Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Starc stars as NSW crush SA in Shield

NSW have crushed South Australia by 215 runs in the Sheffield Shield match at Adelaide Oval.

Australia's Ed Cowan
NSW batsman Ed Cowan says the experimental pink ball behaves abnormally. (AAP)

Paceman Mitchell Starc and fellow Test big guns fired on Friday as NSW demolished South Australia by 215 runs in their Sheffield Shield match.

Starc followed his five-wicket haul in the first innings with another three victims as the Redbacks, chasing an unlikely 434 runs to win, were bowled out for 218 with Callum Ferguson (96) playing a lone hand.

The Blues banked the win inside three days at Adelaide Oval, with Test players Starc, captain Steve Smith, David Warner, Josh Hazlewood and spinner Nathan Lyon all influential.

Starc terrorised SA's batsmen throughout, taking 3-62 in the second dig after claiming 5-28 in the first.

Test skipper Smith blasted an unbeaten 152, adding to his first innings 62, while Warner's triumphant return from a broken thumb netted scores of 77 and 30.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Tweaker Lyon took 2-64 in the second innings and Hazlewood was overshadowed by Starc but still effective - 3-23 from 15 overs in the second innings after 2-20 in the first.

All are in the squad for Australia's first Test against New Zealand starting on Thursday in Brisbane.

The Blues' victory push met resistance from SA's Ferguson, who survived a fearful blow from Starc in his classy knock.

Ferguson, on six, was hit on the helmet by a searing Starc bouncer and appeared to be saved from injury by a new protective attachment to his helmet which became available after last year's death of Phillip Hughes.

The Starc bumper crashed into the plastic and foam attachment behind the ear and lower skull, which was knocked off Ferguson's helmet by the impact.

NSW's Warner, as he was when Hughes was hit, was first to the aid of the batsman.

Ferguson was stunned but kept his feet and, after checking the helmet and a couple of minutes of respite, continued batting until he was the last man dismissed when a boundary away from a deserved century.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world