Hilfenhaus leads Tasmania to last-over victory
A five-wicket haul to emerging fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus drove Tasmania to a thrilling last-over victory on a pulsating final day at the WACA
Cricinfo staff
25-Oct-2006
Tasmania 7 for 553 dec and 7 for 200 dec (Paine 56, Heal 5-57) beat Western Australia 5 for 353 dec and 394 (Voges 152*, North 107, Hilfenhaus 5-79) by 6 runs
Scorecard
Scorecard
A five-wicket haul to emerging fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus drove Tasmania to a thrilling last-over victory on a pulsating final day at the WACA. With four balls remaining, Western Australia wanted eight runs to reach their target of 401 and the Tigers needed a wicket to justify their pair of declarations on a lifeless surface.
Michael Di Venuto starred in the conclusion as he ran out the No. 11 Ben Edmondson with a direct hit running in from deep mid-on to prevent a second. The win was Tasmania's second away from home in a row and they sit on a lofty 12 points after two games.
Western Australia had 81 overs to reach their goal after the Tigers declared in the first session and they were on track with centuries to Marcus North and Adam Voges. Voges was unbeaten on 152 in a fantastic display - he faced only 203 balls with 13 fours and a six - and took the Warriors desperately close to their aim.
With North he continued the chase from the trouble of 3 for 33 in a stand of 174 that was broken by Michael Bevan's part-time offerings. North fell for 107 but Voges continued to find willing partners in Chris Rogers (46), Luke Ronchi (22) and Aaron Heal (14) and they needed only a run a ball from the final six overs. They were down to the last pair when they wanted ten from six balls following the loss of three wickets in four overs.
Hilfenhaus, the Australia A bowler, was responsible for the early dismissals of Sean Ervine and Shaun Marsh and he returned later in the day to disrupt Western Australia at crucial times. His 5 for 79 was a stunning effort on a pitch that mainly offered help to the spinners throughout the game.
Heal, the left-arm slow man, benefited from the surface with a ten-wicket haul in only his fourth first-class game. While Tasmania extended their lead in the morning, Heal added two victims to collect 5 for 57 on top of his 5 for 103 in the first innings, becoming only the third Western Australia spinner to achieve ten wickets at the WACA.