ADELAIDE, Australia, Mar 29 (V7N) – South Australia has dramatically clinched the Sheffield Shield title, ending a 29-year championship drought with a stunning fourth-innings run chase against Queensland at Karen Rolton Oval.

"Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey hit a superb century against Queensland as South Australia completed the highest successful fourth-innings chase in a Sheffield Shield final to end a 29-year title drought on Saturday," reports from the scene confirmed.

Facing a target of 270 runs, South Australia's victory was anchored by a remarkable 202-run partnership between Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey and Jason Sangha.

"Needing 270 runs at Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide, South Australia were in early trouble on day four at 28-3 before Carey combined with Jason Sangha in a match-winning 202-run partnership," a match summary detailed.

Alex Carey's century, scoring 105, played a crucial role, and Jason Sangha's unbeaten 126 sealed the victory, triggering jubilant scenes as fans stormed the field.

"Carey, who has been in strong batting form this season, fell for 105 with the result a formality despite South Australia losing three late wickets. Sangha finished unbeaten on 126 to seal the four-wicket victory, hitting the winning run as South Australia's long-suffering fans ran onto the field in celebration," a sports correspondent reported.

This run chase surpassed the previous record, set by Victoria in 1991, establishing a new milestone in Sheffield Shield final history.

"The highest previous run chase to win a Shield final was Victoria's 239-2 against New South Wales in 1991," a sports statistician confirmed.

The victory marks South Australia's 14th Sheffield Shield title and their first since the 1995-96 season, capping off a successful domestic season that also saw them win the one-day competition.

"It was South Australia's 14th title and first since 1995-96 to complete a memorable season having earlier in the month triumphed in the domestic one-day competition. South Australia had finished in the bottom rung of the Shield table in each of the previous seven seasons," a team analyst stated.

South Australia's strong performance was evident throughout the match, particularly in their dominant first innings where they capitalized on favorable bowling conditions.

"They had an early stranglehold of the five-day decider after taking advantage of favourable seam-bowling conditions to rout Queensland for just 95 in their first innings. Quick Brendan Doggett, who was part of Australia's Test squad during the recent series against India, claimed 6-31 as Queensland slumped to the third-lowest total in a Shield final," a match recap detailed.

Jake Lehmann's century in the first innings further solidified South Australia's advantage.

"South Australia gained a 176-run first-innings lead after Jake Lehmann, the son of former Test batsman and ex-Australia coach Darren Lehmann, top-scored with 102 from 151 balls," a scorecard analysis showed.

Despite Queensland's fightback with centuries from Jack Clayton and Jack Wildermuth, Brendan Doggett's second five-wicket haul limited Queensland's lead, setting the stage for South Australia's historic run chase.

"Queensland appeared set for a hefty defeat before second-innings centuries from Jack Clayton and Jack Wildermuth revived their chances. But Doggett, who was part of Queensland's last title-winning team in 2021, took another five-wicket haul to limit Queensland's lead as the surface flattened under the baking sun," a match summary described.

The match was played without several key players due to their participation in the Indian Premier League.

"Both teams were without several stars, including Travis Head and Xavier Bartlett, who are playing in the Indian Premier League," a team spokesperson confirmed.

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