A 10-wicket match haul from second gamer Jackson Bird has helped Tasmania to a well deserved 93-run victory over Victoria in their Bupa Sheffield Shield clash at the MCG.
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A 10-wicket match haul from second gamer Jackson Bird has helped Tasmania to a well deserved 93-run victory over Victoria in their Bupa Sheffield Shield clash at the MCG.
Bird picked up 5-61 in Victoria's second innings, to follow up his impressive 5-35 in the first dig as Tasmania picked up the Bushrangers' final six wickets shortly after lunch on the final day of play to cruise to victory.
It was a devastating spell of new-ball bowling from Bird and fellow paceman Brendan Drew (2-63) early on the final morning that swung the game back in Tasmania's favour.
Drew took out the consistent Andrew McDonald for 32, while Bird got the key wicket of Chris Rogers (116) the following delivery as the momentum swung firmly from Victoria to Tasmania in two consecutive balls.
Bird had his fourth victim when he dismissed Ryan Carters (zero) in his following over and when Xavier Doherty (2-71) picked up Glenn Maxwell for six the Bushrangers' hopes looked forlorn.
An attacking 45 from Clint McKay late in proceedings merely delayed the inevitable as he skied one off Doherty to deep mid-on and was caught by Drew to end the match some 20 minutes into the second session.
With clouds building in the skies above the MCG and Victoria still requiring 186 runs for victory, Tasmania surprisingly decided to continue with the old ball for an extra five overs into Friday's opening session, but as soon as they took the shiny new pill they were rewarded.
McDonald was not looking overly comfortable at the crease and when Drew dropped one in short the Victorian all-rounder attempted a pull shot, but the ball was on him quicker than he originally thought.
McDonald top-edged the delivery and the ball fell right down the throat of Bird at fine leg to reduce the Bushrangers to 5-248.
It got worse for the Bushrangers next ball as Bird this time removed the stubborn Rogers for a well made 118.
Bird got one to cut away from the left-hander and Rogers was good enough to get a little tickle through to Tom Triffitt behind the stumps.
Carters never looked at ease during his seven-ball stay and he was Bird's fourth victim shortly after when he also nicked one through to Triffitt.
From 4-248, the Bushrangers had suddenly fell to 7-250 and the outlook seemed grim.
Maxwell attempted to keep the Bushrangers in the game, but he looked unsure on whether to defend or play his natural attacking game and was undone by stand-in Tasmanian skipper Doherty.
Doherty flighted one outside off and Maxwell played a half-hearted shot that was only good enough to edge through to Triffitt for the keeper's fifth catch of the innings.
McKay and Herrick saw out the final 25 minutes until lunch, but Herrick departed shortly after the break to leave the Bushrangers at 9-294 and still requiring 118 to win.
McKay swung the bat and produced two huge sixes off Doherty over mid-off, but he tried it once too often and holed out to Drew on the deep mid-on boundary.
The victory is Tasmania's second outright win of the season and sees them jump up to third place on the Shield table, while Victoria drops to fourth.
