Copeland puts NSW in the driving seat

ESPNcricinfo staff

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Stumps Victoria 8 for 206 (Quiney 66, Copeland 4-58) trail New South Wales 416 (Jaques 129*, Warner 99, Hughes 69, Siddle 6-89) by 210 with two wickets remaining
Scorecard

Trent Copeland knocked over Victoria's top order to give New South Wales control of the game and crush any lingering hopes Victoria might have had of winning a third straight Sheffield Shield title. It was a day of fluctuating fortunes, as Victoria had the best of the early session. Peter Siddle snapped up centurion Phil Jacques in the third over of the day for the addition of just one run to his overnight score of 128. That dismissal triggered a batting collapse, and the last seven wickets tumbled for 69 runs. Siddle picked up four of them to finish with 6 for 89, as NSW were restricted to 416.

Needing a win to keep alive their chances of defending their title, Victoria lost Michael Hill early, caught behind of Copeland. Things then looked to have settled while Chris Rogers and Aaron Finch were adding 53 together but Rogers edged one to the keeper off Copeland after making 35. Finch and Ryan Carters soon followed, falling to Moises Henriques and Copeland respectively. When Matthew Wade became Copeland's fourth victim, Victoria were struggling at 5 for 100.

Robert Quinney and Glenn Maxwell then provided some lower order resistance, adding 73 in quick time. But both men fell to left-arm chinaman Beau Casson, who had Quinney caught for 66, having struck seven fours and two sixes, and then trapped Maxwell plumb in front for 38. Victoria would lose one more wicket, ending the day on 8 for 206.