04/12/2008 3:33 PM
Tasmania has recorded a remarkable three-wicket victory over New South Wales in their rollercoaster Sheffield Shield match at Bellerive Oval on Thursday.
Set 219 for victory, the Tigers' task looked improbable when opener Jonathan Wells (46) departed to reduce the home team to 5-90.
But a timely 82-run sixth-wicket partnership between skipper Daniel Marsh (58) and wicketkeeper Tim Paine (59 not out) put Tasmania back on track.
Nathan Bracken was the pick of the Blues bowlers with figures of 3-41 to go with his first-innings haul of 5-28.
A Tasmanian win looked unthinkable late on the first day when the Tigers were reduced to 7-41 in reply to NSW's first innings 172.
Earlier on day three, Tasmania resumed on 1-7 and laboured for most of the morning session - at one stage it was barely going at more than a run an over.
Ball continued to dominate bat as Bracken and Doug Bollinger (2-38) bowled with startling economy heading into lunch.
Tigers nightwatchman Tim MacDonald showed tremendous application for a tailender.
He scratched his way to six after more than 90 minutes at the crease before being trapped in front by Moises Henriques.
Dane Anderson did not last long before he was caught behind down the leg-side for no score.
George Bailey's innings ended on eight when he was caught in the slip cordon off the bowling of Bracken and when the NSW quick picked up the crucial wicket of Wells, Tasmania was teetering precariously at 5-90.
However, the Tigers' innings started to become more daring when Marsh and Paine entered the fray.
The duo rescued Tasmania from outright defeat as they combined to plunder 18 boundaries and a six and handed the ascendancy back to their state.
Marsh's stay in the middle came to an end when he was well caught in the gully by Dominic Thornely off the bowling of Steve Smith after dancing down the pitch and adjusting to play a cut shot.
Seven overs later, the Tigers were 7-200 when Bollinger trapped Luke Butterworth lbw and another twist in this amazing match looked on the cards.
But No.9 Brett Geeves held up his end as he and Paine guided Tasmania to a memorable win.
New South Wales 1st innings 172
Tasmania 1st innings 127
New South Wales 2nd innings 173
Tasmania 2nd innings
Wells c D.Smith b Bracken 46
Lockyear b Bracken 0
MacDonald lbw b Henriques 6
Anderson c Smith b Bollinger 0
Bailey c Forrest b Bracken 8
Marsh c Thornely b S.Smith 58
Paine not out 59
Butterworth lbw b Bollinger 16
Geeves not out 5
Extras: 23 (11lb, 7nb, 5w)
Total: 221 (7 wickets, 80 overs)
FOW: 1-6, 2-29, 3-31, 4-55, 5-90, 6-172, 7-200
Bowling
Bollinger 20 - 10 - 38 - 2 (1nb)
Bracken 22 - 9 - 41 - 3
Henriques 19 - 2 - 62 - 1 (4nb)
S.Smith 10 - 3 - 29 - 1
Lambert 8 - 0 - 40 - 0 (5w, 2nb)
Thornely 1 - 1 - 0 - 0