Blues take two points from Shield draw

Updated September 29, 2012 19:42:17

New South Wales opened up an eight-point lead at the top of the Sheffield Shield cricket ladder after taking first innings points from its draw with Tasmania at Bankstown Oval.

Set 343 to win from a potential 88 overs, the Tigers finished on 7 for 262 with 11 overs remaining when the two teams agreed to end the match.

The Tigers' chase never really moved into serious overdrive though a number of their batsmen made a start.

A 111-run fifth wicket stand between Aiden Blizzard (88) and captain Tim Paine (40) briefly raised hopes of a late charge.

However, they perished in successive overs and James Faulkner (0) also went as the Tigers lost 3 for 6.

In-form Blues all-rounder Moises Henriques was named man-of-the-match.

He followed up his unbeaten first innings 161 not out with a breezy unbeaten 50 off 51 balls and 3 for 41 in the Tigers' second innings.

For the Tigers, opener Mark Cosgrove followed up his first innings 84 with 44.

Test batsmen Ricky Ponting and Ed Cowan scored 34 and eight respectively.

Ponting struck just two boundaries in his 66-ball innings and seemed content to steadily accumulate.

His innings ended when he edged an attempted pull shot to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin off paceman Doug Bollinger (1 for 45).

Haddin, who scored a classy first innings century, was dismissed for seven in his second dig, but also executed a slick legside last day stumping of Alex Doolan (21).

Trent Copeland (2 for 51) passed 100 first-class wickets for the Blues.

Earlier, Blues captain Michael Clarke declared at 6 for 198, with Nick Maddinson (86) top scoring, as the home side added 121 from 22 overs in the morning.

Paceman Jackson Bird (3 for 46) was the Tigers' most successful bowler and finished with six scalps on his old home ground.

The Blues are the only team to have played two Shield matches this season, but they will not have one in October due to Sydney Sixers' participation in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament in South Africa.

The Tigers' next Shield engagement will be against South Australia in Adelaide starting on October 9.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, bankstown-2200, hobart-7000

First posted September 29, 2012 19:42:17

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Vital points on the line at WACA

Updated March 03, 2012 22:29:38

Victoria looks on course to harm Western Australia's Sheffield Shield final hopes as it enters the final day at the WACA Ground with a 337-run lead.

At stumps on day three, the Bushrangers were 6 for 361 in their second innings, with opener Chris Rogers the leading contributor with 124 on his old home ground.

Ryan Carters is not out 27, while Will Sheridan is unbeaten on 21.

Sheridan appeared to be caught on the boundary by Travis Birt for 15 in the final over, but was called back by the umpires, who weren't convinced the catch was completed in the field of play and ruled it was a six.

Both teams will be desperate for the outright result on Sunday.

If the Warriors win they will book their berth in the final, and almost certainly secure the right to play the match at the WACA Ground, having not played in the decider since 1998-99.

The Bushrangers can only stay in the hunt for the final if they secure an outright victory.

Rogers punished his former state with a polished century after the Bushrangers trailed by 24 on the first innings.

The 34-year-old Rogers notched his fourth first-class century against his old state, and his 52nd overall.

Although he slashed several balls through slips, Rogers did not give a chance on his way to triple figures, reaching his ton in 220 minutes, having faced 181 balls and hit 18 boundaries.

Rogers, who was eventually bowled by Michael Beer, has 13 centuries in 37 first-class matches at the WACA Ground.

Rogers and Rob Quiney (66) put on 142 for the first wicket to provide a perfect launching pad for the innings.

Bushrangers skipper Cameron White again struggled in making 33 before being clean bowled by Nathan Rimmington, who was the pick of the home bowlers with 2 for 61.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, wa, vic

First posted March 03, 2012 21:52:57

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