Jackson Bird's career best figures with bat and ball compound the woe for NSW who were skittled for their lowest-ever Sheffield Shield score in less than 20 overs on day two
Match Report:
ScorecardTigers in control as wickets tumble on historic Shield day
NSW were skittled for their lowest-ever Sheffield Shield score of 32, with former Test quick Jackson Bird taking a career-best 7-18 to set Tasmania up for victory at Bellerive Oval.
The Blues were all out in just 19.3 overs after lunch on day two, with the Tigers opting not to enforce the follow-on and instead set the visitors a mammoth target of 493 for victory.
The stunning collapse was the fourth-lowest score in the 129-year history of Australia's first-class competition, beating NSW's previous worst of 53 against Tasmania at Hobart in 2007.
An incredible day at Blundstone Arena #SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/CYwUsRaLk7— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 21, 2021
The Tigers were dismissed for 191 in their second innings when stumps was called on a remarkable day that saw 22 wickets fall and 298 runs scored.
Only skipper Peter Nevill (10 not out) made it to double figures for NSW as Bird wreaked havoc after earlier smashing a career-best run-a-ball 54.
The 34-year-old picked up three scalps in his first eight deliveries to leave the Blues reeling at 3-0, with Daniel Hughes, Daniel Solway and Kurtis Patterson all failing to score.
"It was just one of those days where it felt the ball was coming out nicely from ball one," he said.
"I felt like (the performance) was just around the corner. (I've) felt like that for probably the last 12 months but haven't really got a bag of wickets like that for a while.
"(But I) didn't think it was going to be as good as that. I feel like i'm bowling as well as I have for the last couple of years."
NSW collapsed to 5-17 at lunch and were all out shortly afterwards as Bird ran through the tail.
Everything fell in the 34-year-old's favour, including an edge off Trent Copeland that lobbed off the hands of third slip and was caught by Matthew Wade at first.
Bird, who has nine Tests to his name, picked up his 300th Shield wicket with his fourth ball.
In-form Blues allrounder Sean Abbott didn't bat after splitting the webbing on his hand early on day one.
"It wasn't our finest hour with the bat, no two ways about it," NSW coach Phil Jaques said.
"I know that the players are hurting about their batting performance and they're going to want to do something about it in the second innings."
Tasmania added 75 runs to their overnight score of 7-258 in Sunday's first session, with Tim Paine falling for 87 - his equal-highest first-class score on home turf.
Paine also top-scored in his side's second innings with 40 not out.
Bird took the long handle to a strong NSW attack and brought up his half-century with a straight six off Copeland.
The Tigers are chasing their first win of the Shield season while NSW are in second place behind Queensland.
Nathan Lyon took 4-48 in Tasmania's second innings but appeared to suffer an injury late in the day's play when a straight drive from Sam Rainbird struck the off-spinner's lower leg.
NSW XI: Daniel Hughes, Nick Larkin, Daniel Solway, Kurtis Patterson, Jason Sangha, Peter Nevill (c, wk), Sean Abbott, Mitch Starc, Trent Copeland, Nathan Lyon, Harry Conway
Tasmania XI: Jordan Silk, Charlie Wakim, Matthew Wade (c), Caleb Jewell, Jake Doran, Tim Paine (wk), Beau Webster, Jarrod Freeman, Jackson Bird, Peter Siddle, Sam Rainbird