THE DESTROYER

QUICK ELLIS RIPS THROUGH NSW’S TEST-STRENGTH LINE-UP FOR FIVE-WICKET HAUL

HE’S the baby-faced assassin who helped rip a Test-strength New South Wales side apart yesterday as Tasmania scored a stunning Marsh One-Day Cup victory at North Sydney Oval. Nathan Ellis — remember the name — grabbed career-best figures of 5-38 off 8.1 overs as the Blues were bowled out for 237. Riley Meredith chipped in with the key wickets of David Warner and Steve Smith. In reply, Tasmania cruised home by six wickets, Ben McDermott, Jordan Silk and George Bailey leading the way with halfcenturies.

ROOKIE medium-pacer Nathan Ellis grabbed five wickets as Tasmania pulled off a remarkable Marsh One-Day Cup win yesterday against a Test-strength New South Wales at North Sydney Oval.

Australia’s Ashes tourists largely failed to fire for NSW as Tasmania eased to a clinical six-wicket victory. Ellis finished wth 5-38 and was named man of the match.

Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith and David Warner produced no performances of note ahead of the Twenty20 against Sri Lanka in Adelaide on Sunday — Australia’s first international of the summer.

Warner was out for just four, caught and bowled by Riley Meredith. It followed a duck and 15 not out in the Sheffield Shield match against the Tigers and his disastrous tour of England.

Smith reached nine when he flashed a shot from Meredith into the hands of square leg fielder Simon Milenko.

Cummins and Starc went wicketless, though the former was making his first start for the season, the latter coming off the back of an extraordinary 10-wicket Sheffield Shield haul on the weekend.

Instead it was Tasmania’s only inclusion for the T20 internationals, Ben McDermott, who set up the win with a dynamic 58 off 61 balls at the top of the order.

Tasmania eventually eased past NSW’s 237 off 43.1 overs, reaching 4-239 with 29 balls to spare. George Bailey helped the Tasmanians home with a polished 67, while Jordan Silk was equally composed with his unbeaten 59.

Josh Hazlewood was the only star to shine for NSW with the paceman barely missing a beat in his first outing since the tour of England in returning 3-47. There was, however, little joy for Cummins (062), Starc (0-49) and spinner Nathan Lyon (1-48).

Despite the lack of wickets, McDermott said the Australian pace trio impressed. “It was very tough batting against those guys, with Patty [ Cummins] bowling quick into the breeze, and Starcy the same from the other end,” he said.

McDermott was struck on the shoulder by Cummins and was briefly headed back to the pavilion on 29, only to be called back for a no-ball from the Australian vice-captain.

Last year’s cup player of the season has now hit three halfcenturies and one century in five matches at an average of 69.5.

McDermott played eight T20 internationals in 2018.