So simple for Simon

TIGERS coach Adam Griffith has hailed the maturity of Simon Milenko following the all-rounder’s match-winning knock with the bat against Queensland on Saturday night.

Milenko has carved out a reputation as one of the cleanest hitters in the country, but showed he also has the ability to be patient after combining with skipper George Bailey to propel Tasmania into the OneDay Cup final on Wednesday.

Chasing the Bulls’ 177, the Tigers slipped to 4-52 in reply before Milenko (57 not out) and Bailey (70 not out) guided the team out of trouble and to an eventual six-wicket win.

“Simon has the ability to hit the ball hard and hit it long and he scores at a really good rate no matter what the situation of the game and what we are trying to achieve,” Griffith said.

“The thing I have been really impressed with Simon though is how he has matured through the tournament.

“We saw early, the first game, he probably didn’t bat that way with that maturity and played a bad shot to get out, but he learned from that. The innings he played last night was superb, he was composed and showed some real maturity which perhaps he didn’t have in the past.

“Obviously he had the senior pro in George at the other end to help him through that.”

Griffith was also quick to praise his bowling unit, which did the bulk of the early damage to pin Queensland on the back foot.

“We probably didn’t quite start as well as we would have liked in the first couple of overs, but to take three wickets in the first 10, it is always something we are looking to do. To do that and get their three key batsmen out in the first 10 overs was probably the most pleasing thing with the ball.”