The opening match of the 2025 Sheffield Defend season between Tasmania and Queensland at Brisbane’s Allan Border Subject from October 4 to 7 turned out to be a charming contest marked by spectacular particular person performances and a tense end.
Queensland amassed a formidable first innings rating of 612, powered by stellar centuries from Marnus Labuschagne (160) and Matt Renshaw (128). Tasmania responded strongly with 379 of their first innings, led by Jordan Silk’s century (104) and vital contributions from Bradley Hope (76), Jake Weatherald (67), and Jake Doran (66). The match finally culminated in a hard-fought draw, with Tasmania battling to 317 for 7 of their second innings, narrowly avoiding defeat by resilient batting.
Usman Khawaja’s sensational slip catch sends Bradley Hope packing in Sheffield Defend fixture
One of many standout moments got here from Queensland’s Usman Khawaja, who made a big influence with each bat and gloves. Khawaja scored a useful 69 in Queensland’s mammoth innings, demonstrating his intent with ten boundaries. Nonetheless, his brilliance within the area caught the attention throughout Tasmania’s second innings.
At ball 62.4, bowling from Michael Neser induced a skinny edge from Bradley Hope, who was effectively set on 12 runs. Khawaja, positioned within the slips, executed a surprising catch diving to his left, snatching the ball out of the air in an athletic show that left spectators and gamers alike in awe. This significant wicket, simply after Caleb Jewell’s dismissal, gave Queensland hope of pushing for a victory.
Regardless of the catch igniting the competition, Tasmania’s depth and combat have been on full show. Indian-born debutant Nikhil Chaudhary performed an important function, scoring an unbeaten 76 to steer Tasmania away from the brink. Chaudhary additionally confirmed his all-round capabilities by taking 5 wickets in Queensland’s innings, making him a key participant on this intense fixture.
Right here’s the video:
How concerning the response time 😮💨 #Cricket #SheffieldShield #Khawaja pic.twitter.com/fT2UUENAyM
— Kayo Sports activities (@kayosports) October 7, 2025
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Tasmania’s gritty second innings safe draw towards Queensland
Tasmania, trailing by 233 runs after the primary innings, confronted a frightening chase to both push for a end result or at the very least deny Queensland a win. Their second innings was a testomony to their willpower, steadily chipping away on the goal with cautious batting. Key contributors included Weatherald with 57 runs and Tim Ward with 39. Caleb Jewell additionally performed an necessary knock of 67, battling tirelessly towards a potent Queensland bowling assault that included Neser, Jack Wildermuth, and Benji Floros.
Regardless of shedding wickets at common intervals, Tasmania managed to construct important partnerships and maintain their floor. The match ended formally as a draw when the captains shook fingers about 45 minutes earlier than the scheduled shut on the fourth day, with Tasmania at 317 for 7 wickets. This end result mirrored the resilience and talent of each side, with Queensland dominating a lot of the sport however Tasmania refusing to capitulate beneath strain.
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