Carey, bowlers help South Australia come from behind to secure Shield title

South Australia put up a spirited bowling performance against Victoria in a staggering fightback to secure a second consecutive Sheffield Shield championship in Melbourne for the first time in history.

Nathan McAndrew, Liam Scott and Henry Thornton headlined South Australia’s fightback as they dismantled Victoria's lower order, bagging 5 for 37 on the final day in an eventual collapse of 7 for 37 in 14 overs, as they crumbled from 102 for 3 in a 196-run chase to 139 all out.

It took South Australia less than 11 overs on the fifth morning to clean up the Victorian innings, registering a convincing 56-run win in a nerve-wracking contest. South Australia ended a 29-year drought with a Shield title last year, and they added another crown to their name by defeating the best team in the tournament in their den to defend the title.

SA conceded a 63-run lead in the first innings and were reduced to 122 for 7 in the second with a paltry lead of 59, but Alex Carey (103 off 168) and Nathan McAndrew (60 off 144) rescued them with a century partnership for the eighth wicket. Not content with his batting exploits, McAndrew, alongside Scott and Thornton, did the damage with the ball during Victoria’s run chase when veterans Marcus Harris and Peter Handscomb were seemingly taking the game away.

Victoria’s start on the fifth and final morning was promising as nightwatchers Mitchell Perry and Todd Murphy knocked 10 runs off the target in McAndrew’s first over. However, Scott had Murphy nick one behind to Carey, leaving Victoria 112 for 6 with 84 to win. McAndrew soon made that 112 for 7 as he pinned Perry lbw coming around the wicket. Ollie Peake was the next to fall as Scott induced a thick edge, with Carey diving full stretch behind to complete an excellent catch.

Will Sutherland joined Ferguson O’Neill in the middle as the duo added 12 runs off 21 balls, but Henry Thornton had the former caught by first slip Jason Sangha and returned in his next over to breach O'Neill's defence, sealing a historic, come-from-behind win for his state.

Sheffield Shield final 2025-26: Brief scores