Day 1
Tasmania welcomed back Captain, Matthew Wade, to the Tigers XI to contest the Round 3 Sheffield Shield clash against Western Australia, and immediately the skipper seemed to have luck on his side, winning the toss and electing to field.
It proved a wise decision, with opening bowler, Jackson Bird, getting an early breakthrough, dismissing WA opener, Cameron Bancroft, for four runs in just the third over. The early wickets for Bird didn’t cease there however, with Sam Whiteman (4) and Cameron Green (7) also being dismissed cheaply, leaving WA in trouble at 3-23 in the ninth.
Nathan Ellis was the next bowler to rip through the WA order, albeit after a false start. After bowling danger man, D’Arcy Short, at the top of the 21st – only for the delivery to be called a no ball - Ellis redeemed himself, dismissing Short for 17 the very next ball. WA went to lunch at 5-69.
The Tigers steadily chipped away at the West Australians throughout the day’s middle session, with the wickets steadily continuing to fall. However, the opposition rallied at the crease as well. Josh Inglis made an impressive 51 off 67 balls, however the star with the bat for WA was undoubtedly Shaun Marsh. The number three was still at the crease come tea, and after the break notched up a classy century, finishing with 115 runs off 242 balls. The Australian stalwart inspired a late charge from the West Australian bottom order, with 113 runs being added for the final two wickets.
WA were dismissed for 302 in the 90th over, meaning the Tasmanians had to come out to the crease for the final four overs of the day.
At stumps, Tasmania trail Western Australia by 296 runs, with 10 wickets in hand.
Day 2
It’s been a productive day with the bat for the Tasmanian Tigers, as they finish Day 2 of their Round 3 Sheffield Shield clash with Western Australia arguably on top.
The Tasmanians spent the entire day’s play at the crease for the loss of just five wickets.
After surviving a tricky four over spell at the end of Day 1’s play, openers Charlie Wakim and Jordan Silk picked up where they left off. Silk survived until the 21st over until he was dismissed for 17, but this saw the opportunity for returning captain, Matthew Wade, to come to the crease at number three. Supported by Wakim (43) and then Ben McDermott (83*), Wade was impressive in his first Shield outing of the 2020-21, season, notching up an impressive 83 runs off 159 balls. Unlucky to fall short of a century Wade was eventually stumped by WA’s keeper, Josh Inglis, off the bowling of Ashton Agar.
At stumps, Western Australia now trail by 29 runs, whilst the Tasmanians still have five wickets in hand.
McDermott – unbeaten on 83 – and Beau Webster (2*) will resume at the crease on Day 3.
Day 3
It was a case of role reversal in Adelaide today, with Western Australia enjoying a day out at the crease.
Despite the Tasmanians being in a favourable position at stumps on Day 2, wickets fell quickly once play got underway on Day 3. Unfortunately, Ben McDermott could turn his 83 not out overnight into a century, with his wicket the first to fall for 90. Nathan Ellis (41), Peter Siddle (29*) and Jackson Bird (39) did their bit to ensure the tail wagged for the last two wickets, but in the end the Tigers were all out for 432 by lunch – 130 runs ahead of WA’s first innings total.
The remaining two sessions were tough in in the field for the Tasmanians, with WA openers Cameron Bancroft (103*) and Sam Whiteman (117*) both reaching centuries without the loss of a wicket.
At stumps on Day 3, Western Australia now lead by 102 runs, with 10 wickets in hand and one day’s play remaining.
Day 4
It was a positive start to the final day of play for the Tigers, with West Australian openers, Sam Whiteman and Cameron Bancroft, dismissed two balls apart off the bowling of Jackson Bird and Nathan Ellis. Shaun Marsh chimed in with another captain’s knock, but just fell short of another century, with Ellis again claiming a key scalp, dismissing him for a well-made 88 off just 74 balls.
With the hope of forcing a result, the West Australians declared at lunch for 5-436. This set the Tasmanians a target of 226 to win, whilst WA had two sessions in which to try and claim all 10 wickets.
It was a less than ideal start to the run chase, with Tigers opener, Jordan Silk, dismissed for just one in the fifth over. But in near mirror to the circumstances of the first innings, enter captain, Matthew Wade. Wade batted for a well-made 57* - and was aptly aided by Charlie Wakim (28) and Ben McDermott (28*) - but the economical bowling of the West Australians combined with the limited time, meant neither side were able to get a result.
The Tasmanians finished on 2-117, with the match being called a draw.
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