Steve Smith will enter the Ashes with a century and two scores above 50 for NSW, but the Blues were beaten by 300 runs by Victoria at the SCG
Steve Smith is averaging more than 100 this summer before heading into the Ashes, but his half-century on Wednesday couldn’t save NSW from a 300-run Sheffield Shield defeat to Victoria.
On a dramatic third day at the SCG where both Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott left the ground for hamstring scans, NSW were all out for 125 chasing 425 for victory.
Hazlewood has since been cleared for the first Test but Abbott is out of contention, with their issues just nine days out from Ashes opener in Perth overshadowing NSW’s woes.
But by the end of Wednesday, NSW had still been convincingly beaten inside three days, after being bowled out twice in a combined 89.3 overs for the match.
Sam Elliott picked up three wickets for Victoria to go with his maiden five-wicket haul in the first innings, while Fergus O’Neill bowled well for his 2-22.
But what can’t be denied is the form Smith will enter next week’s first Test in, as he prepares to captain Australia in the absence of the injured Pat Cummins.
Smith’s unbeaten 56 on Wednesday means he now has scores of 118, 57 and 56no to start the summer for NSW after returning from an extended holiday in America.
While he flourished with the drive in the first innings on Tuesday, the bulk of his runs came square of the wicket and behind it as he played a lone hand on Wednesday.
Steve Smith looks in good touch heading to Perth.
There was still one big six down the ground off Todd Murphy, when he lifted the finger-spinner over long off.
But while Smith again looked in good shape, Sam Konstas’ 27 in the fourth innings made him the only other Blue to pass 20 in the match.
On a pitch with plenty of variable bounce, six Blues were either bowled or trapped lbw as Will Sutherland also claimed 2-37 and Scott Boland 1-24.
Earlier, Abbott took three wickets in six balls before suffering his injury at the end of a five-over spell.
The seamer bowled Todd Murphy and Peter Handscomb in the same over, before Oliver Peake edged a ball back onto his own stumps in Abbott’s next over.
Hazlewood also had Sam Harper caught on the pull shot, before reporting some tightness to Smith and leaving the field for scans.
“Coming into this game, we knew it was going to be a big challenge,” Victoria coach Chris Rogers said.
“It’s almost one of those games where you’re playing against a bit of a superstar team. If you lose, that’s okay. It could be a good health check to see where you are.
“But to come out and play with such a dominant performance, I think it gives our changing room such a lift.”
Sheffield Shield 2025-26 standings
Team
Matches played
M
Wins
W
Losses
L
Drawn
D
No results
N/R
Deductions
Ded.
Batting Bonus
Bat
Bowling Bonus
Bowl
Total points
PTS
1
VIC
4
4
0
0
0
0
4.14
3.6
31.74
2
QLD
3
1
0
2
0
0
4.9
2.3
15.2
3
NSW
4
1
2
1
0
0
1.55
3.7
12.25
4
SA
4
1
2
1
0
0
1.3
3.6
11.9
5
TAS
4
1
2
1
0
2
1.72
3.2
9.92
6
WA
3
0
2
1
0
0
0.66
3
4.66
Legend
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
D: Drawn
N/R: No results
Ded.: Deductions
Bat: Batting Bonus
Bowl: Bowling Bonus
PTS: Total points
