Jackson Bird revives Ashes hopes as Redbacks lose 6-3 in stunning collapse despite resistance from centurion Jake Weatherald

Tasmanian paceman Jackson Bird kept his Ashes ambition bubbling with a Dukes ball demolition of South Australia and its Sheffield Shield final hopes in Adelaide, despite resistance from centurion Jake Weatherald.

Jake Weatherald posts a fourth first-class against Tasmania at Adelaide Oval. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz.

Tasmanian paceman Jackson Bird kept his Ashes ambition bubbling with a Dukes ball demolition of South Australia and its Sheffield Shield final hopes in Adelaide.

Opener Jake Weatherald’s (150) first century this Shield season frustrated the Tigers during century stands with Travis Head (50) and Callum Ferguson (60). However, SA’s 6-3 collapse during the second session - triggered by Weatherald’s exit to Tim Rogers (3/42) - spiralled the host to a six-wicket defeat.

The Redbacks had no answer to Bird’s (7/59) swing and seam with the Dukes ball on the way to a fifth, first-class, 10-wicket match haul.

Jake Weatherald posts a fourth first-class against Tasmania at Adelaide Oval. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

The Tigers (4/110) wiped the 110-run target in the final session with Jake Doran (11) and Ben McDermott (1) undefeated.

Head (2/33) took the consolation scalps of counterpart Matthew Wade (15) and Jordan Silk (36).

Queensland’s 6-1 against SA in Brisbane (1940), Western Australia’s 6-2 in Adelaide (1990) when Joe Scuderi took 6/6 and New South Wales’ 6-2 in Brisbane (1928) are the worst six-wicket Shield collapses.

Winless SA is now destined for consecutive Shield wooden spoons after a fifth loss.

Bird has 72 wickets in 14 games against the Redbacks and a competition high 38 wickets this season. Riley Meredith didn’t take a second innings wicket but rattled the Redbacks with 150km/h spells.

Weatherald’s powers of concentration over 259 balls contrasted with his first innings dismissal for 1 and a first-class return of 257 runs entering the second innings. It was a welcome return to touch from the left-hander overshadowed by a loss the host look set to avoid at 4-298 in the 83rd over.

Jackson Bird in full flight against the Redbacks. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

Bird combined with Tim Paine to end Ferguson’s 151-run union with Weatherald then knocked over Tom Cooper (8), Cam Valente (0) and Nick Winter in the middle session taking 4/8 in 28 balls.

Rogers claimed Harry Nielsen (0) and Joe Mennie (0) with vicious swing.

Making matters worse for the Redbacks, paceman Chadd Sayers – on return from knee surgery - appeared to sustain an leg injury while batting and didn’t bowl in Tasmania’s second innings.

Test star Head (50) posted consecutive half-centuries for the game but short of a knock the SA skipper was targeting to deny the Tigers victory.

Head added 131 with opener Weatherald against an impressive Tigers attack before miscuing an attempted cover drive off Bird to Alex Pyecroft at point. Australia’s find of the Test summer left runs out in the middle but was in fine touch across both innings here.