Kurtis Patterson Shines on Return to New South Wales, Sets Stage for Recovery Against Queensland
Edwards, who returned from a hamstring injury, played aggressively alongside Patterson, looking to stabilize the innings. He, too, felt hard done by when he was dismissed before reaching what would have been his third first-class century, having scored 88 runs.
Kurtis Patterson marked his comeback to the New South Wales (NSW) side with a stellar performance, scoring 91 runs and helping the team recover from a precarious position against Queensland. NSW managed to post a total of 239 runs, with Patterson's innings playing a key role in the team's resurgence after a shaky start.
The match began poorly for NSW as they lost their first five wickets for just 59 runs, thanks largely to the incisive bowling of 19-year-old Tom Straker, who took three early wickets in his second first-class match. Facing a potent Queensland bowling attack, including seasoned players like Liam Guthrie, Patterson and Jack Edwards stepped up to the challenge, forging a crucial 135-run partnership for the sixth wicket over the span of 35 overs.
Reflecting on his journey back to the team, Patterson admitted that being dropped last season was a necessary step for him. "I probably haven't said it publicly but I think I needed to be dropped... because frankly, I wasn't batting well enough," he said. His return to form was solidified during his time at the St George club, which earned him another chance with NSW.
As the innings progressed, Patterson navigated the testing conditions effectively, particularly after the early threat from the Queensland bowlers subsided. He was closing in on his first century since 2022 when he was controversially given out caught behind off Angus Lovell, a decision that visibly frustrated him.
Edwards, who returned from a hamstring injury, played aggressively alongside Patterson, looking to stabilize the innings. He, too, felt hard done by when he was dismissed before reaching what would have been his third first-class century, having scored 88 runs. The pair’s efforts helped steer NSW back into contention, but the innings ended in disappointment as they collapsed from 239 for 6 to 239 all out, losing four wickets for just three runs.
Queensland's response began steadily, with openers Usman Khawaja and Matt Renshaw reaching 36 without loss by the close of play. Despite the absence of key bowlers Michael Neser (on Australia A duty) and Mark Steketee (injury), Queensland's bowlers were effective, maintaining pressure on the NSW batsmen throughout the day.
Patterson's performance not only demonstrated his potential return to form but also highlighted the resilience of a NSW side missing several players due to national duties. As the match progresses, both teams will look to capitalize on their strengths, with Patterson's batting being a focal point for NSW's efforts to recover further in the game.
