Tasmania were just one wicket away from staying in the hunt against Western Australia until Mitch Marsh unleashed with a 111-ball 108 not out
Match Report:
ScorecardTigers let WA slip away as Marsh goes big in Shield return
Mitch Marsh was at his free-flowing best with the bat on his Marsh Sheffield Shield return to help Western Australia build a pivotal first-innings lead against Tasmania at the WACA.
Marsh crunched an unbeaten 108 off 111 balls and featured in a state record last-wicket stand as WA posted 336 for a 157-run first innings lead.
The visitors ended the day at a shaky 1-27, diminishing their hopes of unlikely charge for a spot in the Shield final.
Tim Ward fell lbw to Joel Paris for five, with fellow opener Caleb Jewell unbeaten on 21.
Tasmania seemed set to concede just a modest first innings deficit after claiming wickets at regular intervals throughout the day to leave the home side 9-223, a difference of just 44 runs.
A nice catch by Tim Ward at short leg to end the WA innings on 336... but the damage has been done, Mitch Marsh finishing unbeaten on 108 #SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/00lvfBNYkw
%E2%80%94 cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 3, 2023
But Marsh, in concert with No.11 Charlie Stobo, inflicted 11th-hour heartbreak on the Tigers' bowling attack.
Marsh and Stobo (38) combined for a record Western Australia 10th wicket stand of 113.
It is a partnership which likely ends the Shield hopes of a Tasmania side which went into the penultimate round match a win adrift of second place.
Marsh, playing his first Shield match for WA in nearly two years, pummelled four sixes in a 111-ball innings, one of which brought up his half-century.
"That's got to be 70-80 metres!" 💥
%E2%80%94 cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 3, 2023
Mitch Marsh is enjoying his return to the #SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/zToj21QJ6a
It was a 12th first-class century for Marsh and came off just 103 deliveries.
It was a very different story to last weekend's Marsh One-Day Cup return which saw Marsh unluckily run out for a duck.
Marsh is set to line up for Australia in the upcoming three-match ODI series in India following ankle surgery.
Sam Whiteman was the other major contributor for Western Australia with the opener posting 64.
Until Marsh's late intervention, Tasmania seemed to have turned the corner after their mammoth 383-run defeat against the same opponent just last week.
Spinner Jarrod Freeman was the pick of the Tiger's attack with figures of 4-81.
Western Australia can guarantee hosting rights for this month's Shield final with victory over Tasmania.