Tigers overcome rain and a stubborn Redback

STUMPS: Tasmania survived a stonewalling century from Callum Ferguson and Hobart’s fickle weather to claim a crucial outright Sheffield Shield victory against South Australia.

Callum Ferguson has given South Australia a glimmer of hope of holding on for a draw, making his way to 82 not out at tea. Pictures: AAP/Daniel Pockett

STUMPS: TASMANIA survived a stonewalling century from Callum Ferguson and Hobart’s fickle weather to claim a crucial outright Sheffield Shield victory against South Australia.

The Tigers had the Redbacks on the ropes at 7-132 halfway through Friday’s second session when Riley Meredith struck twice in three balls, only for Ferguson (111) and Nick Winter (26) to dig their heels in until the heavens opened half an hour into the last session.

When the rain hit there were still 30 overs remaining in the day, and the Tigers were just two overs from obtaining the second new ball.

After nearly a two-hour wait, the covers were removed and the hosts were left with 19 overs to capture the remaining three wickets, and when spearhead Jackson Bird (4-65) immediately broke the 64-run stand with the new Kookaburra it was the opening the Tigers needed.

Bird trapped Ferguson plumb in front short after, leaving Gabe Bell (3-44) to wrap up the win with nine overs to spare when Kane Richardson edged to man of the match Jordan Silk at first slip.

Jackson Bird (22) celebrates with teammates after dismissing Nick Winter, right.

“The rain was probably the best thing for us, the wicket was pretty flat and the rain probably juiced it up a little bit,” Bird said.

“It was a bloody good team bowling performance today, I was the lucky one at the end but the pressure we created in the two sessions before that, we got the rewards at the end of the day.

“We spoke at the start of the day that the way the wicket had been playing it was going to be a grind at some stage and it happened to be at seven down.”

The Tigers were marching to a comfortable win earlier in the day when they split open the Redbacks top order to leave them 4-51.

Former Test batsman Ferguson played a near lone hand, notching his 18th first class century before his 246-ball resistance, which contained 19 boundaries, ended just when he had given his side a glimmer of clinging on for a draw.

The result saw Tasmania (18.5 points) join NSW (20.59) and Western Australia (18.72) in a log jam behind runaway leader Victoria (28.97) on the points table heading into the last round before the Big Bash break next week.

“We just wanted the opportunity to get back out there… luckily it cleared up for us and gave us a little window to have a crack at them,” Tigers coach Adam Griffith said on the nervous wait to see if play would resume.

“The last 15 to 20 overs with the old ball the air really went out of it. Winter batted well but we couldn’t really challenge him the way we wanted to until we got the second new ball.

“It keeps us in the hunt, we have one more game to go against Queensland next week and if we bat the way we batted this game with the fight and grit we showed in the first innings, and if we bowl as a group like we did, I think we will be as good a chance as any.”

TEA UPDATE: FORMER Test batsman Callum Ferguson is all that stands in the way of a Tasmanian Sheffield Shield victory with one session remaining at Blundstone Arena.

The Redbacks star is unbeaten on 82 at tea on day four, with South Australia clinging on at 7-156.

Nick Winter is five not out, having absorbed 52 balls to at least send the contest into a final session after young Tigers quick Riley Meredith struck twice in three deliveries to blow the doors open.

Gabe Bell (2-37) gave the hosts the perfect start after lunch when he trapped Tom Cooper in front on the fifth ball, leaving the Redbacks at 5-77.

However Ferguson found a willing ally in national white ball gloveman Alex Carey, with the two combining for a 55-run stand.

Carey provided the most entertainment for the day in striking six boundaries in his 31, but perished when he pulled a Meredith short ball straight to George Bailey at square leg.

Meredith then had Joe Mennie caught behind for a second-ball duck – giving Mennie a pair for the match – as the Tigers closed in on outright points.

While his teammates have fallen around him, Ferguson has dug his heels in to give the visitors a flicker of hope of hanging on for a draw, facing 204 balls and hitting 13 boundaries.

However unless the tail can survive another 37 overs, and with the second new ball due in nine, his efforts will be in vain.

Jackson Bird is the other multiple wicket taker, while debutant Alex Pyecroft has sent down 16 overs for figures of 1-16.

Tom Cooper fell in the first over after the lunch break.

LUNCH UPDATE: TASMANIA is surging towards a Sheffield Shield victory after breaking open South Australia’s top order on the final morning of the clash at Blundstone Arena.

The Redbacks entered the day at 1-16, needing a further 386 runs to overhaul the target set by the Tigers but any hopes of a fourth-day run chase quickly evaporated.

Gabe Bell rattled Conor McInerney’s off stump inside the first few overs before Jackson Bird picked up the big wicket of Redbacks skipper Travis Head shortly after to leave the visitors 3-31.

Head failed to enhance his chances of locking down a spot for the first Test after being trapped lbw missing a full ball angled into his pads from around the wicket.

Debutant Alex Pyecroft then continued the carnage by having Jake Lehmann caught behind on the first ball after drinks to leave the visitors at 4-51.

It was the second time in the match Pyecroft claimed a wicket after the drinks break, following on from day two where he claimed his maiden first-class wicket with his fourth ball.

At lunch South Australia is 4-77, with Callum Ferguson unbeaten on 41 and Tom Cooper 10 not out.

The duo hold the key to the visitors hanging on for a draw, and will need to bat for at least the entire next session.

Ferguson has looked composed in his 125-ball knock, finding the boundary on seven occasions although he survived a very close leg before shout against Pyecroft when he was on 30 and the score was 4-58.

Bird has 2-32, while Pyecroft has the miserly figures of 1-6 from his eight overs.