Rainbird grabs five-wicket haul but Green century keeps WA in box seat
STUMPS WRAP: A Sam Rainbird five-wicket haul has failed to mask Tasmania’s continued batting struggles against the swinging Dukes ball in their Sheffield Shield clash at Bellerive Oval.
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STUMPS WRAP: THE second five-wicket haul of Sam Rainbird’s career has failed to mask Tasmania’s continued batting struggles against the swinging Dukes ball.
In the absence of pace leader Jackson Bird (Australian A duties) and Riley Meredith — who marked his comeback from a side strain with a hat-trick in club cricket on Saturday — Rainbird snared 5-77 against Western Australia.
It was his first major bag since the opening match of the 2013-14 season when he took 6-68 against a star-studded NSW, including the scalps of Michael Clarke, Steve Smith and Nic Maddinson in just his second appearance.
However Rainbird’s efforts at Blundstone Arena were overshadowed by a brilliant unbeaten 158 to Test player in waiting Cameron Green, before the Warriors picked their way through the hosts’ batting line-up in the afternoon.
The Tigers will resume on Wednesday morning on 5-188, still 183 in arrears of WA’s first innings score with the last two recognised batsmen in Ben McDermott (20) and Beau Webster (34) at the crease.
“It has been a while between drinks obviously for a ‘five-fa’ but it was just good to bowl well and control how I wanted to bowl, and actually feel good with my performance,” Rainbird said.
“I felt pretty comfortable with myself even if I got one or two or none.”
After flopping in testing conditions at the Gabba a fortnight ago Tasmania’s top order again floundered, failing to convert another host of starts into meaningful contributions.
Charlie Wakim looked the most at ease in progressing to 57 before he shuffled too far across his stumps and was trapped in front by David Moody, while Alex Doolan’s milestone 100th appearance was terminated on 24 when he perished to a sharp catch by Shaun Marsh at second slip.
When Test captain Tim Paine (21) miscued an attempted pull shot off Joel Paris to gift Sam Whiteman an easy catch at square leg things looked bleak at 5-139, before Webster and McDermott navigated the last hour of play.
“Tomorrow we just want to bat as long as we can and get close and see what comes of it… the wicket is a really good wicket so I can’t see why we can’t get up to their score.”
Earlier Green chalked up his third century of the summer to move within one triple figure score of becoming the first 20-year-old to hit four centuries in a season since Smith a decade ago.
Resuming on 105, he added a further 80 runs with the tail in the morning session, cracking 19 boundaries and two sixes, the second of which brought up his 150 in style over mid wicket.
“It’s up there, if it’s not at the top to be honest,” Green said of where his masterpiece sat in his achievements.
“I don’t think I have ever batted 200 balls before so if anything facing all those balls I’m probably as proud as I am of the score.”
EARLIER: WEST Australian all-rounder Aaron Hardie has spoiled Alex Doolan’s milestone match as the Tigers sink their teeth into their Sheffield Shield run chase at Blundstone Arena.
Featuring in his 100th domestic match for his state, Doolan was looking composed at the crease on day two until he was brilliantly caught by Shaun Marsh at second slip on the first ball after the drinks break.
Doolan had moved to 24 before Hardie found the edge of his bat, with Marsh clinging to the sharp offering above his right shoulder.
It was the second wicket in the session to fall, with Joel Paris earlier trapping Jordan Silk (11) LBW.
The hosts have moved to 2-91 at tea, with Charlie Wakim unbeaten on 44 and Jake Doran 10 not out, trailing the Warriors by 280 after the visitors earlier added 80 runs to their overnight total of 6-291.
Cameron Green was the star, finishing unbeaten on 158 to enhance his reputation as a future national representative.
The all-rounder — who is currently unable to bowl due to stress fractures in his back — reached the highest score of his career and his third century of the season.
Left-arm paceman Sam Rainbird was the pick of the Tigers attack, securing the second five wicket haul of his career with figures of 5-77.
EARLIER: SAM Rainbird secured the second five-wicket haul of his career but it wasn’t enough to stop one of Australia’s brightest talents on day two of Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield clash.
Rainbird was the standout seamer of a Tigers attack missing leader Jackson Bird (Australian A duties) and Riley Meredith (recovering from a side strain) against Western Australia, finishing with 5-77 from 30 overs.
However, prodigious talent Cameron Green countered with a superb unbeaten 158 to propel the Warriors to 371 after being sent in to bat.
It is the first time this season a side batting first at Blundstone Arena has passed 300.
Tasmanian openers Jordan Silk and Alex Doolan were left with a horror 15-minute spell prior to lunch, surviving four overs to erase 13 runs from the deficit.
Resuming at 6-291, the visitors lost Joel Paris in the second over of the morning when he was fired LBW.
Paris was unlucky to have been given out with replays showing the ball from Nathan Ellis pitched outside leg stump.
Green found a willing ally in Matthew Kelly (20) to frustrate the home side’s attack and ensure there was no late order collapse, with the duo adding an even 50 before Rainbird struck in the second over after drinks by trapping Kelly in front.
Kelly had earlier been given a life when Tasmanian captain Tim Paine spilt a difficult one-handed chance diving to his left off an inside edge.
Rainbird then claimed his fifth wicket in his next over with David Moody also trapped in front, before debutant Ellis (3-120) had Simon Makin caught at gully.
The Tigers were unable to remove Green, who notched his third century of the season and reached his highest first-class score.
Touted for higher honours after a blistering start to the summer, Green struck 19 boundaries and two sixes — the second maximum a towering blow over mid wicket to bring up his 150 — from 283 deliveries.
He is now just one century away from becoming first 20-year-old to score four centuries in a Shield season since Steve Smith in 2009-10.
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