Tiger time continues as Tassie rolls SA Redbacks at Karen Rolton Oval
Ben McDermott dominated with bat and James Faulkner with ball as they led Tasmania to its first Marsh Cup win as the domestic one-day competition returned to Adelaide. And injuries to key Redbacks only exacerbated the home side’s pain.
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Tasmanian pair Ben McDermott and James Faulkner handed South Australia an unhappy one-day homecoming further soured by injuries to Alex Ross and Joe Mennie at Karen Rolton Oval.
A 132-run opening stand between unconquered opener McDermott (103) and Nick Jewell (64) - ended by Travis Head’s part-time spin - set up a five-wicket triumph.
Tasmania lost 3-9 as Jordan Silk (27), George Bailey (6) and Beau Webster (0) exited cheaply but Faulkner (not out 2) and McDermott were fitting partners as the Tigers sealed the first win of their Marsh Cup campaign. The visitors eased to their 229 target in 46.2 overs.
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Unbeaten Redbacks top-scorer Ross (82) featured in half-century stands with Jake Lehmann (50) and Cam Valente (23) as the Redbacks scraped together 9-228.
Having celebrated a first one-day half-century since making 110 against New South Wales at Hurstville two years ago, Ross took on the Tigers in the final overs with an array of Twenty20-inspired ramp shots.
💯 for Ben McDermott! A great knock as @crickettas edge closer to their first #MarshCup win.
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 29, 2019
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Ross didn’t field after being struck on the hand by tearaway Riley Meredith but will take on the Tigers in Tuesday’s return bout if he can ‘pick up a bat’ with a badly swollen left hand.
“I was so happy to make 50 out there, throw your bat around and have people supporting us. It would have been nice to have a win for them,” said Ross after SA’s first one-day game at home in six years.
“There’s no break, it is pretty sore, it was a bit annoying not to be at full capacity for 95 per cent of my innings. Fingers crossed, I will do everything I can.”
Former Test seamer Mennie got through three overs before succumbing to a hamstring strain and could be replaced by Wes Agar on Tuesday.
Third-placed SA must defeat the Tigers to stay in touch with leaders Queensland and Western Australia.
Test stars Head (1) and Matt Wade (20) failed to fire on return from England. A tranquil setting at Karen Rolton Oval contrasted with the euphoria of retaining the Ashes in the fourth Test at Manchester.
The Redbacks slumped to 3-8 after two overs with Callum Ferguson (0), Head and Australian keeper-batsman Alex Carey (5) in the sheds after two overs.
Tom Cooper (23) entered the clash with consecutive Marsh Cup half-centuries but offered a return catch to Riley Meredith that left the host 4-43 in the 11th over.
Ross said SA would respond to its second loss in three games with skipper Head leading the charge.
“Our game plan is about holding wickets and exploding at the end. I think our line-up is set to do that. We have class at the top, three Australian players,” said Ross.
“Hopefully from our point of view it will be a completely different game and those three will completely cash in.”
Former Test paceman Jackson Bird needed four deliveries to bowl Ferguson but it was Faulkner (3/28) who was making the ball sing. Faulkner rushed through Carey’s defence with a cracking in-cutter while Head chopped on meaning the Redbacks top three heard the stumps rattle. Faulkner also claimed Adam Zampa (9).
Lehmann put on 65 with Ross but failed to get over a pull against Gurinder Sandhu and chipped to Beau Webster at mid-wicket.
Allrounder Valente was in fine touch in a 50-run stand with Ross before called through for a futile single.
Kane Richardson (15) figured in a vital 36-run, ninth-wicket stand with Ross before run out off the last ball of the innings.