Slow start for Tigers on day three of Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia
STUMPS: Tasmanian George Bailey’s first class batting career has come to a dramatic end on day three of the Tigers’ clash with South Australia.
Local sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
STUMPS: IT was an anti-climactic ending to a 15-year first class career for George Bailey, but his Tigers teammates fought back against South Australia in the Sheffield Shield match at Blundstone Arena.
Entering day three, the Tigers were 1-6 and still needing a further 87 runs to make the visitors bat again but thanks to a defiant innings from Ben McDermott (88 not out from 232) they finished on 6-241 – a lead of 149 runs.
Starting the day, opener Jordan Silk (29 from 118) and youngster Mac Wright (8 from 48) batted to drinks but didn’t do much damage on the scorecard.
When Wright was caught by Chadd Sayers at mid-on from a mistimed pull shot off Wes Agar (3-44), the Tigers had added only 23 runs to their overnight score.
George Bailey’s final first class innings for Tasmania was short lived with the 37-year-old shouldering arms to his first ball from Agar, which came back in to hit his off stump.
Still 64 runs behind, McDermott and Jake Doran (44 from 105) put on 94 for the fifth wicket and helped the Tigers pass the first inning deficit in the 58th over.
After the dismal of Doran by Joe Mennie (1-64), first innings centurion Simon Milenko (16 from 20) became Sayer’s first victim of the innings.
McDermott, who was patient for most of his innings, upped the run rate when paceman Lawrence Neil-Smith (31 not out from 60) came to the crease, with the pair putting on 69 runs.
Taking 172 balls to reach his 50, McDermott made his next 38 runs from 60 balls in an innings he hopes will set up a win in Bailey’s last game.
“They bowled really well, they bowled to the blueprint of how we will want to go about it,” McDermott said.
“Obviously I haven’t scored as many runs in this format as I would have liked so hopefully I can make 12 more tomorrow and help us win.
“We obviously need to bowl really well but I think we are in a really strong position.”
Bailey’s final innings for Tasmania had a Don Bradman-esque feel to it when he received a round of applause from players, staff and supporters from both teams after making a golden duck.
“George has been excellent since I have come down,” McDermott said about Bailey.
“He’s such a nice bloke and he has so much knowledge about cricket and life in general, he’s priceless as a person.”
TEA UPDATE: IT’S slow going for the fighting Tigers, who are trying to keep themselves in the game against South Australia on day three of the Sheffield Shield match at Blundstone Arena.
Heading into the lunch break at 3-53, Tasmania managed to add only 67 runs in the second session to go to tea 4-120.
Opener Jordan Silk was the wicket to fall when he edged an attempted cut shot into the gloves of Alex Carey off Wes Agar, who has been the pick of the bowlers taking 3-20 from 15 overs.
Ben McDermott (29 from 124) has played a watchful innings and is currently joined at the crease by wicket-keeper Jake Doran (34 from 77), with the pair trying to save the Tigers, who passed South Australia’s 92-run first innings lead in the 58th overs.
Tasmania has another 37 overs remaining in the day as they look to build on its 28-run lead.
LUNCH UPDATE: IT has been an anti-climactic ending to a 15-year first class career for George Bailey, who was bowled on his first ball in last innings for Tasmania.
Heading into day three of the Sheffield Shield clash against South Australia at Blundstone Arena, the Tigers entered 1-6 and required a further 87 runs to make the visitors bat again.
After getting through the first hour, Mac Wright was caught by Chadd Sayers for 8 from 48 balls after the ball got big on him when attempting to pull a Wes Agar delivery.
Bailey walked to the crease with the Tigers 64 runs behind but couldn’t help his side in his final innings, shouldering arms to his first ball from Agar, which came back into Bailey’s off stump.
A slow session saw Tasmania finish 3-53, still 39 runs behind South Australia with opener Jordan Silk (27 from 111) at the crease with Ben McDermott (4 from 34).
VFL move on agenda for draft hopeful
He’s given himself an outside chance of draft selection with a stellar TSL season. And a Tassie AFL gun is helping push Oscar Van Dam’s cause as he eyes a VFL move.
Tassie squads look to defend landmark national crowns
They created history last year, but Tasmania’s inclusion squad isn’t resting on its laurels as it looks to repeat the dose. And the state’s wheelchair team is keen to follow suit.