Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Oliver Caffrey

Boland puts Vics on top in crucial Shield match

Scott Boland has put Victoria on top in their Sheffield Shield match against South Australia. (Morgan Hancock/AAP PHOTOS)

Star quick Scott Boland has struck twice before stumps to put Victoria on top in their Sheffield Shield clash with ladder-leaders South Australia.

After Victoria made 285 on being sent in on a green pitch at the Junction Oval, SA slumped to 2-40 at stumps on Thursday.

Captain Nathan McSweeney (9*) and Jason Sangha (19*) will attempt to dig their team out of trouble when they resume on Friday.

A win in Melbourne would secure SA a home final as they hunt a first Shield title in 29 years.

Victoria's Campbell Kellaway (79) batted superbly after losing his opening partner Marcus Harris in the second over of the day.

Kellaway and debutant Blake Macdonald (45) put on a 122-run stand before SA hit back by taking 4-16, including 3-0.

But some important middle and lower order runs from Sam Harper (44) and Xavier Crone (34*) ensured Victoria ended with a  solid total on a difficult surface.

Despite entering the second-last round in fourth, Victoria still have a good chance to qualify for the final.

Henry Thornton (4-42) and Jordan Buckingham (4-70) did the damage with the ball for SA.

Boland, who starred for Australia in the Border-Gavaskar trophy but missed out on playing a Test in Sri Lanka, bowled SA opener Conor McInerney with the last ball of the first over of the innings.

SA attempted to contain Boland's brilliance, but Henry Hunt was caught for 1 as they collapsed to 2-8.

McSweeney and Sangha were able to steady and survive until stumps.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.