Western Australia has maintained their unbeaten start to the Sheffield Shield season, surviving a tense final day to secure a hard-fought draw against Tasmania at the WACA Ground.
The match took a dramatic turn when Australian all-rounder Cameron Green fell victim to one of the most bizarre dismissals of the cricket season. The star batsman was clean bowled by a delivery from Tasmania's Lawrence Neil-Smith that kept suspiciously low, leaving players and spectators alike stunned.
Final Day Tension Builds at the WACA
With victory out of reach, Western Australia's focus shifted to survival as they battled through the final sessions. The home side finished at 6-217 in their second innings when hands were finally shaken, with Sam Whiteman's gritty 86 providing the backbone of their resistance.
"It was a proper scrap out there," said Whiteman after the match. "The pitch was doing plenty on day four and we knew we had to dig deep. Credit to the Tasmanian bowlers - they made us work for every run."
Green's Unfortunate Dismissal Stuns Crowd
The talking point of the match came when Cameron Green, looking set on 26, was completely undone by a delivery that shot along the ground. The ball sneaked under Green's bat and sent the stumps flying in a dismissal that highlighted the challenging conditions.
Tasmania's bowlers exploited the wearing pitch brilliantly, with Neil-Smith (3-46) and Beau Webster (2-31) causing constant problems for the WA batting lineup. However, stubborn partnerships throughout the middle order ultimately ensured the home side wouldn't be rolled.
What This Means for the Sheffield Shield Ladder
The draw sees Western Australia retain their position near the top of the Sheffield Shield table, continuing their impressive form from the opening rounds. For Tasmania, it represents another competitive performance away from home, though they'll rue not being able to force a victory after creating several opportunities.
Both teams now look ahead to their next fixtures, with the race for the Sheffield Shield final beginning to take shape early in the Australian domestic season.
