Webster finds batting form as Tigers march to one day final
Ashes hopeful Beau Webster found some timely batting form as Tasmania virtually sealed a One Day Cup finals spot with a win over South Australia. Get Saturday’s scores across local and domestic cricket here.
Ashes hopeful Beau Webster rediscovered some timely batting form to catapult Tasmania to a near certain One Day Cup finals spot with victory over South Australia on Saturday.
In a rare domestic clash at Kingborough Oval, the all-rounder smashed 78 off 96 balls as the Tigers chased down the visitors’ 195 with four wickets to spare, improving their unbeaten competition record to 5-0.
With just two more games to come before the final - both after the BBL concludes - the Tigers now look assured of a spot in the February 28 decider, and are well placed to host.
Webster has been in strong form with the ball since his return from an ankle injury in two games, including 3-73 and 5-50 in this week’s loss to South Australia, but has failed to reach 20 in four knocks with the bat.
While he didn’t bowl on Saturday, his important innings at no.3 will give his selection chances for next week’s first Test in Perth no harm.
The selection climate has been further muddied after star paceman Josh Hazlewood was ruled out with a hamstring injury picked up in New South Wales’ Shield defeat to Victoria.
Fellow Australia squad member Jake Weatherald didn’t play and is already in Perth with the rest of the team.
Nathan McAndrew’s 40 off just 29 balls allowed South Australia to put together a total to bowl at, while Nathan McSweeney anchored the innings with 49 off 92 balls.
Billy Stanlake claimed 3-31 off ten overs for the Tigers, with Nathan Ellis (2-37 off nine) and Mitch Owen (2-24 off 8.2) the other multiple wicketakers.
Tasmania slumped to 3-37 early in their run chase before an 80-run fourth wicket partnership between Webster and skipper Jordan Silk (35 off 47 balls) steadied the ship.
In the WBBL, the Hurricanes extended their unbeaten start to the season to 3-0 after victory over Brisbane at Drummoyne Oval on Saturday.
After rain reduced the contest to 12 overs, Hobart made 1-114 with Lizelle Lee unbeaten on 59 off 45 balls, while opening partner Danni Wyatt-Hodge continued her strong start to the campaign with 44 off 26.
Set 125 to win via the Duckworth-Lewis method, the Heat fell well short on with Heather Graham (2-25 off three overs) and Nicole Carey (2-10 off two) the multiple wickettakers for the Hurricanes.
CTPL: Brown stars in Lindisfarne’s two-day victory
Lindisfarne’s Sebastian Brown enjoyed a game to remember after his heroics with bat and ball spearheaded his team to a vital top four two-day win over Kingborough on Saturday.
Fresh from an entertaining 53 off 68 balls batting at no.10 to help the Lightning compile 9(dec)-322, Brown then took 4-57 with the ball as the Knights fell just short on 293.
All of Brown’s wickets were batters in the visitor’s top seven, and allowed the Lightning to leapfrog them into third on the table.
After he was named in the CAXI to take on England Lions during the week, Kingborough’s Nivetahan Radhakrishnan celebrated with 75, and Thomas Martyn made 69, but it couldn’t save the Knights from defeat.
Elsewhere Glenorchy held off a spirited challenge from winless South Hobart-Sandy Bay.
Chasing SHSB’s 294, half centuries from Vishwa Deemantha (83), Ryan Graham-Daft (68) and Brandon Kopper (51 not out) ensured Glenorchy chased down the target with five wickets in hand.
At Kangaroo Bay Oval, University dug deep to avoid an outright loss to Clarence.
Routed for just 91 in their first innings in reply to the Kangaroos’ 3(dec)-394, unbeaten half centuries from Zac Phair (64 not out) and skipper Ruwantha Kellapotha (50 not out) ensured University were 2-127 when stumps were called.
After taking 5-26 in the first innings, Sam Rainbird (2-7 off six overs) claimed two early wickets when University was asked to follow on.
North Hobart also staved off outright defeat against Newtown at TCA Ground.
After the Bucks dominated with the bat by compiling 2(dec)-333, the Demons were skittled for 165 in their first dig.
But the hosts held off New Town’s attack to finish on 7-152 in their second innings, with John Montgomery (4-36) the Bucks’ best.
Lewis Drury was the hero for North Hobart, frustrating New Town with a dogged unbeaten 28 off 125 balls.
The one day finals will be played on Sunday, with Greater Northern Raiders hosting Lindisfarne at Invermay Park and Kingborough taking on Clarence, both from 10.30am.
Tassie duo picked in CAXI to face England
Two Tasmanian talents will get their taste of the Ashes hype after they were chosen in the Cricket Australia XI to take on the England ‘Lions’ later this month.
Greater Northern Raiders Aidan O’Connor and fellow all-rounder Nivethan Radhakrishnan (Kingborough) were both include in the 12-man squad to take on the tourist’s second-string line-up at Perth’s Lilac Hill in a four-day clash from November 21.
O’Connor represented Australia at last year’s under-19 World Cup and recently signed a two-year BBL deal with Sydney Thunder, while top order batter Radhakrishnan, who can also bowl spin with both hands, has played nine first-class games for the Tigers.
All players in the CAXI are aged 24 or under, with former Test paceman Jhye Richardson the most high profile inclusion.
Squad: Mackenzie Harvey, Aidan O’Connor, Cameron McClure, Charlie Anderson, Jack Sinfield, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Jake Scott, Jhye Richardson, Liam Blackford, Nivethan Radhakrishnan, Teague Wyllie, Xavier Crone
Hurricanes re-sign emerging quick
Hobart Hurricanes have retained more pace bowling arsenal for their BBL title defence after re-signing emerging quick Marcus Bean for the upcoming season.
Bean debuted for the Hurricanes last summer and also was handed a two year Tasmanian Tigers deal at the start of this season.
Originally recruited from the Queensland Premier League, the tall seamer has taken five wickets in three games for Lindisfarne, as well as 5-33 and 1-49 for Northern Suburbs in his home state.
“I’m super excited to be back around the Hurricanes group for another season,” Bean said.
“I learned heaps being around the squad, and I am aiming to make an impact again as we hopefully go back-to-back.”
Cricket Tasmania high performance general manager Salliann Beams view Beam as a strong long term prospect.
“Beany has been impressing us, ever since he joined the Hurricanes,” she said.
“He has height, decent pace and bounce, and while still very early on is his career he is only going to continue to develop.
“Now that he is around both of our Hurricanes and Tigers programs, we are confident he will become an asset to our talented bowling group.
Hurricanes squad so far: Rehan Ahmed (O/S), Iain Carlisle, Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Rishad Hossain (O/S), Chris Jordan (O/S), Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Billy Stanlake, Matt Wade, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster, Mac Wright
Webster stars with ball, but SA too good for Tigers
Tasmania lost a low-scoring thriller, but Beau Webster gave Australia selectors more food for thought after another star display with the ball in a three-wicket defeat to South Australia on Wednesday.
On a bowler-friendly wicket, Webster claimed the prize wickets of Test stars Travis Head (15) and Alex Carey (23), but it wasn’t enough to prevent the visitors from chasing down the 217 runs required.
The clash was over before tea on the third day after South Australia grabbed the final Tasmania wicket to start the day, dismissing the Tigers for 184 in their second dig.
Webster backed up his 5-50 in the first innings with 3-73, and dismissed Head with an edge to first slip before bowling Carey with a superb delivery.
His display could add further uncertainty to the make up of Australia’s bowling line-up for next week’s first Ashes Test, with Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott sent for scans after injuring hamstrings in NSW’s clash with Victoria on Wednesday.
Gabe Bell (3-59) also excelled with the new ball, and South Australia looked in trouble at 6-116, still requiring 101 runs.
But a 71-run seventh wicket stand between Liam Scott (53) and Ben Manenti (49 not out) ensured South Australia sealed their first outright win of the season.
South Australia is now third on the table, with the Tigers dropping to fifth.
Day two: Webster blitzes with ball
Tasmanian all-rounder Beau Webster has pushed his case to remain in the Australian Test line-up after ripping through the South Australian batting order.
On a rain interrupted day two of the Sheffield Clash, Webster claimed figures of 5-50 as Tasmania gained a 32-run lead after the first innings.
Rain meant an early lunch was taken with Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey and Jake Lehmann at the crease after opener Henry Hunt was removed early on day two.
Once the rain disappeared, briefly, and players returned after lunch, Tasmania struck quickly with Gabe Bell removing Carey for 59 before Webster picked up Liam Scott, Lehmann and Nathan McAndrew before rain and hail further halted play.
Upon return, Tasmania picked up the final two wickets quickly with Webster bowling fellow Ashes squad member Brendan Doggett to claim his five-wicket haul.
For Tasmania, eyes were on Jake Weatherald to see if he could continue to build on his success as he aimed to lock up the opener’s position alongside Usman Khawaja for the first Test in Perth.
Weatherald made another start, but was dismissed for 30, chopping the ball on once again off the bowling of Liam Scott.
With the extra rain around the day was pushed back to 7pm to make up for lost time, with Tasmania 2-86 at time of print with a lead of 118.
Day one: Tigers skipper leads way, Ashes hopefuls fail
There was plenty of action on day one of the Tasmania and South Australia round four Sheffield Shield clash at Ninja Stadium as eleven wickets fell to leave the game very much in the balance.
Tigers skipper Jordan Silk brought up his 6000th Shield run, top scoring in Tasmania’s innings with 64 as the home side were bowled out for 209.
“I don’t really know what to say about it, it’s one of those years where you sort of inch your way to those sort of milestones and that’s quite nice,” Silk said.
“Hopefully there is a few more there still for me as well but obviously it’s a nice thing.”
South Australia had swung momentum their way just after the tea break, picking up Brad Hope and Tasmania’s third wicket.
But Silk helped his side to 6-175 before he was dismissed by Ashes hopeful Brendan Doggett.
All eyes were on Jake Weatherald and Beau Webster as the Tasmanian duo eye off a potential Ashes lock for later this month.
Weatherald, who is eyeing off an opening spot alongside Queensland’s Usman Khawaja looked set for a big day before he chopped a ball back onto his stumps for 23 from 32 balls.
Webster, who is fighting for the all-rounders spot with West Australian Cam Green, was caught down the legside for just 13.
“That’s Bellerive day one, I wouldn’t be reading too much into that, they’re both moving nicely at the crease,” Silk said.
“I haven’t got any qualms about how either are going, it just can be how Shield wicket are at the moment.
“Beau’s a little bit unlucky today getting a little glove on that down leg side and Jake gets a bit of a chop on but I’m not concerned about how those two are going.
“They are shaping up nicely and trust that they’re consistent performance at this level to go onto bigger and better things this summer.”
South Australian paceman Doggett, who is looking to be Australian skipper Pat Cummins’ replacement for the first Test, pledged his case to selectors with 5-66.
South Australian batter Nathan McSweeney was pushed back to the top of the order for the first time since he was dropped from the Test team.
McSweeney failed again at the top of the order dismissed by Jackson Bird for two.
Bird finished with 2-18 at stumps.
Webster picked up the big wicket late in the day of Travis Head for just nine, caught slashing outside off.
At stumps on day one South Australia are 3-88 with opener Henry Hunt unbeaten on 34 at the crease with keeper Alex Carey on 25.
More Coverage
Originally published as Webster finds batting form as Tigers march to one day final
Vickerman: Why ‘fieisty’ Ayre deserved his Boomers opportunity
