Tigers collapse under pressure from Bracken and Hughes
Nathan Bracken led New South Wales' demolition of Tasmania as they folded to 7 for 87 in reply to 172 on a dramatic opening day
Cricinfo staff
02-Dec-2008
Tasmania 7 for 87 (Bracken 5-14) trail New South Wales 172 (Hughes 93, Denton 5-18) by 85 runs
Scorecard
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Nathan Bracken led New South Wales' demolition of Tasmania as they folded to 7 for 87 in reply to 172 on a dramatic opening day at Bellerive Oval. Phillip Hughes' 93 stood out on an occasion for the bowlers, with Gerard Denton and Bracken causing some spectacular damage.
Denton captured 5 for 18 from 9.2 overs after Dan Marsh won the toss for Tasmania, but the home side's work was quickly undone by Bracken's 5 for 14 from 11. There was still life in the green surface when the Blues bowled and the Tigers were in more trouble than their opponents had been earlier in the day when they slipped to 7 for 41 in the 16th over.
Dane Anderson was bowled by Bracken off an inside edge for 25, George Bailey (5) was lbw and Tim Paine (2) popped a catch to short leg. The chaos continued when Luke Butterworth was caught behind for 0 and Brett Geeves hit his first ball to mid-on, giving Bracken his fifth wicket.
Doug Bollinger struck with the second ball of the innings and Tasmania's situation was not helped when the debutant Jonathan Wells was run-out after finding himself at the same end as Anderson. At stumps Marsh was 21 and Denton was 23 after settling the side during a 46-run stand.
Hughes performed a one-man act to rescue the Blues after they lost Usman Khawaja and Peter Forrest by the 10th over of the day. While watching his team-mates exit at regular intervals, Hughes remained calm and steady, moving to his half-century shortly before lunch.
However, his resistance ended in sight of a century when he was lbw to Geeves for 93. The dismissal was a major setback as it came a ball after Moises Henriques edged Marsh to slip on 38, ending an important 71-run revival.
Denton had picked up Ed Cowan for 11 and the captain Dominic Thornely third ball to drop the visitors to 4 for 51. He came back after tea to finish off the innings and his collection was supported by Geeves, who took 2 for 38.
