WA bowlers made to toil on day two

Half centuries for Matthew Wade and Ben McDermott has given Tasmania the edge after two days of their Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia at Gladys Elphick Park in Adelaide.

At the close of play on day two Tasmania is 5-273, still trailing WA by 29 runs on the first innings on a wicket that is beginning to flatten out for the batsmen.

Resuming at 0-6 responding to WA's 302 openers Jordan Silk and Charlie Wakim added 60 for the first wicket, defying the bowlers for more than an hour to give the Tigers reply a solid start.

It was Cameron Green's return to the bowling crease that brought about the desired result for Shaun Marsh's side, the tall right arm quick getting a ball to rear up on Silk and take the shoulder of his bat on the way to a gleeful Cameron Gannon at gully.

Wakim made 43 and was looking in fine touch as the lunch interval approached, but the opener edged Aaron Hardie behind to give WA a second breakthrough in the station.

Skipper Wade then partnered McDermott for a telling 135 run stand for the third wicket, denying the WA bowlers for more than a session to put Tasmania in a strong position.

Wade, playing his first game of the season after completing quarantine upon return to Australia looked in fine touch from the early stages of his innings, looking set for a century before being stumped for 83 off the bowling of spinner Ashton Agar.

Hardie and speedster Lance Morris struck before the close to remove Jake Doran (12) and Tim Paine (12) but McDermott held firm, batting through to the close undefeated on 83 having hit seven fours and two sixes, Beau Webster with him on two.

Trailing by just 29 runs with five wickets in hand the Tigers are well placed to build a first innings lead on day three, WA chasing early wickets with Aaron Hardie their only multiple wicket taker.

Green took 1-15 from 8 overs on his bowling return, bowling with good pace and accuracy in encouraging signs ahead of a potential Test debut this summer.

Agar and Morris each have a wicket to their name, opening bowlers Matt Kelly and Cameron Gannon both wicketless.

In other matches as part of round three of the Sheffield Shield Victorian openers Marcus Harris (207*) and Will Pucovski (199*) set a new record opening stand for their state in adding an unbroken 418 for the first wicket against South Australia at Glenelg Oval, the Redbacks bowlers unable to claim a wicket on a long day in the field.

Four wickets for Queensland leg spinner Mitch Swepson and half centuries for New South Wales batsmen Sean Abbott (66) and Peter Nevill (54*) were the highlights of day two of the sides match at Karen Rolton Oval, the Blues 7-269 still trailing the Bulls by 29 runs.

Play will resume tomorrow at 8:00 AM AWST, Sport FM's coverage to start at 9AM.

IMAGE: The Advocate.