South Australia Stuns Tasmania with Two-Run Victory in Final Over

South Australia secured a dramatic two-run victory over the Tasmanian Tigers in a thrilling Sheffield Shield match, marking the joint-tightest win in competition history. The Tigers chased an improbable 429 runs for victory and stood at 400-5, needing 29 more runs from 27 balls. However, the Tigers suffered a dramatic collapse, losing four wickets in just nine balls in the final two overs. In the last over, the Tigers needed seven runs or one more wicket.

After a few singles, Riley Meredith tried to take a second run but ran himself out on the final ball, handing South Australia the win. This result marked the fourth two-run victory in Sheffield Shield history and the first since 2003. The final two overs were filled with drama: Mitchell Owen hit a six and added a couple of runs before getting caught. Matthew Kuhnemann followed and after a dot ball, the Tigers needed six from the final over.

A series of wickets left the Tigers needing just four from the final ball. Meredith ran himself out, sealing South Australia’s win. South Australia captain Ben Manenti admitted that he had thought his team had lost but Wes Agar’s remarkable bowling performance, who bowled six yorkers in a row, kept them in the game. He said he felt more content with a draw than a win at that point.

The match also featured a controversial incident when Tim Ward, after ducking a bouncer, walked out of his crease similar to Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal by Alex Carey in the 2023 Ashes. The umpires denied the run-out appeal, ruling that the over had ended. South Australia’s victory moved them to the top of the Sheffield Shield table.