Sheffield Shield 2024/25, NSW vs QLD Match 7 report, Nov 1-4, 2024: ‘I needed to get knocked out’

queensland 36 by 0 trail New South Wales 239 (Patterson 91, Edwards 88, Lovell 3-13, Straker 3-69) by 203 runs

 

Kurtis Patterson posted his highest first-class score in two years on his return to the New South Wales team as he and Jack Edwards staged a comeback against Queensland after the quick visitors caused early problems.

 

NSW fell to 59 for 5 during the morning session as the new ball nibbled 19-year-old Tom Straker in his second first-class match, taking three early wickets. But Patterson, who had returned to a lineup without a host of players on Australian duty after being dropped last season, and Edwards, who was recovering from injury, added 135 in 35 overs for the sixth wicket.

 

“I probably haven’t said it publicly, but I think they needed to be cut last year because, frankly, I wasn’t hitting well enough,” Patterson said. “I would be lying if I said that thought never crossed my mind, whether I would come back here. But fortunately, I have fulfilled all the requirements with [grade club] St George and I had my chance.”

 

However, NSW then lost 4 for 3 late in their innings and Queensland openers Usman Khawaja and Matt Renshaw were able to overcome some tests of new ball spells, including Josh Hazlewood’s first of the season to finish unbeaten.

 

Patterson played two Tests in 2019 against Sri Lanka, scoring a century in the second and finishing with an average of 144, but was left out of the competition soon after and last season lost his place in the New South Wales team after being dismissed as captain.

 

He fought hard against the moving ball in the opening session before taking advantage of the easier conditions in the afternoon and was within sight of his first century since 2022 when he was caught behind Angus Lovell, although he seemed upset with the decision.

 

Edwards, who missed the final round with a hamstring injury, played positively from the start to regain some initiative for NSW. Like Patterson, he looked dissatisfied with the caught decision that ended his innings short of what would have been a third first-class century.

 

That heralded a late collapse for NSW as Lovell and captain Mitchell Swepson cleaned up the lower order.

 

The day had started in similar style for the home team with Blake Nikitaras falling in the opening when he bowled a Liam Guthrie full delivery to third slip. Nic Maddinson tried to take the positive route but dragged Straker for 10 off six deliveries and Ollie Davies then fell to an excellent delivery that clipped the seam to remove off-stump.

 

Moises Henriques sent a wide delivery to the point and Matthew Gilkes got the upper hand on a short ball.

 

The Queensland attack did an excellent job in the absence of standouts Michael Neser (Australia A) and Mark Steketee (injured).

 

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