Alex Doolan scores third double century of NTCA run fest to deny Raiders first CTPL season victory
Last week’s heroics from Evan Gulbis and Brayden Stepien were to no avail for the Greater Northern Raiders, who were stonewalled by Alex Doolan in their quest for a breakthrough CTPL victory.
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AXED Tasmanian opener Alex Doolan has made an emphatic statement in his first innings in a month to help South Hobart-Sandy Bay salvage a draw against Greater Northern Raiders.
Dropped after the first two Sheffield Shield rounds to make way for returning skipper Matthew Wade, Doolan had been forced to net duties with the Tigers in the Adelaide hub.
He wasted little time sending state selectors a reminder he is far from a spent force, chalking up the second highest score in Sharks history to leave the Raiders still searching for their first victory of the CTPL season.
A week after his former Tigers teammate Evan Gulbis and Brayden Stepien broke a 125-year-old record third-wicket partnership with scintillating double centuries, Doolan returned serve to keep the hosts at bay at the NTCA.
Doolan carved out an unbeaten 210 in a knock lasting a tick over six hours, hitting 28 boundaries from 256 balls.
Only Damian Green (215) has posted a higher score for South-Sandy, with George Bailey (twice) the only other player to score a double century for the club.
Doolan’s masterpiece allowed the Sharks to reach 8-346, staving off the Raiders after they piled on 4-504 last Saturday.
The injection of a Tassie trio was also a welcome sight for Lindisfarne, who comfortably overhauled its target against Kingborough at the Twin Ovals.
Chasing 296, the Lightning welcomed back Ben McDermott, Mac Wright and Charlie Wakim from Shield duties and it was the latter who starred to lead the Lightning home.
Wakim was unbeaten on 169 (212 balls, 16 boundaries and three sixes) as the visitors completed a five-wicket victory, with McDermott (32), Anthony Marr (27), Jarrod Freeman (22 not out) and Keegan Oates (21) providing enough support as they batted around the Tigers opener.
A century to Clarence captain-coach Harry Allanby was not enough to save the Roos from defeat at the TCA against North Hobart.
Resuming at 1-34 in pursuit of the Demons’ 318, Clarence slipped to 4-98 at lunch with Allanby holding resolute at one end.
He received some minor assistance from Wade Irvine (24) and Damien Paul (38) after the break, but when Ben Fraser removed Paul to end a 103-run partnership for the sixth wicket it exposed the lower order.
The Roos lost their last five wickets for just 19 runs, with Allanby (101) completing his century in his first match for the season before becoming Fraser’s third victim.
At KGV, University stormed to its first victory of the season with a 189-run win against Glenorchy.
Having posted 6-417 declared last week the Lions were always in the box seat and despite a solid start from the hosts in reply, the wheels fell off after lunch.
Openers Ryan Graham-Daft (49) and Nathan Matthews (32) moved to 0-68 after the first session but when Ryan Lees (4-64) removed both in quick succession the Pies were never able to recover.
Bailey Kenzie (3-36) played his part in removing the dangerous Charlie Eastoe cheaply, with Glenorchy bowled out for 228.
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