Horror batting collapse sees Tigers crash to outright defeat as Abbott drives Blues into Shield final

Tasmania’s 2018-19 season has ended in horror fashion with the Tigers crumbling against a NSW outfit.

TASMANIA’S 2018-19 season has ended in horror fashion with the Tigers crumbling against a New South Wales outfit which has stormed into the Sheffield Shield final.

Three weeks ago — having secured a pulsating victory against South Australia — the Tigers were firmly in the mix to reach back-to-back deciders but disappointing showings against Western Australia and the Blues terminated their campaign early.

New South Wales sprung a surprise on the final day of the clash at Blundstone Arena yesterday by declaring on its overnight total of 5-149, leaving the hosts an entire day to reach a 270-run target.

However they couldn’t even get to lunch in an extended morning session, disintegrating for 120 as Sean Abbott ran through a brittle line-up to finish with 7-45.

New South Wales bowler Sean Abbott reacts after dismissing Tasmanian batsman Charlie Wakim for 4 runs during day 4 of the Round 10 Sheffield Shield cricket match between Tasmania and New South Wales at Blundstone Arena in Hobart, Saturday, March 23, 2019. Picture: AAP IMAGE/DAVE HUNT

The Tigers crashed to 5-23 inside 10 overs, unable to handle some vicious swing bowling from Abbott, but also not aided by a couple of LBW calls which went against Alex Doolan and Tim Paine.

Skipper Matthew Wade provided the only resistance with a quickfire 65 from 76 balls, but with two ducks and five single-digit scores it was a grim-looking scorecard.

“It was very disappointing. You have to give them a bit of credit, they bowled really well, we got a couple of poor decisions which obviously doesn’t help things,” Wade said.

“But that’s not an excuse, they bowled well and we just couldn’t get it done.

“It didn’t really throw us but we certainly didn’t think they were going to declare, we thought 270 we could chase down quite easily once they declared.

“Probably if we didn’t lose those early wickets then it would have been a chase we would have been backing ourselves for.”

Tasmanian batsman Matthew Wade plays a shot during day 4 of the Round 10 Sheffield Shield cricket match between Tasmania and New South Wales at Blundstone Arena in Hobart, Saturday, March 23, 2019. Picture: AAP IMAGE/DAVE HUNT

The state finishes the season as beaten one-day finalists, BBL semi-finalists having claimed the minor premiership and fifth in the shield — a campaign Wade believes could have been much better if not for one factor.

“Obviously we don’t want to be in the situation where we finish fifth in the Sheffield Shield, that’s for sure.

“We just weren’t consistent enough this year, we didn’t do it for long enough with the ball or the bat.

“That is the big difference between this year and last year: we had a good collective bowling unit that got the job done nine times out of 10 and same with our batting unit.”

[e-mail]