Sam Konstas and Nic Maddinson commenced the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Victoria at the SCG with an exceptional performance. The duo amassed 30 runs within the first two overs, with Konstas scoring 10 runs off Scott Boland and Maddinson contributing 20 runs against Fergus O’Neill.
However, Konstas was dismissed while attempting a sweep shot off Boland after facing just 13 balls. Konstas, who had scores of 3 and 22 in the previous match against Queensland, followed by a maiden one-day century, opened his account with a fortunate leading edge that flew through point after being squared up by Boland. On the second ball of the match, he executed a reverse scoop, reminiscent of a shot he played against Jasprit Bumrah earlier in the season, sending Boland’s delivery over the slips to deep third. He then drove the next ball past a diving mid-off before attempting another reverse scoop, which he missed. The over concluded with two dot balls, including a conventional push into the covers on the final delivery. Next, it was Maddinson’s turn.
His intentions were evident from the first ball as he advanced towards O’Neill but was beaten while trying to play a leg-side shot towards the short boundary. He was fortunate on the next delivery, edging the ball through the slips, but there was no doubt about his subsequent shot, where he used his feet effectively to send O’Neill’s delivery straight down the ground. Maddinson escalated his aggression by targeting the short boundary over mid-on, executing a powerful swing to send a full delivery into the stands. Consequently, captain
Will Sutherland positioned a long-on fielder midway through the second over. Maddinson remained undeterred, staying in his crease to whip a delivery from outside off, just eluding the fielder on the boundary. The final ball of the over was short and wide, prompting Maddinson to attempt an uppercut over the slips, though he failed to make contact. The stage was then set for the anticipated confrontation between Boland and Konstas, with spectators eager to see the outcome.