Century a crowning Jewell for the Tigers
CALEB Jewell’s maiden Sheffield Shield ton has helped Tasmania build a competitive first innings total after the Tigers were sent in by Queensland on day one of their clash in Hobart.
Jewell – playing his first match of the season – was one of several Tasmanian batsmen to make a start but the only one to capitalise on it as his unbeaten 131 guided the Tigers to 7-293 at stumps at Blundstone Arena.
Five of Tasmania’s other batters – including Test captain Tim Paine – were dismissed in the 20s.
The wickets were spread evenly among Queensland’s bowlers, with Brendan Doggett (2-69) and Xavier Bartlett (2-68) the only multiple wicket-takers.
Jewell was dropped twice but made the most of his good fortune and said it was a “bit of a relief” to bring up his ton.
“I think it’s my eighth or ninth game across five years, so to be able to get it today was pretty amazing but [the job’s] not done yet,” Jewell said. He said the game was evenly poised.
“I think if we can get another 50 to 100 runs tomorrow it will probably swing it in our favour a little bit but I think the weather’s meant to be really nice, so the pitch will become very nice to bat on [and] they’ve got a worldclass batting line-up, so it’s probably pretty even at the moment,” he said.
Queensland’s decision to bowl looked to have paid dividends when Mark Steketee bowled Tigers opener Charlie Wakim with the fifth ball of the day. Joe Burns dropped Mac Wright on 15 but caught him at slip soon after off the bowling of Jack Wildermuth, who achieved the impressive figures of 1/0 from his first five overs.
Patient opener Jordan Silk was dismissed LBW shortly before lunch by Bartlett, as the Tigers battled to 3/81 at the interval.
Tasmania appeared to be in trouble at 4/123 when Doggett had Jake Doran caught behind for 14 but that was the only wicket to fall in the second session.
Jewell brought up his century in the final session, while Paine and Beau Webster provided support by lifting the run rate and Jarrod Freeman provided some useful lowerorder runs.
Bulls spinner Matt Kuhnemann picked up the key wicket of Paine on his Shield debut. He said playing his first game was an “awesome experience and a dream come true,” and was thrilled to snare the Test skipper when Paine chipped a catch back to him. “I couldn’t have thought of a better one in that team, so it was awesome. I was lucky, so I dare say he won’t do that second innings,” Kuhnemann said.
He said the Bulls would be aiming to take the final three wickets quickly on Thursday and bat out the rest of the day.