Tigers stay top as clash with Vics ends in tame draw

Tim Ward and captain Jordan Silk made half-centuries before Tasmania closed out a tame draw with Victoria to stay top of the Marsh Sheffield Shield ladder.

As Melbourne's stormy late-spring weather threatened, an early tea was called on Wednesday and the match called off, with no chance of a result at Melbourne's Junction Oval.

Tasmania lost an early wicket on the final day before Ward and Silk saw Tasmania through to stumps, reaching 2-183 in their second innings.

Ward made an unbeaten 78 and Silk reached 82 in their third-wicket stand of 163.

A draw was always the most likely result, but there was excitement early on day four when Charlie Wakim followed up his first-innings top score of 148 by hitting a sharp catch to Will Sutherland on nine off Todd Murphy.

That left the visitors at 2-20 after they resumed on Wednesday at 1-15 with a lead of 94.

Ward and Silk then settled in and it soon became clear there would be no last-day fireworks as Victoria laboured in vain for another breakthrough.

Batters Campbell Kellaway and Marcus Harris sent down six overs between them as the match petered out.

Ward's 193-ball knock included six fours and a six to follow his first-innings 67, while Silk hit 12 fours in his 181-ball stay at the crease.

Victoria's Test hopeful Marcus Harris was named player of the match for his 164.

Victorian Travis Dean was subbed out of the game because of concussion, but they are hopeful he will return for their next Shield game on November 16 against Queensland at the MCG.

Fergus O'Neill and Mitchell Perry rolled ankles while bowling in the Tasmanian second innings and Perry will not travel to Launceston for Saturday's one-dayer.

But he and O'Neill are expected to be available for next week's Shield game.

Sheffield Shield 2023-24 standings

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Drawn D	No results N/R	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Bowling Bonus Bowl	Total points PTS
1 Western Australia Men WA	10	5	2	3	0	0	5.53	9.4	47.93
2 Tasmanian Tigers Men TAS	10	5	2	3	0	0	6.06	8.3	47.36
3 NSW Men NSW	10	4	3	3	0	0	6.31	9	42.31
4 Victoria Men VIC	10	4	4	2	0	0	4.74	8.2	38.94
5 South Australia Men SA	10	3	6	1	0	0	5.19	9.3	33.49
6 Queensland Bulls QLD	10	2	6	2	0	0	3.54	8.3	25.84

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

D: Drawn

N/R: No results

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

Bowl: Bowling Bonus

PTS: Total points