Adelaide Oval could host Sheffield Shield final amid AFL matches
What's the story
Adelaide Oval is being eyed as the venue for the upcoming Sheffield Shield final, originally scheduled from March 26-30. The prestigious cricket match could be hosted at the venue after South Australia booked their place in the final by beating Victoria. The team coach Ryan Harris has shown a strong desire for his squad to play at this iconic venue. "But I mean we want to play there. We love it there," Harris told ESPNcricinfo. Here are further details.
Journey to the final
South Australia clinch final spot after impressive victory
South Australia booked their spot in the Shield final for the first time since 2016, with a four-wicket win at Junction Oval. They chased down a target of 300 runs in the fourth innings, courtesy of an unbeaten century from Jake Lehmann. This win has taken them a step closer to hosting the coveted match at Adelaide Oval.
Scheduling challenges
Adelaide Oval's schedule and potential conflicts
The final is currently scheduled to be held from March 26 to March 30. However, some scheduling conflicts need to be addressed. Meanwhile, the drop-in pitches at Adelaide Oval have already been removed for the AFL club Adelaide Crows's first home game on March 16 and Port Adelaide's first home game on Saturday, March 22.
Coach's perspective
Harris optimistic about playing at Adelaide Oval
As mentioned, Harris was optimistic about playing at Adelaide Oval, saying, "We want to play there. We love it there." "It might be a little bit different. The outfield might be a little bit slower, but when we play early games in September, October, it's generally quite slow anyway, he admitted. However, a Shield final hasn't been played at Adelaide Oval since 1996, with the AFL season encroaching into March over the last 15 years.
Premier's involvement
Premier Malinauskas optimistic about compromise
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has been part of the talks and is hopeful of a compromise that would see the final played at Adelaide Oval. He said, "I'm pretty optimistic that with some hard-headed reason, there's a compromise to be had here that would allow it to be played at Adelaide Oval," Malinauskas told ABC radio last week. This shows his desire for a resolution despite the scheduling issues.
League's stance
AFL's response to potential scheduling conflict
AFL Chief Executive Andrew Dillon has welcomed the potential scheduling conflict, saying that the league would be open to cooperation. "If it can be accommodated within our schedule, we absolutely would look at that," Dillon said at a press conference last week. This shows that the AFL side is willing to work around their schedule for the Sheffield Shield final.
Match summary
South Australia book final berth with four-wicket win
South Australia won the toss and bowled first in the semi-final, restricting Victoria to 285, with Campbell Kellaway (79) leading the charge. Jordan Buckingham and Henry Thornton took four wickets each. South Australia responded with 283, as Nathan McSweeney (60) and Harry Nielsen (45) fought back, while Fergus O'Neill bagged five. Victoria then posted 297, setting a 300-run target. As mentioned, Jake Lehmann's unbeaten 105* off 193 guided SA to a four-wicket win.