Alex Pyecroft five-for scythes through Queensland
Within a space of ten overs, Tasmania seamer Alex Pycroft induced five outside edges to dismantle Queensland's middle order
ESPNcricinfo staff
07-Dec-2018
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Queensland 8 for 86 (Pyecroft 5-18) trail Tasmania 167 all out (Wade 63, Steketee 3-35, Neser 3-43) by 81 runs
A stunning five-wicket haul from Tasmania seamer Alex Pyecroft put Queensland under pressure on day one at Bellerive Oval in Hobart.
The Tigers were defending a modest first-innings score of 167 when Pyecroft ripped the heart out of the Bulls' middle order. He took 5 for 18 in nine overs as the Bulls slumped from 1 for 41 to 8 for 86 at stumps.
The early breakthroughs were made by Jackson Bird and Gabe Bell, who had Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns respectively caught at first slip.
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Renshaw's dismissal was quite unusual. He squeezed a yorker-length ball to slip and stood his ground but the umpires deemed the ball had bounced before taking the edge through to Jordan Silk.
Pyecroft then just nibbled away at the perfect length and took five outside edges in a nine-over bowling spell. Matthew Wade took four of those catches behind the stumps. Marnus Labuschagne fought hard for 46 balls, but fell to a top-edged pull at square leg off Riley Meredith's bowling.
Earlier, the Bulls made the most of the bowler-friendly conditions bowling Tasmania out for 167 in 55.4 overs after sending them in. Luke Feldman picked up a wicket in the second over before Michael Neser zipped through Ben McDermott, Jake Doran and George Bailey.
Yet again it was left to Wade to manufacture a score without much support. The new captain moved to his fifth half-century of the season to go with his century against Victoria. The Tigers were 7 for 88 at one stage but the last three wickets were able to scratch out 79 runs thanks to Wade, Bell and Meredith.