Hectic tie between Tasmania and NSW

DEVONPORT, Dec 5 AAP - In a tumultuous finish, Nathan Bracken was run out off the last ball of the day as New South Wales and Tasmania tied their ING Cup cricket here today.

Bracken's desperate lunge for the crease just failed and a match fascinating in its fluctuations ended in a rare but just result.

Bracken's dismissal left the Blues all out for 228 and level with Tasmania's 8-228 from its 50 overs.

The final over, bowled by the inexperienced Brett Geeves, was hectic.

Only six was needed, eight wickets were down and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who almost stole the match, was in full flight. Tasmania's brave effort to defend what had seemed an inadequate total looked like failing.

Haddin mishit the first ball for two, two singles followed and then Haddin scooped a catch to mid-on and was out for 70 off 48 balls.

A single came from the penultimate ball to level the scores and then, with the field up, Bracken made his unavailing attempt to win the game.

The climax was played out in unrelenting din as the northwest Tasmanian crowd, celebrating their one representative game of the season, roared and beat on the oval's metal surrounds.

It was the perfect end to a pulsating game in which the batsmen had unexpected trouble maintaining dominance, given the wicket was true and the ground small and fast.

Tasmania, led by opener Michael Dighton's 64 from 82 balls, got off to a flyer and the Tigers were soon into three figures with one wicket down.

But they then lost six wickets for 52 runs and were in danger of not seeing out their 50 overs.

Captain Jamie Cox (37) and allrounder Scott Kremerskothen (38 not out) first grafted and finally sprinted to ensure Tasmania's total was respectable.

The Blues started slowly in reply, mainly because of an immaculate opening 10 overs from Damien Wright, who conceded only 17 runs.

While he took no wickets, his stranglehold made it easier for others to succeed and after 25 overs the Blues were 3-84 and struggling.

Captain Simon Katich and Haddin picked up the scoring and victory looked on track until Shane Watson bowled Katich for 45.

That set the stage for the final mad overs, with Haddin -- whose 70 came off only 48 balls and included eight fours and a mighty six - almost getting the Blues home.

Tasmania owed a lot to its fielders, who stopped everything in reach and completed four run outs.

Watson, the Australian one-day allrounder who's been so under the microscope, had a respectable day.

Batting at number three, he made 25 from 34 balls and then took three prime wickets - Mark Waugh, Michael Bevan and Katich. But he also conceded 65 runs, making him Tasmania's most expensive bowler.