South Australia beat Victoria by an innings and 40 runs before lunch on day four, and captain Ben Manenti backed Jake Weatherald after a rough return from his fence collision and a duck.
ESPNcricinfo reported on Saturday 10 October 2026 that South Australia opened their Sheffield Shield campaign with an innings and 40 run win over Victoria at the Junction Oval. The two-time defending champions finished the job before lunch on day four, and captain Ben Manenti used the moment to back opener Jake Weatherald.
| At a glance | Detail |
|---|---|
| Match | Victoria v South Australia, 1st match, Sheffield Shield 2026-27, Junction Oval, Melbourne, 7-10 October 2026 |
| Result | South Australia won by an innings and 40 runs |
| Scores | Victoria 244 and 224, South Australia 508 |
| Final morning | Victoria resumed on 7 for 175, needing 89 more to make South Australia bat again, and were bowled out for 224 |
| Jake Weatherald | Duck late on day one, subbed out on day two with delayed concussion symptoms, backed by Manenti |
The final morning and the result
Victoria began the last day on 7 for 175, still 89 runs short of the total they needed to force South Australia back in. They were dismissed for 224, which left them 40 runs adrift once the innings margin was counted. It was a rematch of last summer's Shield final, and the champions never let it get close.
Fergus O'Neill top-scored for Victoria in the second innings with 62. Nathan McAndrew and Henry Thornton took three wickets each. Noah McFadyen took the last wicket, with David Moody caught and bowled, after already top-scoring for South Australia in the first innings with 134. McFadyen and Manenti made maiden first-class centuries in South Australia's 508, a story we covered on day three.
Weatherald's rough return and the backing he got
Weatherald had a difficult match. Earlier on day one, while fielding, he slid into the boundary fence at the Junction Oval. Late that day he made a duck, and at the start of day two he was subbed out with delayed concussion symptoms. Manenti and coach Ryan Harris both said he had reported no issues before he went out to bat.
The match came with extra weight for Weatherald. He was dropped from the Australia Test side two months ago after the loss to Bangladesh in Darwin, and he made 92 in a one-day win over Tasmania last month. Manenti was firm in his support, saying Weatherald will be an important contributor as South Australia chase a third straight Shield title, and that runs would put him back in the Test conversation.
Read the full report on Cricinfo. Cricinfo.
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