Tassie captain has rare shield-season feat in sight

A hard-fought opening partnership for Tasmania has put the Sheffield Shield game against New South Wales at Blundstone Arena in the balance at tea on the second day.

A HARD-FOUGHT opening partnership for Tasmania has put the Sheffield Shield game against New South Wales at Blundstone Arena in the balance at tea on the second day.

Tasmania will head into the last session on 2/93, 282-runs behind New South Wales’ first innings total of 375, with Alex Doolan (50 not out) and Matthew Wade (10 not out) at the crease.

Doolan and Jordan Silk (25) started the Tigers innings after lunch, with the right-hand batters doing their best to survive the swinging Duke ball.

Tasmanian wicket keeper Tim Paine is seen during day 2 of the Round 10 Sheffield Shield cricket match between Tasmania and New South Wales at Blundstone Arena in Hobart, Thursday, March 21, 2019. Picture: AAP IMAGE/DAVE HUNT

Tasmanian fielder Jackson Bird fails to take a catch in the outfield on day 2 of the Round 10 Sheffield Shield cricket match between Tasmania and New South Wales at Blundstone Arena in Hobart, Thursday, March 21, 2019. Picture: AAP IMAGE/DAVE HUNT

New South Wales batsman Baxter Holt plays a shot as Tasmanian wicket keeper Tim Paine looks on during day 2 of the Round 10 Sheffield Shield cricket match between Tasmania and New South Wales at Blundstone Arena in Hobart, Thursday, March 21, 2019. Picture: AAP IMAGE/DAVE HUNT

In tough conditions, the pair reached 53 before Silk (25) was caught by Kurtis Patterson off the bowling of Trent Copeland.

Wakim could only manage six before he edged an outswing delivery from Copeland to debutant wicket keeper Baxter Holt.

Doolan continued his innings with Tasmania’s captain and inform batter Wade to see out the rest of the second session.

Wade is only 68 runs away from reaching 1000 runs in the current Shield season, a feat only two players have achieved in the last decade.

MORE NEWS: SHEFFIELD SHEILD DAY ONE

Earlier in the day Kingston (2-55) and Gabe Bell (2-82) finished off New South Wales first innings, who came into the day on 7/311.

Sean Abbott (47 not out off 54 balls) made some quick runs and helped his side to 375 before being bowled out in the last over of the first session.

Jackson Bird was Tasmania’s pick of the bowlers in the first innings, taking 3-85 and Simon Milenko also contributed with 2-39.

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