Another century for Richards helps NSW recover in Shield

MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov 4 (AFP) - Corey Richards scored his third century in as many games to help New South Wales recover after the early loss of Test openers Mark Taylor and Michael Slater in their Sheffield Shield cricket match against Victoria Wednesday.

Richards was unbeaten on 114 as NSW climbed to 263 for five at the close of the opening day of the four-day match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Richards, who also scored centuries against South Australia and Queensland, spent the northern summer playing in Scotland, and the 23-year-old is currently one of the hottest batsmen in Australian cricket.

The Blues had earlier lost captain Taylor for 10 and Slater for 13, and had crawled to 19 off 16 overs in the first hour - with Slater taking 31 balls to score.

Andrew Sainsbury made only four before his dismissal but Richards combined with Shane Lee for a fourth-wicket stand of 113 in 116 minutes.

After going to lunch at 60 for three, the Blues scored 123 runs in the middle session and another 80 after tea to take the momentum away from the Victorians, who were again without Test legspinner Shane Warne.

Lee made 67 off 95 balls with eight fours.

Day 2

Elliott century gives Victoria fighting chance

MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov 5 (AFP) - Former Test opener Matthew Elliott scored a stylish Sheffield Shield century for Victoria against New South Wales here Thursday to keep his name in front of the national selectors.

Elliott, who lost his Test spot last summer, scored a classy 108 as Victoria reached 165 for two in reply to NSW's first innings of 390.

Elliott brought up his 50 off only 58 balls and his hundred off 122 before he holed out to long-on off Test spinner Stuart MacGill just before the end of the second day.

At the close, Matthew Mott was not out 13 and nightwatchman David Saker had yet to score.

NSW were all out for 390, Corey Richards hitting a patient 161.

Opening bowlers Paul Reiffel and David Saker were the pick of the Victorians with three wickets each.

Day 3

Victoria claim innings points over NSW in Shield

MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov 6 (AFP) - Victoria overhauled New South Wales to claim first innings points here Friday and were in command by the end of day three of their Sheffield Shield cricket match.

NSW had slumped to 40 for three in their second innings, with Andrew Sainsbury six and Shane Lee 15 after losing Test openers, Mark Taylor and Michael Slater, again early with a day to play.

Victoria reached 394 for six after tea and then declared after passing the Blues' first innings 390, with Ian Harvey smashing an unbeaten 63 off 69 balls and Laurie Harper posting a patient 89.

Left-arm spinner David Freedman was the best of the NSW bowlers with 3-63.

NSW lost Test openers Taylor (2) and Slater (15) cheaply, following on from their first innings failures, while first-innings century-maker Corey Richards was out for one to leave the Blues at 18 for three.

Paul Reiffel and David Saker each captured a wicket.

Day 4

Elliott hits second century as Victoria go top

MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov 7 (AFP) - Victoria, last crowned as Australian cricket champions eight years ago, surged to the top of Australia's Sheffield Shield with a 10-wicket win over New South Wales here Saturday.

Victoria, playing without convalescing legspinner Shane Warne, took maximum points to move ahead of Queensland in the table.

Needing 174 off 44 overs after dismissing NSW for just 177, openers Matthew Elliott and Jason Arnberger scored 175 without loss in 36.2 overs.

Elliott, bidding to regain his Test place, followed up his first innings 108 with an unbeaten 103.

NSW were dismissed just before tea with Test openers Mark Taylor and Michael Slater again failing. Paul Reiffel was the pick of the bowlers with two for 31 off 23 overs. Victoria declared their first innings on Friday at 394 for six after overhauling NSW's 390.