All-rounder Beau Webster took four wickets as Tasmania ended their Sheffield Shield season on a high, defeating Queensland by 140 runs in Hobart.
Chasing a 362-run target for an unlikely victory at Bellerive Oval, the Bulls were rolled for 221 after Webster claimed 4-53 from 20 overs, including the dismissals of opener Matthew Renshaw and young gun Lachlan Hearne.
Fast bowler Xavier Bartlett top-scored for Queensland with a counter-punching 36, while Tigers quicks Kieran Elliott and Billy Stanlake each snared two wickets.
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Queensland captain Marnus Labuschagne was run out for 29, continuing a worrying run of low scores in red-ball cricket. Since the end of October, the Australian Test No. 3, who hasn’t managed a Test century in nearly three years, has averaged 22.27 at first-class level, with only three fifties across 20 knocks.
Meanwhile, Webster’s ongoing all-round form will give national selectors plenty to ponder ahead of next summer, with a potential vacancy in Australia’s Test side following Usman Khawaja’s retirement.
Elsewhere in the Sheffield Shield, the four-day clash between New South Wales and Western Australia in Sydney went down to the final over, with the hosts falling one wicket short of a comeback victory.
After overcoming a 101-run first-innings deficit, the Blues claimed nine wickets at Cricket Central on Tuesday, including a nervy collapse of 3-4 during the final hour, to come within touching distance of a miracle win, which would have been the ideal send-off for axed coach Greg Shipperd.
Needing two wickets from the final over of the match, spinner Joel Davies knocked over West Australian bowler Cameron Gannon for a 13-ball duck to give NSW a sniff, but tailenders Corey Rocchiccioli and Albert Esterhuysen successfully survived the final three deliveries to eke out a draw.
Western Australia finished at 9-139, 134 runs shy of the target, receiving the dreaded wooden spoon for a second-consecutive season.
“There’s a range of emotions at the moment,” departing WA coach Voges said post-play.
“I’ve loved every minute that I’ve been able to be part of the West Australian Cricket Association. To think eight years as a coach, but the 15 or 16 as a player as well, coming to an end.
“I’ve been able to experience a lot and will take a lot of memories with me. I’m very proud of what I’ve been able to achieve and but obviously sad that it’s finishing up as well.”
Down in Melbourne, Victoria’s Sheffield Shield contest against reigning champions South Australia ended as a rain-affected draw, with only 23 wickets falling across the four days.
The match served as a preview for next week’s season decider, with Victoria hosting South Australia at the same venue for the Sheffield Shield final, which commenced on March 26.
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