Tasmania frustrate NSW as round one clash ends in draw

Jake Doran and Brad Hope have posted unbeaten half-centuries to ensure Tasmania held on for a draw in their Sheffield Shield clash with NSW in Sydney.

Tasmania resumed the final day at Cricket Central on 2-203 in their second innings, still needing a further 52 runs to make NSW bat again.

NSW needed early wickets to have hope of sealing a win, and there was a spark early when paceman Sean Abbott had Teague Wyllie (38 off 89 balls) caught at slip.

Tasmania slipped to 4-242 when Ben McDermott (15) was bowled by Abbott, putting the heat on the Tigers to dig in.

But defiant knocks from Tim Ward (83), Doran (84no off 197) and Hope (53no off 126) killed off NSW's chances, with the game eventually called off late on Sunday with Tasmania at 5-402, an overall lead of 147.

NSW looked poised for victory earlier in the match after posting 9(dec)-500 in reply to Tasmania's first-innings total of 245.

Blues opener Oliver Davies made the perfect start to the Shield season with a whopping 253 off 225 balls.

The quickfire knock featured 38 fours and four sixes and came at a time when the Australian Test team is crying out for a reliable opener to partner Travis Head.

Davies reached 200 off just 186 balls, marking the fastest double century in Shield history.

Head (214 balls) held the previous record.

Jack Edwards (115 off 182 balls) produced a century as NSW turned the screws on the visitors with a mammoth total that was scored at more than five runs an over.

But Tasmania's second-innings grit meant NSW were forced to settle for a draw, despite the best efforts of Abbott (4-54 from 28 overs).