Alex Carey gave national selectors a reminder of his credentials, but Victoria still defeated South Australia by 23 runs in their Sheffield Shield match. The Vics came into day four on top, but a late cameo from swashbuckling quick Wes Agar made them nervous with only one wicket left to take. Just as Agar was hitting his stride, Mitch Perry’s yorker dispatched him, and Victoria sealed victory at Adelaide Oval. Test wicketkeeper Carey rejuvenated the Redbacks in his first match since being dropped from the ODI side for Australia’s second World Cup game. SA lost two wickets inside an hour on day four, slumping to 5-93 in pursuit of 258 runs, before Carey forged the first steady partnership of the innings with Liam Scott. Carey brought up his half-century with a single to deep point from the bowling of player-of-the-match Fergus O’Neill, who was again the pick of the Vics with 5-83. O’Neill took 10-111 for the match. Carey was dropped on the boundary rope shortly after passing 50, the tough chance instead going for six and proving a sign of things to come, as he put his foot on the accelerator. By the time he was caught trying to hit O’Neill down the ground just before lunch, Carey had slogged 10 boundaries on his way to 81 runs from 116 deliveries. Marnus Labuschagne has missed the chance to spend extended time at the crease as the Sheffield Shield clash between Queensland and Western Australia ended in an unavoidable draw. Both captains shook hands at tea on day four at the Gabba with Queensland at 3-137 in their second innings and holding an overall lead of 81. The loss of two sessions on the opening day due to rain and then more time lost on Wednesday because of bad light meant a result was never likely. WA posted 330 in their only innings in reply to Queensland’s 8(dec)-274. Only three wickets fell on the final day. Joe Burns (62no off 175 balls) and Jack Clayton (7no) guided the Bulls safely to tea before the match was declared a draw. With the start of the three-Test series against Pakistan less than two weeks away, a long stint in the middle facing the red ball would have been a crucial aid to Labuschagne’s preparations. The draw lifted WA (28.22 points) back into second spot, behind only Tasmania (29.77). Queensland (15.12) remain last, with just one win and two draws to show from their opening six matches. It was disappointing the first day we got the rain. I think this could have been a really good game if we didn’t have that first-day rain. We missed out that day, and then we missed out on 20-odd overs the next night because of light. It kind of dulled the game.