Victoria won a thrilling Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales by 38 runs at the Junction Oval in Melbourne. The match finished inside two days after New South Wales won the toss and elected to bowl first, with Scott Boland taking 5 for 67 and spinner Todd Murphy claiming 3 for 17 to bowl Victoria to victory after Sam Konstas’ 53 and Oliver Davies’ 64 had put New South Wales on track in the fourth innings chase. New South Wales were 184 for 5 needing just 71 to win before Boland took the last five wickets of the match, turning what seemed like a comfortable chase into a crushing defeat for the visitors. Victoria earned 7.4 points while New South Wales received just 1 point.
Source: ESPNcricinfo Match Report – https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/sheffield-shield-2025-26-1495274/victoria-vs-new-south-wales-4th-match-1495282/match-report
Match Scorecard
| Team | 1st Innings | 2nd Innings | Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | 240 (68.5 overs) | 177 (65 overs) | 417 | Won by 38 runs |
| New South Wales | 163 (50.5 overs) | 216 (60.4 overs) | 379 | Lost |
Target: New South Wales needed 255 runs to win
Source: ESPNcricinfo Full Scorecard – https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/sheffield-shield-2025-26-1495274/victoria-vs-new-south-wales-4th-match-1495282/full-scorecard
Top Performers
| Player | Team | Role | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Boland | Victoria | Bowler | 8 wickets in match (3-59 & 5-67) |
| Fergus O’Neill | Victoria | Bowler | 6 wickets in match (5-26 & 1-54) |
| Peter Handscomb | Victoria | Batsman | 85 runs (1st innings) |
| Mitchell Perry | Victoria | Batsman | 66 runs (1st innings) |
| Todd Murphy | Victoria | Bowler | 3-17 (2nd innings) |
| Oliver Davies | NSW | Batsman | 64 runs (2nd innings) |
| Sam Konstas | NSW | Batsman | 53 runs (2nd innings) |
| Liam Hatcher | NSW | Bowler | 8 wickets in match (5-88 & 3-29) |
Key Moments
- Konstas’ Redemption: After being dismissed for a duck in the first innings by Boland, Sam Konstas finally won a battle with the Test quick by scoring 53 in the second innings
- Davies’ Brilliant Knock: Oliver Davies looked set to win the game with a superb display of driving through the off side, striking nine fours and a six before Boland dismissed him for 64
- O’Neill’s Five-For: Fergus O’Neill took 5 for 26 in New South Wales’ first innings, his career-best figures in first-class cricket, continuing to push his case for an extended Ashes squad
- Handscomb-Perry Partnership: The pair combined for a 130-run stand for the sixth wicket, which was a complete outlier among the flurry of wickets that fell at either end
- Controversial Decisions: New South Wales were frustrated by two controversial stumping decisions, including one against Matthew Gilkes that sparked a collapse of 4 for 7 after they had reached 90 without loss
- Boland’s Final Burst: The Test quick took the last five wickets of the match to secure victory, including removing Davies with a stunning delivery that jagged back through the gate
Match Analysis
New South Wales captain Jack Edwards won the toss and elected to bowl first on what proved to be a very seam-friendly pitch at the Junction Oval. The decision looked inspired initially as Victoria struggled to 240, but the difficult batting conditions would ultimately benefit the home side. Peter Handscomb looked a class above, navigating some hostile bowling to make 85, while Mitchell Perry contributed a crucial 66.
Liam Hatcher took his first five-wicket haul in Shield cricket with figures of 5-88, tearing through Victoria’s top order. However, Victoria’s bowlers responded brilliantly. O’Neill and Boland scythed through the NSW top-order, with O’Neill claiming 5 for 26 while Boland took 3 for 59 as NSW were bowled out for just 163.
This gave Victoria a vital first-innings lead of 77 runs. Although they struggled in their second innings, managing only 177, it set New South Wales a target of 255. What seemed achievable became impossible as Boland and Murphy combined brilliantly to defend the total.
What’s Next
Victoria will take tremendous confidence from this victory, their second win of the Sheffield Shield season. Scott Boland continues to prove why he remains Australia’s premier backup fast bowler ahead of the Ashes series.
For New South Wales, the loss will sting given they were in such a strong position at 184-5. Sam Konstas showed positive signs with his half-century after his first-innings duck, but consistency remains an issue for the young opener as the Ashes selection looms.
Both teams will now prepare for their next Sheffield Shield fixtures as the domestic season continues to heat up ahead of the international summer.
Match Details:
- Venue: CitiPower Centre (Junction Oval), Melbourne
- Dates: October 15-17, 2025 (finished on day 2)
- Toss: New South Wales won and elected to field first
- Result: Victoria won by 38 runs
- Player of the Match: Scott Boland (8 wickets)
- Points: Victoria 7.4, New South Wales 1
- Umpires: Stephen Dionysius, Troy Penman
- Match Referee: Bob Parry
- Series: Sheffield Shield 2025-26, Match 4