Gallant McDermott rescues Tasmania after retiring hurt

A hobbled Ben McDermott retired hurt before returning to post a spirited century and rescue Tasmania against Victoria in their round two Sheffield Shield clash.

The Tasmanians crashed to 7-45 but recovered to be bowled out for 241 on day one at Bellerive Oval, with McDermott making a gallant 128.

McDermott retired hurt on six with a lower back injury but returned after lunch for a decisive 166-run stand for the eighth wicket with Jake Doran (73). The pair were the only Tasmanians to reach double-figures.

"I'm a little bit sore, my back stiffened up and I had a back spasm there early in the innings," McDermott said at stumps.

"I felt a tweak a few overs earlier … then I clipped one off my pads and as I was running down the wicket I really seized up – it took me to ground actually, it was a really debilitating one.

"I didn't really know if I was going to be right to come back; I had a hit at lunch and a fitness test and managed to pull through and get out there, and I'm really glad I did."

The Tigers were in serious trouble after Victoria's 20-year-old paceman Harry Hoekstra claimed five of the first six wickets.

Hoekstra dismissed Jordan Silk for one to start his spree, the stalwart gloving a leg-side short ball to wicketkeeper Liam Blackford, who completed the catch on second bite.

Fellow quick Fergus O'Neill had Teague Wylie (4) caught behind before Hoekstra snared four wickets in five overs.

The left-armer, who shone on first-class debut last-start against South Australia taking 6-103 and scoring 45 and 17, then took the wickets of Caleb Jewell (3) and Nivethan Radhakrishnan (9), before removing Nikhil Chaudhary (5) and Mitch Owen (4) in a three-ball span.

After his first eight overs, Hoekstra had figures of 5-12. He finished with 5-46 from 20 overs.

Tasmania's fightback was expertly piloted by McDermott, whose heroics were ably supported by Doran's 208-ball knock.

McDermott accelerated late in the day in a ton laced with 13 fours and two sixes before slashing at a widish ball from Will Sutherland (1-42) to be caught at first slip, ending his 197-ball innings.

Victoria's O'Neill took 3-41 and spinner Todd Murphy 1-32.

Round 1

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Ties T	Drawn D	No results N/R	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Bowling Bonus Bowl	Total points PTS
1 South Australia Men SA	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1.39	1	8.39
2 Western Australia Men WA	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	7
3 NSW Men NSW	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	1	5
4 Tasmanian Tigers Men TAS	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0.45	0.9	2.35
5 Queensland Bulls QLD	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1.07	1	2.07
6 Victoria Men VIC	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0.44	0.6	1.04

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

T: Ties

D: Drawn

N/R: No results

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

Bowl: Bowling Bonus

PTS: Total points