Veteran Seamer Jackson Bird’s Masterclass Puts New South Wales in Control
On the opening day of the Sheffield Shield match at Adelaide’s Karen Rolton Oval, veteran seamer Jackson Bird’s scintillating 7 for 46 inspired New South Wales to a commanding 30-run first-innings lead over South Australia.
The 37-year-old Bird turned back the clock, producing a masterclass of disciplined seam bowling to dismantle South Australia’s batting lineup for a mere 110 runs. Five of his victims fell to edges behind the wicket, with Conor McInerney also inside-edging a delivery onto the stumps. This marked Bird’s first five-wicket haul in the Shield since March 2021, when he claimed 7 for 18 against NSW while playing for Tasmania.
“Jackson Bird’s masterful display of line and length bowling laid the foundation for NSW’s dominant position at the end of the day’s play.”
In response, NSW finished the day at a solid 140 for 2, with opener Nic Maddinson leading the way with a gritty 69 before being dismissed by Lloyd Pope just before stumps. Sam Konstas also looked assured, scoring 28 runs, but was caught lbw by Harry Conway, who was playing his first match since missing out on Australian Test selection.
Despite the occasional bright spot for South Australia, such as Jake Lehmann’s 25 and Henry Hunt’s 30, the hosts were unable to withstand the relentless pressure applied by the experienced Bird. The veteran seamer’s masterful display of line and length bowling laid the foundation for NSW’s dominant position at the end of the day’s play.
As the match progresses, Cricket enthusiasts will be keen to see if New South Wales can further capitalize on their first-innings lead and secure a crucial victory, while South Australia will be determined to bounce back and level the playing field.
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