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Tasmania frustrate WA in Sheffield Shield

3 minute read

Things aren't going according to plan for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield after solid Tasmania batting and injury ensured the visitors gained control.

JACKSON BIRD .
JACKSON BIRD . Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Western Australia's Sheffield Shield final hopes are on a precipice after Tasmania all but batted the home side out of their final-round clash at the WACA.

At stumps on day two, WA were 0-46 in response to the Tigers' 514.

Cameron Bancroft (13) and Sam Whiteman (27) were the not out batsmen.

Earlier Beau Webster became the second century-maker in the innings for Tasmania, bringing up his ton off 130 balls with 11 boundaries, before going on to an unbeaten 135.

The consistent Jake Doran (123) had already scored his third century of the season, frustrating WA in a 288-ball stay.

Needing to win the match to progress to the decider, WA's slender path will now likely have to involve some fast runs and a bold declaration before either routing the Tigers or hoping they set up a final-innings chase.

But an already tricky task has been made more difficult with the loss of key bowler Joel Paris.

WA confirmed on Sunday that injury-prone Paris had sustained a left adductor strain and would not bowl again in the match.

Paris (2-18) had made early inroads on day one but left the field and did not return.

The paceman may have only picked up a modest 12 wickets this season in his four Shield matches but comfortably has the best average of any bowler (19.33) with 10 wickets or more in the competition.

On Sunday his accuracy was sorely missed as Matthew Wade battled on to 90 before being caught behind off the bowling of Ashton Agar while Australia captain Tim Paine made 20.

From there it was all the Tigers, Doran proving difficult to dislodge, Webster hitting freely and even paceman Jackson Bird (64) letting loose as the latter two added 125 in a ninth-wicket stand.

Webster, who scored his sixth Shield century but increasingly picks up the slack as a fourth-change bowler of either medium pace or off-breaks, said his team must remain disciplined as WA chase runs.

"WA need a win to jump a team to get in the finals so they are obviously going to have their own plans to come pretty hard in the morning I assume," he said.

"Maybe a declaration from behind to drive the game."

Mitch Marsh was the pick of the WA bowlers with 3-84 while Agar and Cameron Gannon both took two wickets.

Rain and bad light curtailed Saturday's action but play started early on day two to make up for lost time.

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