Despite scoring 31 against Western Australia, the opener once again failed to convert a promising start into a half-century, extending a frustrating run in the Sheffield Shield since Christmas.

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New South Wales opener Sam Konstas ended his Sheffield Shield campaign with another promising but incomplete innings, continuing a pattern that has defined the latter half of his season.

Konstas was dismissed for 31 on Monday during NSW’s match against Western Australia cricket team, edging a delivery to slip as the hosts fought to stay competitive on day three in Sydney. His dismissal marked the eighth consecutive time he has scored between 25 and 45 without reaching a half-century.

By stumps, New South Wales cricket team had reached 297 for 5 in their second innings, holding a lead of 196 runs heading into the final day of the match. With neither side in contention for major standings positions, the encounter has largely been about finishing the season on a positive note.

The 2024–25 Shield season has been a difficult one for both teams. Western Australia are set to finish at the bottom of the table for a second consecutive year, while New South Wales are also expected to make coaching changes ahead of next season.

For Konstas, the campaign has been a mix of promise and missed opportunities. The young opener has accumulated 660 runs at an average of 33, placing him among the competition’s top run-scorers after a strong run before Christmas. However, his inability to convert starts into bigger scores has remained a recurring theme.

Since the Big Bash League break, Konstas has recorded scores of 44, 28, 27, 35, 37, 28, 38 and 31 — a sequence that shows consistency at the crease but also highlights the challenge of pushing past the 50-run mark. Monday’s innings reflected that struggle, as he looked settled before edging Cameron Gannon to the slips.

Other NSW batters stepped up to steady the innings after the team conceded a 101-run first-innings deficit. Matthew Gilkes, Lachlan Shaw, and Josh Philippe all registered half-centuries to help the side recover.

Earlier in the day, Western Australia’s Cameron Green continued his impressive performance with the bat, scoring 135 before being caught behind off Charlie Stobo. Green had resumed on his overnight score and added five more runs after bringing up his first century of the summer on Sunday.

While the match heads into its final day, Konstas’ season ends as a reminder of his potential — and the next step he will look to take in converting solid starts into match-defining innings.