Tigers win on the road again

Tasmania has maintained its impressive away form, defeating Western Australia by 43 runs in game five of the Ford Ranger Cup at the WACA Ground tonight.

Since losing the first Ford Ranger Cup match to Queensland, the Tigers have claimed two Pura Cup outright victories in addition to tonight’s win – all three away from home.

Western Australia was set 265 to win and they made another shaky start losing two key wickets in just their second over. Justin Langer (71 off 63 balls) and Luke Ronchi (66 off 62 balls) were the backbone of the run chase but other than Marcus North’s contribution of 33 (off 53 balls) they lacked the overall support that was truly needed.

Xavier Doherty finished with three wickets, while Luke Butterworth, Ben Hilfenhaus and Brett Geeves all claimed two each.

Tim Paine capped off a golden week in the west with his second man of the match award. Paine smashed 215 and 56 in the recent Pura Cup. However, he is nursing a bruised nose after a fielding mishap this evening whilst behind the stumps.

He was dismissed for 84 off 100 balls, in the 36th over, when Brett Dorey threw down the stumps while attempting a cheeky single with Tigers captain Daniel Marsh.

Earlier, Tasmania won the toss and elected to bat first in perfect conditions for cricket. Michael Di Venuto was the first man out in the second over with a regulation nick through to the keeper Luke Ronchi. Steve Magoffin claimed his second wicket, of Michael Bevan, in the same manner four overs later.

That brought Travis Birt to the crease, and with Paine, the pair posted a 108-run third wicket stand in 22 overs. With a half-century there for the taking, Birt (48 off 70 balls) played and missed a Adam Voges delivery and was subsequently bowled.

Paine fell next and was quickly followed by George Bailey (43 off 43 balls). Doherty (21) and Marsh (31) added valuable runs before both were run out. Geeves made a solid start with a six off his first ball, however, he attempted a second and was bowled.

Steve Magoffin and Ben Edmondson finished two wickets each, while Voges claimed one. Tasmania after their 50 overs was 8-264.

Scott Meuleman in his return match to the Warriors line-up was short-lived with a first ball duck. Shaun Marsh followed next ball, while Marcus North narrowly avoided the hat-trick attempt from Hilfenhaus.

North and opener Ronchi put on 96 runs for the third wicket, however regular fall of wickets followed after Ronchi’s demise in the 18th over.

Next matches for both teams in the Ford Ranger Cup are against Queensland. For Tasmania they host the Bulls at the Bellerive Oval next Saturday, while the Warriors host the Bulls in Perth on Friday November 17.

Tasmania innings:
M Di VENUTO c Ronchi b Magoffin 1 (6)
T PAINE run out (Dorey) 84 (100)
M BEVAN c Ronchi b Magoffin 4 (11)
T BIRT b Voges 48 (70)
G BAILEY c Dorey b Edmondson 43 (43)
D MARSH run out (Ronchi) 31 (37)
X DOHERTY run out (Voges) 21 (17)
L BUTTERWORTH not out 21 (14)
B GEEVES b Edmondson 6 (2)
B HILFENHAUS not out (1)

Extras (2lb, 1nb, 2wd) 5
Total: 8 wkts for 264

DNB: A GRIFFITH.

Fall: 1-4, 2-18, 3-126, 4-171, 5-187, 6-225, 7-258, 8-264.

Bowling: B Dorey 7-2-30-0 (2wd), S Magoffin 10-0-42-2, B Edmondson 7-0-56-2 (1nb), P Worthington 7-1-38-0, S Ervine 4-0-27-0, A Voges 6-0-31-1, M North 9-0-38-0

Batting time: 200 minutes. Overs: 50

Western Australia innings:
L RONCHI c Doherty b Geeves 66 (62)
S MEULEMAN c Marsh b Hilfenhaus 0 (1)
S MARSH lbw b Hilfenhaus 0 (1)
M NORTH c Paine b Butterworth 33 (53)
A VOGES c Paine b Butterworth 11 (19)
J LANGER c Doherty b Geeves 71 (63)
S ERVINE lbw b Doherty 11 (37)
P WORTHINGTON c Birt b Doherty 0 (4)
B DOREY b Doherty 12 (24)
S MAGOFFIN not out 5 (10)
B EDMONDSON run out (Birt) 4 (4)

Extras (5lb, 3wd) 8
Total: All out for 221

Fall: 1-4, 2-4, 3-100, 4-113, 5-132, 6-168, 7-168, 8-200, 9-216, 10-221.

Bowling: A Griffith 7-2-30-0 (1wd), B Hilfenhaus 10-1-57-2 (2wd), B Geeves 8-1-39-2, L Butterworth 10-2-35-2, X Doherty 9.2-1-47-3, D Marsh 2-0-8-0.

Batting time: 195 minutes. Overs: 46.2.

Result: Tasmania won by 43 runs
MOTM: T Paine (Tas)
Toss: Tasmania
Umpires: A Craig (WA) and D Orchard (Qld)
12th men: A Heal (WA) and B Drew (Tas)

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