Tasmania 3 for 59 ( Webster 32*, Copeland 2-19) and 242 lead New South Wales 271 (Patterson 100, Rohrer 58, Bird 7-45) by 30 runs
Scorecard
File photo – Jackson Bird returned career-best first-class figures of 7 for 45 © Getty Images
A sturdy hundred by Kurtis Patterson helped New South Wales secure a first-innings lead over Tasmania before Trent Copeland and Doug Bollinger put the hosts under pressure, after two days of the Sheffield Shield match in Hobart.
NSW had entered the day in considerable trouble at 4 for 26 in pursuit of 242, but Patterson and Ben Rohrer were able to absorb the new ball before building a strong partnership that pulled the Blues back into the contest then allowed them to forge ahead.
Rohrer, who made a stirring century to help NSW overcome South Australia in Coffs Harbour last week, was unable to go much past 50 this time, but the 120-run stand with Patterson pushed the game back towards the visitors.
Ryan Carters then helped Patterson add another 74 before the young left-hander was out for an even century. Copeland and Bollinger added more useful runs as Tasmania found themselves batting with an unexpected deficit. Jackson Bird‘s 7 for 45 was his best return in first-class cricket. They began badly, as Tim Paine, Ben Dunk and Alex Doolan were all dismissed within the first 10 overs of Tasmania’s reply. Beau Webster survived till stumps, but Tasmania have a task ahead to set NSW a target.
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo