Plenty of wickets on the final day of Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield clash with the Redbacks

MATCH REPORT: South Australia has crashed the farewell party for George Bailey, breaking an 18-month losing streak as they overhauled the Tigers.

The Tigers celebrate the dismissal of Alex Carey as the Redbacks’ run chase did not start well. Picture: AAP/Leigh Winburn

MATCH REPORT: SOUTH Australia has crashed George Bailey’s farewell party on its way to breaking an astonishing drought, as the visitors claimed a six-wicket win over Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield match at Blundstone Arena.

The Tigers were looking to send off Bailey in style, who is ending his 15-year first class career with Tasmania to take up his new role as the Australia’s national selector.

The home side went into the final day in a strong position of 6-241, with a 149-run second innings lead, however the start of the final day belonged to South Australia, as the visitors made light work of the Tigers tail, taking the last four wickets for only 18 runs.

Wes Agar (5-53), who claimed his maiden first class five wicket haul, and Chadd Sayers (3-57) did the damage bowling the Tigers out for 261, meaning South Australia required 170 runs to win.

The chase didn’t start well, with the Redbacks struggling at 4-34 thanks to Gabe Bell (2-32) and Riley Meredith (2-38) caused havoc with the new ball.

Riley Meredith dismisses South Australia’s Alex Carey. Picture: AAP/Leigh Winburn

Will Bosisto (47 not out from 132) and Harry Nielsen (86 not out from 109) steadied the ship before lunch and ended up putting on 136 for the fifth wicket to see South Australia over the line.

The win is not only South Australia’s first for this Shield season but breaks an 18-game losing streak.

Bailey was disappointed his first class career couldn’t end with a win but he sees promise in the side he is now departing.

“Our best is really good but we just aren’t consistent enough with bat or ball just yet,” Bailey said.

“I thought the way we responded with the ball after we weren’t particularly happy with how we bowled in the first innings was pleasing.

“Gabe Bell and Riley Meredith in particular, so that is always good to see that guys can turn things around really quickly.

“I have been excited about our young batting group for awhile and we are starting to see Ben McDermott and Jake Doran and the like start to perform.

“I’ve loved playing the last couple of games with Mac Wright, I think he is a great character and a great person, who can hopefully have a really good career.”

Jackson Bird leaves the field after being dismissed this morning. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty

LUNCH: IT was wickets galore at Blundstone Arena to start the final day of the Sheffield Shield clash between Tasmania and South Australia, with eight wickets falling in the first session.

Tasmania had fought hard on day three to put itself in a strong position of 6-241, with a 149-run second innings lead.

However, the start of the final day belonged to South Australia, as the visitors made light work of the Tigers tail, taking the last four wickets for only 18 runs.

Ben McDermott (89 from 236) was the first man out, adding only one run to his overnight score and falling short of a second first class century when he feathered a Chadd Sayers (3-57) out-swinger to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

Bird was the next to go when he was caught in the deep hooking a Wes Agar (5-53) bouncer for 8, before Sayers and Carey teamed up again to get the wicket of the other overnight batter Lawrence Neil-Smith (37 from 79).

Agar finished the Tigers off and claimed his maiden first class five-wicket haul, when he found Riley Meredith’s (0 from 6) edge on the way through to the gloves of Carey.

The Tigers’ total of 261 left South Australia requiring 170 runs to win but the chase didn’t start well.

South Australia was 4-34 at lunhc after Gabe Bell (2-16) and Riley Meredith (2-19) caused havoc with the new ball but Will Bosisto (16 not out) and Harry Nielson (14 not out) have steady the ship and will start the second session needing 106 more runs to win.