- Konstas 151* helps NSW move closer to victory. A disastrous start towards the 364-run target saw WA lose Bancroft and Whiteman as well as night watchman Rocchiccioli within five balls. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah are all smiling after dismissing Pat Cummins. The three that count: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, all smiles after dismissal of Pat Cummins, India v Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 Shane Warne Australia v New Zealand 2nd Test, Day 1, at the WACA, Perth, Thursday November 20, 1997 Sam Konstas made his first century of the season, Western Australia v New South Wales, Sheffield Shield, WACA, October 21 2026 Western Australia 339 and 30 for 3 (Whiteman 17, Dwarshuis 2-5, Edwards 1-0) need 334 runs to beat New South Wales 440 and 262 for 5 (Konstas 151*, Hicks 35*, Rocchiccioli 3-90, Haskett 1-38). the Sheffield Shield against a Western Australian side reeling from the withdrawal of injured ctain Aaron Hardie.
- In a disastrous start to the chase for the 364-run target, WA lost openers Cameron Bancroft and Sam Whiteman and nightwatchman Corey Rocchiccioli within five deliveries just before stumps.
- Sailors Ben Dwarshuis and Jack Edwards frolicked on a WACA surface that looked relatively harmless.
Konstas 151* helps NSW move closer to victory. A disastrous start towards the 364-run target saw WA lose Bancroft and Whiteman as well as night watchman Rocchiccioli within five balls. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah are all smiling after dismissing Pat Cummins. The three that count: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, all smiles after dismissal of Pat Cummins, India v Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 Shane Warne Australia v New Zealand 2nd Test, Day 1, at the WACA, Perth, Thursday November 20, 1997 Sam Konstas made his first century of the season, Western Australia v New South Wales, Sheffield Shield, WACA, October 21 2026 Western Australia 339 and 30 for 3 (Whiteman 17, Dwarshuis 2-5, Edwards 1-0) need 334 runs to beat New South Wales 440 and 262 for 5 (Konstas 151*, Hicks 35*, Rocchiccioli 3-90, Haskett 1-38). the Sheffield Shield against a Western Australian side reeling from the withdrawal of injured ctain Aaron Hardie.
In a disastrous start to the chase for the 364-run target, WA lost openers Cameron Bancroft and Sam Whiteman and nightwatchman Corey Rocchiccioli within five deliveries just before stumps. Sailors Ben Dwarshuis and Jack Edwards frolicked on a WACA surface that looked relatively harmless. NSW declared their second innings just over an hour before stumps after Konstas backed up his first innings 71 with a magnificent 167-ball knock that included four sixes.
He played a rather orthodox game but had good pace throughout, a round that national coach Tony Dodemaide watched closely in the stands. Coincidentally, the finishing touches to his innings came at the same time as Australia’s well-known batting difficulties in the second Test in South Africa. “I feel very good, I feel like I have a lot of clarity when it comes to batting and trying to deliver match-winning performances for the team,” said Konstas, saying he denies him any chance of surpassing his highest first-class score of 152.
“I feel like I’m moving really well. I’m just very hpy because I can enjoy my start.” WA’s task became even more difficult without Hardie, who was taken out of the game with a shoulder injury and replaced by off-hitter Corey Wasley. WA was dealt a huge blow ahead of the third day when it was announced that bowling all-rounder Hardie would no longer take part in the game after injuring himself while batting on the second day of play.
He touched his shoulder several times and peared more and more distraught as his 52 innings went on. The exact nature and severity of the injury is determined as Hardie sweats through the scan results. At the very least, he will miss WA’s upcoming One-Day Cup game against NSW and next week’s Shield game against South Australia due to the mandatory 12-day waiting period following his medical substitution.
It is another setback for the unfortunate Hardie, who has been plagued by injuries in a career that has produced 15 ODIs and 18 T20Is for Australia. He was back bowling from day one, having started the season as a specialist batsman while suffering from knee problems that ruled him out of Australia A’s recent tour of India. Hardie enjoyed taking the lead and started the season in good batting form at number 5 with an unbeaten 80 to lead WA to a thrilling two-wicket victory over Queensland and open the Shield season.
The experienced Hilton Cartwright took over the position in Hardie’s absence, but spent a significant amount of time out of the field during NSW’s second innings after injuring his finger while attemng a catch at first slip. Cartwright will be available to bat on day four but WA’s injury toll continues to rise and Joel Paris – who led the side for most second innings pearances for NSW – peared uneasy as the home side faced a lot of work to do to avoid defeat. After a composed half-century in NSW’s first innings, Konstas’ momentum continued as he took center stage after being overshadowed by Ollie Davies’ 52 off 58 balls on the first morning.
Expectations were high for Davies, who hit 253 off 225 balls in the last Shield game against Tasmania. He wasted no time in the second innings after driving Jhye Richardson’s first ball through the covers for a boundary. But for the second time in the match, Davies succumbed to a Richardson bumper after an error at square leg where Jayden Goodwin made a sensational diving catch.
Richardson did his best to get WA back into the competition, much like he did against Queensland when they won 5 for 19 in the second innings. But he couldn’t do much against Konstas, who sent a short ball over the deep square-leg boundary. Kurtis Patterson, who had just scored his stunning 122 in the first innings, smashed several fine shots through cover to join them in a half-century stand with Konstas.
Patterson was unable to continue after being beaten in weight by Rocchiccioli, who soon got going after the wickets of Edwards and stand-in skipper Lachlan Shaw. Konstas remained unfazed, pointing to his 60-ball half-century to ensure NSW’s lead continued to increase. He made 82 runs in the second session and reached his fifth first-class ton soon after tea, waving the bat to his esteemed team-mates after reaching the milestone in 136 balls.
He played the long shot to Rocchiccioli, his best being a brilliant forehand into the palisades that had Dodemaide grinning from ear to ear. A disastrous start to the 364-run target saw WA lose Bancroft and Whiteman as well as nightwatchman Rocchiccioli within five balls. Sam Konstas makes his first century of the season, Western Australia v New South Wales, Sheffield Shield, WACA, October 21, 2026 WA v NSW Sheffield Shield 2026-27 – Injured Paris and Curtis hold off New South Wales in a thriller to force a draw for WA. Paris and Curtis survive 28 overs for the last wicket to hold NSW Sean Abbott and Joel Paris shake hands after the game ended in a draw, Western Australia v New South Wales, Sheffield Shield, WACA, October 22, 2026. In a disastrous start to the 364-run target, WA lost Bancroft and Whiteman with nightwatchman Rocchiccioli within five balls. Sam Konstas makes his first century of the season, Western Australia v New Wales South, Sheffield Shield, WACA, 21 October 2026 Sean Abbott celebrates a breakthrough, Western Australia v New South Wales, Sheffield Shield, WACA, 20 October 2026 Ollie Davies set the tone for the visitors with an aggressive half-century, while Sam Konstas was also in the running. Kurtis Patterson’s hundred was part of a dominant batting performance, Western Australia v New South Wales, Sheffield Shield, WACA, 19 October 2026 Shane Warne Australia v New Zealand, 2nd Test, day one, at the WACA, Perth, Thursday 20 November 1997 Shane Warne Australia v New Zealand, 2nd Test, day one, at the WACA, Perth, Thursday 20 November 1997 Australia v New Zealand, 2 Test, day 1, at the WACA, Perth, Thursday 20 November 1997 Australia v New Zealand 2nd Test, Day 1, at the WACA, Perth, Thursday 20 November 1997 WA v NSW Sheffield Shield 2026-27 – Injured Paris and Curtis hold off New South Wales in a thriller to force a draw for WA. Paris and Curtis survived with a runner at number 11 after a hamstring injury 28 overs for the last wicket remaining NSW Sean Abbott and Joel Paris shake hands after the game ended in a draw, Western Australia v New South Wales, Sheffield Shield, WACA, 22 October 2026 Shane Warne Australia v New Zealand 2nd Test, Day 1, at the WACA, Perth, Thursday 20 November 1997 Shane Warne Australia v New Zealand 2nd Test, Day 1, at the WACA, Perth, Thursday 20 November 1997 Shane Warne Australia v New Zealand 2nd Test, Day 1, at the WACA, Perth, Thursday 20 November 1997 Sheffield Shield 2026/27, WA v NSW 6th Match Match Report, 19th – 22nd October 2026 – Konstas 151* helps NSW win Sheffield Shield 2026/27, West Aust v NSW Match report: In a disastrous start to the 364-run target, WA lost Bancroft and Whiteman as well as night watchman Rocchiccioli within five balls. A disastrous start to the 364-run target saw WA lose Bancroft and Whiteman as well as the night watchman Rocchiccioli within five balls.
