Sheffield Shield: Vics topple Tigers despite late order resistance
Tasmania’s tailenders dug in, but Victoria’s bowlers got the job done on the final day of their Shield clash on Friday. Get the wrap up here.
He was Victoria’s hero with the bat, and Campbell Kellaway stepped up with the ball to end Tasmania’s dogged late order resistance on the final day of their Shield clash at Melbourne on Friday.
Down eight wickets and with no chance of chasing down the 355 needed to win, Tigers tail enders Gabe Bell (seven off 40 balls) and Kieran Elliott (15 not out off 65) staved off the frustrated hosts for more than 14 overs.
Victoria skipper Will Sutherland turned to Kellaway’s part-time spin for the last over before the new ball, and the gamble paid off when he had Bell caught behind.
It capped a game to remember for Kellaway, who belted 147 on day three to put the Shield leaders in pole position to win.
Mitchell Perry bowled no.11 Riley Meredith soon after for a duck to seal Victoria’s 144-run win.
Tim Ward also was stoic for Tasmania, but when he was run out for 52 it was always going to be an uphill battle for the visitors.
Ashes hopeful Beau Webster again failed toimpress with the bat, caught off Mitchell Perry’s bowling for six.
Fergus O’Neill was the shining light with the ball for Victoria with 4-54.
Shield day three: Dual Vic tons put Tigers on back foot
Young Victorian opener Campbell Kellaway rubber stamped his reputation as a rising star after his classy century ripped away much hope Tasmania had of outright victory on day three of their Shield clash in Melbourne.
Beginning the day with a 59-run lead in their second innings with nine wickets left, Kellaway’s 195-run fifth wicket partnership with fellow centurion Marcus Harris (101 not out) put the hosts in control.
The pair were dominant for the current Shield leaders to guide them from 4-91 to a declaration at 5-330, setting the Tigers 355 runs for victory.
Only speedster Riley Meredith (3-87) was able to make any meaningful inroads for the Tigers, who were looking to break into the competition’s top two.
Once the big partnership was broken, Victoria keeper Sam Harper added to Tasmania’s misery with a quickfire 26 not out off just 18 balls before the declaration came.
The Tigers were 1-28 at stumps, still requiring 327 more to win on the final day on Friday.
After he was dismissed for a duck in the first innings, Tigers opener and Ashes hopeful Jake Weatherald again fell cheaply for just 12, caught in slips off the bowling of Fergus O’Neil.
Spring Challenge: Villani knock leads Hurricanes to back-to-back titles
Meanwhile, a brutal half century from skipper Elyse Villani ensured history repeated in Hobart Hurricanes’ Spring Challenge final against Brisbane Heat in Sydney.
In a repeat of last year’s decider, the Villani hammered 61 off just 29 balls to ensure the Hurricanes retained their title.
The innings set up an imposing total of 4-193 and the Heat never threatened to haul in the target, with Hobart winning by 88 runs.
Brisbane was dismissed for 105 in 19 overs with Callie Wilson (3-15) Hobart’s leading wickettaker, while Molly Strano (2-16), Lauren Smith (2-14) and Hayley Silver-Holmes (2-26) all claimed two wickets.
The Hurricanes will be looking to join their BBL counterparts last year in winning their maiden WBBL title this summer, with the campaign to begin against Sydney Thunder on November 9.
Shield day two: Bowlers need to step up
Tasmania’s bowlers are set to lead the charge on day three of the Sheffield Shield clash against Victoria.
With the hosts at the crease for their second innings at the CitiPower Centre in Melbourne, the bowling attack is set to shape the rest of the contest.
Victoria finished the day at 1-35 with a lead of 59 runs with Campbell Kellaway (15 runs off 43 balls) and nightwatchman Mitch Petty (0 off 13) at the crease.
Tigers quick Riley Meredith delivered the early breakthrough as the visitors look to keep their hosts to a manageable run chase total.
Tassie had entered the day one down after Jake Weatherald was dismissed late on day one before they were all out 232 themselves.
Overnight pair Caleb Jewell (38 off 88) and nightwatchman Gabe Well (15 off 24) were able to add 26 runs for the second wicket before Australian spinner Todd Murphy dismissed the latter.
Tim Ward (42 off 96) showed some promise but the innings fell apart in the middle order for the Tigers.
Brad Hope and Jordan Silk were both dismissed for just one before Beau Webster was dismissed by Victorian captain Will Sutherland for 11.
Reeling at 7-126 and starring down the barrel of a massive deficit, wicketkeeper Jake Doran and Nikhil Chaudhary combined for vital runs
Doran finished as the innings top scorer with 73 off 156 while Chaudhary added 38 off 58.
The last two wickets managed to add 46 runs to the total which could prove pivotal by game’s end.
Perry did the damage with the ball for the hosts with figures of 5-58.
Victoria got through 14 overs before the end of play.
Weatherald dismissed for duck as Tassie, Vics finish even after day one
Tasmania opener Jake Weatherald’s Ashes hopes took a blow after he was dismissed for a duck late on day one of the Sheffield Shield clash against Victoria on Tuesday.
Weatherald has begun the season strongly for the Tigers, but the left-hander was caught behind off Mitchell Perry in the final over of the day.
He couldn’t negotiate a tricky close for Tasmania, who were required to face two overs and are 1-4 after they dismissed Victoria for 256.
Tasmania all-rounder Beau Webster also returned from an ankle injury as he looks to make a late bid to retain his Test spot for the Ashes, and picked up the early wicket of Marcus Harris for 11.
Looking to back up their epic three run win over West Australia last start, the Tigers were well in control at 6-164, with quick Riley Meredith claiming three wickets.
But the hosts’ bottom order provided stubborn resistance with Mitchell Perry (23), Will Sutherland (29) and Fergus O’Neill (35 not out) all adding valuable late runs.
Former Test batter Peter Handscomb led the way for Victoria with 48, while 19-year-old Oliver Peake also added 46.
Kieran Elliott (2-49) and Gabe Bell (3-63) were the other multiple wickettakers for the Tigers.
The Tigers are unbeaten so far this campaign with a draw and an outright win in the Shield, and four one-day victories.
Webster returns to the Tigers lineup as he chases an Ashes spot
Tasmania will be boosted by the return of Ashes hopeful Beau Webster for its Sheffield Shield clash against Victoria starting on Tuesday.
Webster will return to the winning line-up from an ankle injury which saw him miss the narrow victory over Western Australia.
One unlucky player will make way for Webster’s return.
“Last I heard he is tracking beautifully, he bowled a bit last week, been batting for a few weeks, I think he is ready to go, ankle seems like it is in a really good spot,” Tigers’ fast bowler Riley Meredith said.
“I think that’s the beauty of where our squad is at the moment, blokes are fighting for spots, when you have a class player like ‘Slug’ coming back in, unfortunately someone has to make way.
“But I think that’s where you want your squad to be, pressure on spots and everyone fighting for an opportunity.”
The Tigers have had their best start to the Australian cricket summer in the state’s history with four One Day Cup wins, a Sheffield Shield win and a draw.
Meredith said it there is plenty of confidence around the squad.
“I think a lot of guys finished the season off really well last year,” Meredith said.
“Jewelly (Caleb Jewell) has gone overseas, guys like that have performed, Slug as well, gone overseas, performed, come back in really good nick and the boys have hit the ground running.
“We are really confident at the moment which is a good place to be.
It is definitely the time you want to be playing Sheffield Shield, playing against the best players in the country and trying to perform.
“I think if you’re doing it against the best, you’re holding yourself in a really good spot, we’ve got a few guys who are doing really well this year, Weathers (Jake Weatherald), Jewelly as well and Beau is coming back this week which is really exciting.”
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