SHIELD BREAKTHROUGH: LATE SCALP A HUGE BONUS FOR TASMANIA

YOUNG Tasmanian quick Riley Meredith struck a crucial blow in the last over of the day yesterday to stifle Queensland’s charge to an improbable record-breaking run chase at Blundstone Arena.

The defending Sheffield Shield champions climbed off the canvas to put themselves in a position to pull off the highest fourth-innings pursuit at the venue in the competition’s history, with Test discards Joe Burns (74) and Marnus Labuschagne (58 not out) combining for a 126-run partnership for the second wicket.

But on the third last ball of day three, Burns chopped Meredith back on to his stumps as the visitors finished the day 2-164, with the remaining 250 runs required well within reach on a pitch which has flattened out.

Having been behind the eightball since slumping to 8-86 at stumps on day one, the Bulls cashed in on some wayward Tasmanian bowling yesterday afternoon to give themselves a genuine chance of overhauling their 414-run target.

However, Tigers all-rounder Simon Milenko declared he would still much rather be in the host’s camp.

“That one helps significantly, the game was delicately poised but I think we would still prefer to be in our shoes — still got a 250odd-run lead and there will still be enough in the wicket tomorrow to hopefully get the job done,” Milenko said.

“I don’t think we executed as well as we would have liked, it’s probably not our greatest day out in the field… this pitch is quite a bit flatter than the last couple which means it’s quite a bit more abrasive and I think we have just started to get the ball reversing a little bit.”

After George Bailey completed his 24th first-class century inside the first three overs on day three, leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson (4-99) cleaned up the tail as Tasmania was bowled out for 353.

Matt Renshaw gave the chase a rocketing start with two boundaries and two sixes in his 27 from 24 balls, before Burns and Labuschagne set about chipping away at their task.