Neser, Wildermuth hand Queensland the advantage

Queensland have made it to four Sheffield Shield finals in the last decade, winning three and losing one. Their last win came in the 2017-18 season when they beat Tasmania. On Thursday (April 15) they took a giant step towards winning the coveted trophy, thanks to their bowlers who put the team in a commanding position on Day 1 of the the final of the 2020-21 Sheffield Shield at Allan Border Field in Brisbane.

Defending champions New South Wales came into the big game without some of their key members - Moises Henriques, Steve Smith and Pat Cummins - as they are away for the Indian Premier League. The inexperienced batting line-up was exposed by the pair of Michael Neser and Jack Wildermuth as the two bowlers claimed 9 for 49 between them to bowl NSW out for 143. In reply, Queensland were 58 for 1 at the end of the opening day.

Skipper Kurtis Patterson won the toss and decided to bat. The jitters of the final was evident as the openers Daniel Hughes and Matthew Gilkes were almost involved in a run out in the very first over. The latter didn't last long as he became the first victim of Neser in the fifth over.

The experienced duo of Hughes and Patterson steadied the innings after the early loss but the partnership was broken by Wildermuth just before Lunch. What transpired in the second session was complete demolition as Queensland's new-ball combo - Neser and Wildermuth - ran through the middle order and reduced New South Wales to 123 for 8 going into Tea.

Patterson and to an extent Sean Abbott (23) showed some resistance to a disciplined bowling attack which didn't need their leading wicket-taker - Mitchell Swepson - to bowl much. Four of the top six batsmen got starts but none could go past Patterson's 43. Neser came back post-tea and wrapped up the final two wickets and in the process finishing with 5 for 27.

New South Wales' strength has been their bowling attack with the likes of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon in the line-up but defending a total of less than 150 is a tough job even for the experienced trio.

Joe Burns and Bryce Street blunted the new ball by not giving a wicket in the first ten overs but Hazlewood managed the breakthrough by sending back Burns. But that was all New South Wales could manage as Street and Marnus Labuschange saw them through to Stumps without any hiccups.

Brief scores:New South Wales 143 (Kurtis Patterson 43; Michael Neser 5/27, Jack Wildermuth 4/21) lead Queensland 58/1 (Marnus Labuschagne 23*; Josh Hazlewood 1/12) by 85 runs.