THURSDAY MARCH 7 2019 SPORT 33 Wade in lone Tassie hand

ONLY a marvellous counter- attacking innings from Mat- Langer thew Wade saved Tasmania from complete disaster against Sheffield Shield leaders Victor- ia at Junction Oval yesterday. Tasmania ended day two at 8-234, still 220 runs in arrears of ’s hefty first innings of 454. Wade played a virtual keeps lone hand as fell at reg- ular intervals, with his 86 in- cluding 12 boundaries and a six, and coming from 128 balls. It was an eighth half-cen- tury of the season for Wade, who trails only Victoria’s Mar- cus Harris on this season’s faith on Shield run-scorers list, as the 31-year-old seeks a return to the Test side for the upcoming Ashes series. Smilie on skipper the ball ROB FORSAITH for Carlton IT wasn’t ’s most productive 59 minutes at the CARLTON Club has crease for Australia but there won the inaugural men’s Fox were some promising signs for Cricket Premier T20 Cham- the under-pressure pionships at Karen Rolton during his one-day knock of 37 Oval after defeating University in Nagpur. of Queensland by one run in a Finch, pictured, desperate to final-ball thriller. lead from the front on the cur- After being sent in to bat rent tour of India and this first and scoring a solid total of year’s World Cup, has now 8-154, Carlton proved too played 21 consecutive white- strong with the ball. ball innings for his country Player of the Final Aaron without reaching 50. Smilie struck early, dismissing Those numbers remain Queensland openers Jack stark but coach Carty and Michael Philipson has made it clear he will be pa- for 24 and nine respectively, tient as Finch seeks to end a before they could gain any slump that is far from ideal for said. “He batted really well momentum. Smilie finished the World Cup starts in less with Usman at the start. the match with impressive fig- than three months. “You see how effective he is. ures of 4-28 from four overs. On Tuesday’s evidence, Once he gets going the field Earlier in the day, Carlton which came a day after Finch goes back, the bowlers start plan started off well with the bat, had some one-on-one time B. I know in domestic scoring a quick 51 runs off the with Langer in the nets prior to cricket against him, you do feel first seven overs, before losing the squad’s training session, a under pressure if he’s firing.” a handful of wickets which Indian superstar goes on the attack during his matchwinning innings of 116 in the ODI breakthrough innings may not Finch got on the front foot allowed University to take clash in Nagpur Picture: AP be far away. and smoked his seventh deliv- control. “Not enough (runs). It ery through to the rope. Top scorers for the Victori- would have been nice to kick It sent a clear message of in- ans were Donovan Pell (43 off Australians applaud Kohli’s class on. It was OK to get a start but tent to – 27 balls), Evan Gulbis (28 off starts don’t win you games,” the same paceman who terror- 20) and Lachlan McKenna (28 Finch said post-match. ised Finch throughout this off 20). ROB FORSAITH with (52) the shots. I think for the most part There were glimpses of summer’s Test series, forcing Carty was best with the ball only other batsman to pass 50. we bowled quite well to him,” Finch’s best during his highest the opener to retire hurt when in the first innings with strong DESCRIBED as the greatest It was also leadership per- Cummins said. ODI score since November 9, a brutal blow to the glove in figures of 3-11 from three overs. one-day player of all time by sonified. The indomitable run “He is someone who just when he was named man of exposed the bone. Finch Dom Michael (76 off 54) did Aaron Finch on the eve of the glutton was at the crease for looks in complete command ... the match against South Africa was tentative at times during a his best to push University of current ODI series, Virat 248 of the 250 runs that his he’s got so much time. that Australia won to end their 53-ball stay at the crease. Queensland to victory, but in Kohli is living up to the title. team scored. “If someone bowls well, he’s worst losing streak in the 50- The Victorian helped him- the end it wasn’t enough as Kohli delivered the 40th Kohli now averages an out- happy to wait on them and over format. self to two boundaries off me- Carlton collected three late ODI century of his career – rageous 59.73 in ODIs, the best cash in later. He doesn’t miss Australia’s loss ensures the dium-pacer Vijay Shankar’s wickets in the final three overs and seventh in the format effort by any player to have out on too many bad balls. Re- skipper, described as “mentally first over and slog-swept spin- to secure the victory. against Australia – to earn played more than 33 matches. ally good innings.” gone” by former selector Mark ner Kuldeep Yadav for six. Player of the Tournament – man-of-the-match honours , who dis- Kohli offered just one Waugh last week, will remain Yadav trapped Finch lbw in Michael Cranmer, East Tor- during India’s eight-run vic- missed Kohli in the 48th over chance, a run-out opportunity under the microscope but Pat his second over, ending an 83- rens; Wicketkeepers Award – tory in Nagpur. and has tried so hard to un- that missed Cummins was full of praise. run stand that was Australia’s Mitchell Fry, University of The captain’s knock of 116 settle the maestro in when the gifted batsman was “He’s such a class player. best opening partnership in Queensland; Spirit of Cricket was incredibly impressive recent months, conceded the on 86, before picking out Sto- His record is great in ODI ODIs since Finch and Travis Team Award – Carlton Cricket given the two-paced pitch pro- right-hander was the difference. inis in the deep while search- cricket, so runs were always Head put on 101 last year in Club. duced a low-scoring contest, “He just played really good ing for an 11th boundary. going to come,” Pat Cummins England.

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