Twin tons headline SA charge on green surface

South Australia’s Jake Weatherald and Nathan McSweeney scored centuries to put their side in a solid position at 8-309 having been sent in to bat by Tasmania on day one of their Marsh Sheffield Shield clash in Hobart.

Opener Weatherald posted 100 off just 132 balls while McSweeney (118 off 241 balls) scored his maiden first class ton.

Veteran Tigers paceman Peter Siddle, sporting a peroxide blonde hairstyle on the day he announced that he had signed on with the Adelaide Strikers for a sixth consecutive KFC BBL season, was a constant threat on his way to 4-59 from 25 probing overs.

Weatherald and McSweeney combined for a 149-run stand for the third wicket after Siddle struck early to remove Henry Hunt (one) and Daniel Drew (11) to reduce the Redbacks to 2-17.

Left-hander Weatherald struck 16 boundaries, including two sixes, and was particularly savage through the off side in a confident counter-attacking innings.

McSweeney offered sensible support and was an excellent foil for his more aggressive batting partner before upping the ante.

The 23-year-old brought up his century with a sweet on drive from the bowling of spinner Jarrod Freeman.

It was a moment to savour for the former Australia under-19s representative after he was stranded on 99no in March when he hit the winning runs in a five-wicket Shield win over NSW.

The Redbacks were 6-196 just after tea but McSweeney received excellent support from in-form allrounder Ben Manenti (30) and Nathan McAndrew (26no).

Weatherald said he was delighted to find form against a class attack.

"This year has been a bit of a struggle for me with the bat so it was good to walk out there and play freely and score some runs," he said.

"(McSweeney) was able to absorb an amazing amount of pressure … and batted really well."

Earlier in the day Tigers wicketkeeper Jake Doran left the field feeling unwell after testing positive to COVID-19, and was replaced by Tim Paine.

Tasmania named former Australia Test captain Paine as 12th man, but was brought into the game as a substitute wicketkeeper when Doran left the playing arena.

Doran had felt fine at the start of play and took an early catch but was replaced by Paine after feeling ill.

Paine, who will not be allowed to bat, took two neat catches.

Tasmania sit second on the Shield table behind Western Australia after a hard-fought four-wicket win over Victoria in their most recent match.

South Australia are second-last with two losses and three draws so far this season.

This fixture is both sides' last before the Shield takes a mid-season break for the BBL.