Quantcast

Redbacks prove too strong for Tigers

South Australia moved up to second place on the Shield table with a comprehensive victory over Tasmania in Hobart

A dream run of results for South Australia, including their romping 193-run defeat of Tasmania, has confirmed the Redbacks' place in the Sheffield Shield final.

Skipper Travis Head and his teammates faced an anxious wait of some eight hours on Sunday to hear happy news: that Western Australia beat NSW in Perth by six runs.

It was the result needed for South Australia to finish second in the competition and play in the decider against Victoria next Sunday.

Head admits his side did it the hard way, finishing the season with five wins and five losses.

"We had a couple (of matches) through the season we let go and we probably left it to chance a little bit," he told AAP.

Now his side is pumped to win the silverware and settle a score after finishing the 2015-16 season on top but losing the decider to Victoria.

"We played them (Victoria) last year and they played well," Head said.

"They've won seven games for a reason this year.

"It's always going to be a tough ask for us."

Key to SA's final success could be the side's pacemen.

Quicks Joe Mennie (4-21) and Daniel Worrall (4-33), led the Redbacks' charge on Sunday, with the former claiming two scalps in his first over.

"I thought it was going to be a tough day. I thought it was going to be a tough grind," Head said.

"The wicket was pretty good for batting but our bowlers, they got a shift in the air and got a bit of swing and it was pretty remarkable what they were able to do."

Chasing an unlikely victory target of 300, Tasmania capitulated in just 29.4 overs.

They lost their top six batsmen for single digits, including ducks to skipper George Bailey and Jordan Silk.

At their worst, the Tigers conceded 5-5 across four overs, including opener Alex Doolan then Bailey and Jordan Silk, both caught in the slips.

Batting at No.10, Sam Rainbird top-scored for Tasmania with an admirable 33 but his wicket marked the end of Tassie's Shield season, during which they claimed just one victory and finished a distant last on the ladder.

After a lacklustre first innings' total of 225 to which Tassie replied with 332, SA hit back in their second dig reaching 406, including 90 from Callum Ferguson.

Mennie, playing his first Shield match since December after suffering a life-threatening head injury training for the Big Bash League, claimed nine wickets across two innings in Hobart.

WATCH: Mennie, Sayers rip through Tasmania top order

At their worst, the Tigers conceded 5-5 across four overs, including opener Alex Doolan then Bailey and Jordan Silk, both caught in the slips.

Batting at No.10, Sam Rainbird top-scored for Tasmania with an admirable 33 but his wicket marked the end of Tassie's Shield season, during which they claimed just one victory and finished a distant last on the ladder.

After a lacklustre first innings' total of 225 to which Tassie replied with 332, SA hit back in their second dig reaching 406, including 90 from Callum Ferguson.

Mennie, playing his first Shield match since December after suffering a life-threatening head injury training for the Big Bash League, claimed nine wickets across two innings in Hobart.