SHEFFIELD SHIELD: TIGERS BOWLERS HAVE BLUES ON ROPES

THE Tigers’ terrorising bowling attack took its game to another level yesterday on day three of Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield game against New South Wales. One major positive for Tasmania this season has been its bowling group and the talented foursome were on show yesterday when they took 12 wickets in a day. Jackson Bird (3-65 and 2-19), who was the pick of the bowlers, said they bowled well in partnerships. “Our bowling group is really good at the moment,” he said. “Sam (Rainbird) is bowling as well as he ever has, Gabe (Bell) is taking wickets all the time and Buck (Tom Rogers) bowls with good pace and chips in with wickets right at the crucial times.” With the first day washed out, Tasmania needed to put in a dominant display and that is exactly what they did. With time against them the Tigers put in a strong performance with the bat on day two, piling on 4-392 before declar- ing overnight. The Tasmanian bowlers got stuck into its opposition’s top order on day three and at one stage had the Blues 3-4.

“Our lengths were really good today,” Bird said. “We bowled fuller and attacked their defence every ball.”

A patient 67 from Ed Cowan and some late hitting from Steve O’Keefe (52 not out) got NSW to 208 but it was not enough to stop George Bailey going in for the kill late in the day and enforcing the follow on.

NSW’s innings again started poorly when Bird took two wickets in consecutive balls to have the Blues 2-14.

Daniel Hughes didn’t learn from his first innings and left an inswinger from Bird that trapped him in front for the second time in the day.

This was followed by Nick Larkin edging a ball to Jake Doran, who had taken the gloves all day because Matthew Wade was ill.

The Tigers will be hoping the forecast rain for today holds off for them to finish off its impressive match so far.

“If it rains it rains, we can’t really control that,” Bird said.