Sheffield Shield 2024/25, Match 18 Tasmania vs South Australia, Day 4, Hobart Match Report, 6-9 December 2024

South Australia 398 for December 6 (Sangha 151, Hunt 136, Meredith 4-95) and 233 for December 9 (McInerney 75, Sangha 61, Kuhnemann 4-67) expired Tasmania 203 (Doran 51, Scott 3-30) and 426 (Ward 142, Hope 69, Weatherald 65, Silk 65, Agar 3-91, McAndrew 3-123) by two runs

South Australia have achieved one of the most remarkable victories in the 132-year history of the Sheffield Shield, beating Tasmania by two runs on the last ball of the match in Hobart.

Tasmania needed four runs from the last ball to successfully chase 429 and achieve a dramatic victory.

The victory moved South Australia to the top of the table, while Tasmania is now in last place.

But when Owen was caught at long-on boundary a few balls later and Matt Kuhnemann got out on the first ball, South Australia got back into the game. With seven needed to go in the final over, Gabe Bell was bowled by Agar for a duck before the final ball madness ensued.

The early stages of the day were also full of drama, with Ward’s century being his first since his first Shield appearance in October 2021.

But the left-hander was caught in one of the strangest moments of the match midway through the session. With Tasmania flying in the chase, South Australia resorted to short ball tactics to try and stem the momentum.

On this occasion, the appeal was denied and the arbitrators had apparently decided that it had been called.