Webster, Doran push Tassie level after bowler-dominated day

An unbeaten century stand from Beau Webster and Jake Doran has given Tasmania control of their Marsh Sheffield Shield match against NSW in Hobart.

Webster and Doran had scored 68 apiece and put on 131 for the fifth wicket to wrest the momentum away from NSW on a hectic first day that featured 14 wickets.

Tasmania, who are second on the Shield ladder, were 4-179 at stumps in reply to NSW's 181 after the home side won the toss in overcast conditions at Bellerive Oval.

The Tigers had slumped to 4-48 before Webster and Doran first blunted the visitors' counter punch and then put Tasmania in a solid position.

It is Webster's sixth Shield half-century this summer and he has the third-highest runs total in the competition, with 453 from five matches at an average of 47.68.

He also took two wickets as NSW never quite recovered from their disastrous start.

After Ryan Hackney was dismissed in the first over of the game, a poorly judged third run cost No.3 Blake Macdonald his wicket thanks to slick fielding from Brad Hope and Jordan Silk.

Gabe Bell then dismissed opener Daniel Hughes to leave NSW in tatters at 3-9.

Matthew Gilkes scored 30, while Moises Henriques reached 50 and Ollie Davies top-scored with 67 from 65 balls as the NSW middle order stemmed the early bleeding.

But when Webster caught Davies to give Lawrence Neil-Smith his third wicket, NSW were 8-165.

Bell snared 4-29 and Neil-Smith took 3-57, with the NSW innings done in just 42 overs.

Jackson Bird dismissed the Tasmanian openers cheaply and Jack Nisbet made the crucial breakthrough, producing an unplayable delivery to bowl in-form No.3 Charlie Wakim for 27.

That left Tasmanian four down and on the brink before Webster and Doran ensured day one belonged to the home side.

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