Sheffield Shield 2024/25 NSW v QLD 7th Match Match Report 1-04 Nov 2024

N.S.W. 239 (Patterson 91, Edwards 88, Lovell 3-13, Straker 3-69) and 256 for 4 (Davies 88, Patterson 66) tied with Queensland 406 for 5 December (Lovell 146*, McDermott 87, Hearn 58, Khawaja 58)

After NSW were asked to start their second innings with a 167-run deficit on Monday morning, Patterson’s 66 helped the Blues to 256 for 4 as both sides agreed to call it a day.

As a result, both teams were left without victories in the first three rounds, with two draws in each.

But this match was an undoubted personal victory for Patterson.

Captained for New South Wales just two seasons ago, the left-hander was selected for just three Shield matches last summer and again started the 2024-25 season out of the side. But with a large number of players missing due to Australian and Australian commitments, the selectors were forced to bring him back at number three.

And the two-time Test representative rose to the challenge, admitting he once feared his first-class career was over. The 31-year-old played just once for the Blues, scoring 91 in the first innings, before shining brightly again on Monday.

Patterson played one of the overs of the day, hitting a successful square shot off Mitchell Swepson for one of six boundaries in his innings.

And he hardly looked bothered until rain briefly interrupted play in the second session and Swepson tore one back between bat and pad to bowl him out on the first ball.

But by then the game had been saved for New South Wales, with Patterson and Davies’ 117-run third-wicket stand countering Queensland’s rain-interrupted first innings at 406 for 5.

Davis’ runs also marked his best performance this summer before he enters Australia’s camp later this week to face India A in Melbourne.