Tigers pull off major upset over star-studded Blues

Tasmania pulled off the biggest upset of the summer and all but ended New South Wales' hopes of making the Marsh One-Day Cup final, knocking off a Blues outfit featuring six Ashes tourists at North Sydney Oval on Wednesday.

Sydney-born paceman Nathan Ellis, who moved to Hobart after being overlooked by his native state, took his maiden five-wicket haul as the Blues were rolled for 237 inside 44 overs.

George Bailey (67 off 73 deliveries) and Ben McDermott (58 off 61) played key hands but it was another NSW product Jordan Silk (59no off 66) who hit the winning runs to seal the six-wicket victory with 29 balls to spare.

The result, made more impressive given Tasmania were missing captain Matthew Wade due to a minor groin injury, leaves the Blues bottom of the Marsh Cup standings with two games to play.

Ellis removed the tournament's leading run-scorer Daniel Hughes for 44 and this innings' top-scorer Peter Nevill for 56 before running through the lower order to finish with 5-38 from 8.1 overs.

But it was speedster Riley Meredith (2-65 off 10 overs) who delivered the game's decisive blows as he dismissed David Warner and Steve Smith with the new ball - both for single figures.

Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins led the hosts' world-class bowling attack but both went wicketless, as they allowed openers McDermott and Caleb Jewell (24 off 26) to put on 63 before Josh Hazlewood (3-47 off 10 overs) struck in the ninth over.

McDermott, named to make his international return for Australia's upcoming Gillette T20I series against Sri Lanka, looked in fine touch as he cracked 10 fours and a six before being bowled by Nathan Lyon (1-48 off eight).

The visitors looked to be wobbling when Hazlewood trapped Beau Webster lbw to leave them 3-113, but Silk and Bailey formed a composed duo to ensure victory.

Warner commenced the domestic season with 125 in their Marsh Sheffield Shield opener against Queensland a fortnight ago, but has since scored 0, 1 and then 4 on Wednesday.

Smith, who looked in good form with consecutive fours off his pads, was caught at square leg for nine when he went for a repeat of the stroke that brought him so many runs during the Ashes.

Sent in to bat by stand-in Tigers skipper Jordan Silk, NSW stumbled their way to 5-136 before Nevill steadied the ship to be the last man dismissed.

In-form opener Hughes was unlucky to be given out caught behind off Ellis, with replays suggesting he missed the ball, while youngster Matthew Gilkes impressed before falling for 43.