solid rearguard contribution from their lower order. It will then be a question of how well the Queensland top order weather the new ball in their run chase.
Queensland's James Bazley is out of action because of a hamstring problem and Guthrie has stood up superbly, taking 4 for 38 from 10 overs.
"To keep them to lead of 230, it's good for us," Guthrie said. "To have them six down at stumps is a good effort."
Earlier, the visitors resumed on 106 for 5 and made a bright start. Jimmy Peirson and Jack Wildermuth put on 55 for the sixth wicket before Fergus O'Neill made the breakthrough, having Peirson caught behind for 28.
Wildermuth fell nine runs later, caught behind off Mitchell Perry and top-scoring with 40. Gurinder Sandhu made an unbeaten 25 and Swepson contributed 16 at No. 11 as Queensland restricted Victoria's first-innings advantage.
Guthrie then snared three wickets to leave Victoria 48 for 4 and Queensland looking like they were taking control.
Sutherland played an outstanding captain's knock, hitting nine fours and two sixes off 77 deliveries. Kellaway's 70-ball innings featured two fours and a six, but he was dismissed going for a big hit off Swepson.
"I haven't really got any runs this season, so it was a really good scenario that suits my game - I could be really positive and aggressive," Sutherland said.
"It's definitely turned into a bit of a new-ball wicket.. we're going to need to be really positive tomorrow morning."