Kurtis Patterson, a former Test batsman, demonstrated his triumphant return to the Sheffield Shield by assisting New South Wales in batting out a tie with Queensland.
Patterson’s 66 propelled the Blues to a total of 256 for 4 when both teams decided to stop play after NSW requested to begin their second innings with a 167-run disadvantage on Monday morning.
Ollie Davies, who measured early and took on the game more in the later stages, also flourished for NSW. In the last session, he fell to a catch in the deep while hooking for 88.
As a consequence, both teams had two draws and no victories from the first three rounds.
However, Patterson undoubtedly won this match on a personal level.
The left-hander, who captained NSW just two seasons ago, only played in three Shield games last summer and the selectors left him off the team for 2024–25 once again. However, they had to reinstate him at No. 3 since a few players were unavailable due to commitments with Australia and Australia A.
Despite acknowledging that he once thought he had lost his first-class career, the two-time Test representative delivered. Before dazzling once more on Monday, the 31-year-old played a single hand for the Blues in the first innings with 91.
Patterson hit six boundaries in his innings, including a spectacular square-drive off Mitchell Swepson that was one of the day’s highlights.
He didn’t seem to have any difficulty until the rain temporarily stopped the second session, at which point Swepson bowled him on his first ball back after ripping one between bat and pad.
By then, however, NSW had rescued the match, offsetting Queensland’s rain-affected first-innings total of 406 for 5 with a 117-run third-wicket partnership between Patterson and Davies.
Prior to joining Australia A’s camp later this week to play India A in Melbourne, Davies’ runs also represented his finest performance to date this summer.
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