New South Wales win Sheffield Shield title

David Barbeler
Mar 25, 2014, updated Mar 25, 2014

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NSW have won the 2013-14 Sheffield Shield title after reaching an agreement with Western Australia to end the final day four hours early.

NSW, who only needed a draw to claim the Shield for the first time since 2008, made it to an unbeatable 464-run lead after lunch on Tuesday at 4-197 in their second innings.

Both teams sought permission from Cricket Australia to end the match early and the request was granted, with play ending at 1.50pm.

Blues skipper Steve Smith backed up his stellar Test form by bringing up his century 10 minutes before the end and he was unbeaten on 103.

NSW batsman Kurtis Patterson (52) was the only batsman to fall on the final day, reaching his half-century before being caught at backward point off the bowling of Shield player of the year Marcus North (1-10).

While having the majority of day four washed out didn’t help WA’s cause, they also lacked penetration throughout the match on a flat Manuka Oval wicket.

NSW’s dominant position was set up by a six-wicket haul to paceman Josh Hazlewood and a classy first innings ton from Test squad all-rounder Moises Henriques, the duo delivering a killer one-two blow to WA’s hopes of winning their first Shield in 15 years.