Tasmania lost to Victoria by 144 runs in the Sheffield Shield, and test all-rounder Beau Webster struggled with the bat once more.
On day four at Melbourne’s Junction Oval on Friday, Tasmania, needing to win by 335 runs, were bowled out for 210, with Webster making just six.
With three victories in a row, Victoria is still undefeated, and pacer Fergus O’Neill improved his chances of being called up for the national team with a 4 for 54 haul.
Prior to national selectors announcing their team for the opening Test match against England, Webster was under pressure to start for Australia. After collecting 1 for 26 from 12 overs in Victoria’s first innings and 0 for 28 from 11 overs in their second, he made a pitiful comeback with the bat.
Both teams observed a minute’s silence prior to Friday’s match in memory of Ben Austin, a teenage cricket player from Victoria who was hit in the head while batting in the nets and died.
Late on Thursday, Tasmania resumed after losing Jake Weatherald, another Ashes prospect, for 12. Additionally, O’Neill bowled his opening partner Caleb Jewell for 21 on Friday, making him the first batsman out.
Brad Hope and Tim Ward put up 48 for the third wicket, but the score of 107 ended their stand. As a non-striker, Ward advanced for a single while Hope stayed motionless after repelling a short ball, resulting in a terrible mix-up that saw Ward, who made a superb 52, run out. Ward was still on his haunches when he was run out after slipping while attempting to turn nearly three-quarters of the way down the field.
Only four runs later, veteran Jordan Silk was bowled for a duck after shouldering arms to an in-dipper from Will Sutherland, giving Victoria another run.
Only 14 runs later, Webster was caught at deep backward point after cutting at a wide ball under Mitchell Perry’s bowling.
After some opposition from Jake Doran and Nikhil Chaudhary, Victoria won in the last hour.
India
