Cowan hundred helps Tasmania secure draw

Tasmania 262 and 5 for 207 (Cowan 108*, Wright 4-42) drew with Victoria 297 and 340 (Quiney 153, Butterworth 4-57)
Scorecard

Ed Cowan's third Sheffield Shield century this season helped Tasmania secure a draw against Victoria after the Tigers were set 376 for victory. Four wickets to Damien Wright meant Tasmania forgot about the chase and aimed for to avoid defeat, and Cowan's unbeaten 108 ensured that the Bushrangers had to settle for first-innings points.

Cowan is the highest run scorer in the competition with 737 runs at 73.70, nearly 100 clear of the second-placed Michael Klinger of South Australia. His 221-ball effort was the key for Tasmania as no other batsman passed 21 in their second innings of 5 for 207, before the captains agreed to call the match off early.

Wright used the Bellerive Oval swing to run through the rest of the top order and finished with 4 for 42 and the Man-of-the-Match award, but he couldn't deliver a win. The Victorians batted on in the morning and lifted their score to 340, thanks to a career-best 153 from Rob Quiney.

Victoria remain on top of the Sheffield Shield table with three wins from six matches. However, Queensland closed to within two points of the Bushrangers thanks to their fourth-day triumph over New South Wales at the SCG.