http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 domestic
Tasmania defeated New South Wales by 7 wickets in the final of the Sheffield Shield to win the title for the second time in their history.
The hosts were given a target of 203 runs, which they achieved easily before tea on the final day by 7 wickets. The match was played at the Bellerive Oval, Hobart in Australia.
The wicket remained a very good one for batting throughout the five days of play and it was a difficult ask for the bowlers to get wickets. However, an unexpected declaration by NSW captain Simon Katich minutes before close of play on day four ensured that
the match would have a result.
Earlier, the visitors were put into bat by the Tasmanian captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Phillip-Hughes-c2185 top scored the innings with a brilliant knock of 138
runs.
Wickets were shared between the Tasmania bowlers, as Xavier Doherty and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Luke-Butterworth-c1850 finished with 2 apiece.
In reply to the first innings total of the visitors, Tasmania managed 453 runs courtesy a superb 133 runs from opener Ed Cowan. At that stage, the match seemed to be headed towards a draw, but Katich declared the NSW second innings at 215 for 5. Hughes was
yet again impressive but he failed to reach his ton for the second time in the match, as he was dismissed for 93.
Hilfenhaus was the pick of the bowlers for the home team, as he took two wickets in the second innings.
Tasmania had a lot of time to achieve the target and their batsmen took full advantage of that. Openers Nick Kruger and Ed Cowan batted sensibly and scored 31 and 21 runs respectively.
Bailey was run out after scoring 25 runs, but the innings was held together by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Alex-Doolan-c983 and Mark Cosgrove. The pair constructed an unbeaten 72-run partnership for the fourth wicket and guided their team to victory. Doolan remained unbeaten on 65 whereas
Cosgrove was not out on 44 when the match ended.
Trent Copeland and Scott Coyte picked up one wicket each for their team, but they did not get much support from the other bowlers.
Cowan was declared as the Man of the Match for his brilliant knock of 133 in the first innings which helped his team secure the final quite easily in the end.
Tags: