WHILE New South Wales was not quite able to snatch a win on Friday over South Australia in its Sheffield Shield season opener, the drawn match is one Trent Copeland will have fond memories of.
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It is because the talented Bathurst seamer notched up his 300th first class wicket at Adelaide Oval.
He bought up the milestone on day two of the fixture when sending Cameron Valente on his way for 12, trapping him leg before wicket.
That was one of nine wickets Copeland took for the match – finishing with 9-131 off 49 overs, of which seven were maidens.
On top of that Copeland belted seven boundaries on day one in his unbeaten 55 and helped Daniel Sams claim his first shield wicket when taking a nice slips catch.
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Not surprisingly, his efforts earned him man of the match honours.
Copeland, who currently ranks 40th on the list of all-time Sheffield Shield wicket-takers, was delighted to have notched up a milestone during the match.
“I never thought I would get one, honestly, I was a wicketkeeper, batsman until I was 20,” he told cricketnsw.com.
“I'm a cricket nuffie and love the game and, really, every time I get to pull on the baggy blue I feel blessed.
“So to be able to contribute significantly over a lot of years now is something that no doubt when I finish, I will look back on with a lot of pride.”
The season-opening match saw South Australia hold off a determined NSW attack on the final day, reaching stumps at 6-103 to force the draw.
But before that, Copeland toiled to try and deliver his team-mates a win.
His efforts with the willow on day one – his seventh first class 50 – helped NSW to a first innings total of 246.
In reply the Redbacks made 273, Copeland leading the way for the Blues attack as he took 6-86.
The hosts’ slim lead soon disappeared as NSW’s batsmen returned to the crease.
The Blues hunted for quick runs to try and force a result and declared at 8-279 just before tea on the final day, Copeland having made an unbeaten nine. It gave NSW a lead of 252.
Copeland struck early as he removed Jake Weatherald for three, the opener edging a delivery to second slip.
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Fellow new-ball bowler Sean Abbott found success soon after to have their rivals at 2-19 with a session to play.
Copeland began that final session by taking a wicket with his first delivery, and from there the Blues turned up the pressure even more.
When Copeland dismissed Valente (24) the Redbacks were 6-74, but South Australian captain Jake Lehmann (33 not out) and Joe Mennie (12 not out) guided their side to a draw.
The Bathurst talent claimed 3-45 in his second innings to ice an impressive performance, the 32-year-old saying he gained great satisfaction from taking wickets in all conditions over his career.
“It’s across different conditions - flat wickets, good wickets, nice ones to bowl on, not-so nice ones to bowl on,” Copeland said.
“It’s a little reiteration of the fact that you don’t have to bowl rapid, you can put the ball in a nice area and hope for the best and it can work in your favour. There’s a lot of good bowlers in this country who take wickets regularly and it’s not all about pace.”
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