A THIRD consecutive Sheffield Shield title for Victoria appears all but certain after the Bushrangers ground South Australia into the Alice Springs dust on the fourth day of the final.

Needing only to draw to lift the Shield, Victoria batted without urgency throughout the day; they started in the morning on 2 for 38 and added 216 over the course of the day, for the loss of a further four wickets.
That meant that by stumps Victoria’s lead had swelled to 454 runs, and even the most diehard South Australia supporter would agree that to overhaul a target of at least that magnitude on the final day will be essentially impossible.
At the close of play Victoria were on 6 for 254, with Daniel Christian unbeaten on 53 from 178 deliveries and Seb Gotch on 29 from 115.
Scores: Victoria 487 and 6 for 254 (Finch 83, Christian 53*) lead South Australia 287 by 454 runs.