Sheffield Shield: Rainbird stars again as Tasmania smash Queensland

Tasmania vs Queensland

Sam Rainbird tormented Queensland for the second day in a row as Tasmania fetched a massive win to push their bid to reach the Sheffield Shield final. Having already fetched eight wickets on the opening day, Rainbird was at it again in Queensland's second innings. He ripped through the batting lineup as they were bowled out for 82, faring a lot worse than they did in the first innings. Earlier in the day, skipper Beau Webster hit a whirlwind unbeaten 166 off just 172 balls as Tasmania posted 422 on the board. The lead of 318 was just too much to erase for a side that made just 104 in their first innings. Tasmania will now await the results of the other games to see if they can join Victoria in the final.

Brief scores:Queensland 104 (Joe Burns 28; Sam Rainbird 8/21) & 82 (Joe Burns 30; Sam Rainbird 5/21) lost to Tasmania 422 (Beau Webster 166*; Gurinder Sandhu 4/83) by an innings and 231 runs.

Western Australia vs Victoria

Western Australia put themselves in pole position to complete a win over Victoria at the WACA. Resuming at 119/2, WA lost Shaun Marsh early in the day but Hilton Cartwright hit a century to put his side on top again. He found ideal support from Matthew Kelly and Teague Wyllie but the Victoria pacers stormed back in style to pick up the final six wickets for the addition of just 45 runs. Unfortunately, they were not backed up by their batters as they fared poorly again after getting bowled out for just 114 in the first innings. From 54/1, Victoria lost their way to finish at 82/5 by stumps. Trailing by 141 runs with just five wickets in hand, the writing is pretty much on the wall for Victoria but they will take solace from the fact that they are already in the final.

Brief scores:Victoria 114 & 82/5 (Travis Dean 52; Joel Paris 2/24) trailing Western Australia 337 (Hilton Cartwright 109, Teague Wyllie 42; Will Sutherland 3/67) by 141 runs.

South Australia vs New South Wales

A measured century by opener Henry Hunt has kept South Australia on course to fetching the first innings lead over New South Wales. Hunt saw the opposition seam attack make regular incisions to reduce them to 52/4. Thomas Kelly hung in for a while before getting dismissed for 29 but just when NSW thought they could run through the lineup, Hunt and Harry Nielsen kept them at bay. Nielsen hit a patient unbeaten 52 off 123 balls whereas Hunt went on to reach three figures, finishing the day on 107*. South Australia still trail by 75 runs as NSW finished with 294 in their first innings. Jason Sangha, the overnight centurion, added to his tally and was the last man dismissed for 142 on the second morning.

Brief scores:South Australia 219/5 (Henry Hunt 107*, Harry Nielsen 52*; Trent Copeland 2/40) trail New South Wales 294 (Jason Sangha 142; Jordan Buckingham 4/79) by 75 runs.