Rain saves Tigers from collapse

AFTER losing George Bailey on the first ball of the day, heavy rain came to the rescue of Tasmania as NSW pressed hard for an outright win at the SCG on the third day of the Sheffield Shield match.

Only 4.3 overs were bowled but the loss of Bailey had the Tasmanians precariously poised at 4-115 when the rain set in.

Bailey was caught behind off the first ball of the day, becoming Trent Copeland’s fourth victim.

The covers came on soon after and remained in place for the majority of the day, with officials giving up hope of a resumption.

The final day will now start at 10am today, when Nathan Lyon and Tim Paine will both be seeking to tune up for Australia’s Test series against India.

Jake Doran and Matthew Wade are currently at the crease, with Paine set to enter the fray at the fall of a wicket.

Lyon, omitted from Australia’s ODI squad and asked to focus on his redball bowling by national selectors, has already caused a few headaches on a slow SCG pitch.

Australia’s most prolific offspinner created a chance on Tuesday when Alex Doolan was on 15, only for Jack Edwards to spill a regulation catch in the deep. Lyon now sits fourth on Australia’s list of all-time Test wicket-takers, behind only Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Dennis Lillee.

But the tweaker’s Shield record at the SCG surprisingly stands at one wicket from two games, something he will be keen to change ahead of Australia’s Test series against India that starts at Adelaide Oval on December 6. Copeland has snared every Tasmanian wicket to fall, three of which were caught behind by former Test keeper Peter Nevill.

Copeland removed Doolan, Jordan Silk and Beau Webster during a collapse of 3-8 on Tuesday.

Teenagers Jack Edwards and Jason Sangha both produced their maiden Shield tons on day two, powering NSW to a total of 9(dec)-442.