Tasmania race to double bonus-point win as South Australia misery continues
The Redbacks were bundled out for 104 with the entire match lasting less than 50 overs
ESPNcricinfo staff
12-Mar-2021
Riley Meredith made inroads on his return to the Tasmania side • Getty Images
Tasmania 1 for 108 (Paine 54) beat South Australia 104 (Andrews 3-29) by nine wickets
South Australia's season hit a new low as they were crushed by nine wickets with more than 32 overs to spare by Tasmania in the Marsh Cup.
Playing on a neutral ground at Junction Oval, South Australia collapsed in a heap for 104 and it was within touching distance of being chased without loss before Tim Paine fell with one run needed.
The margin was enough for a rare double bonus-point victory for Tasmania - achieved when chasing a target inside 25 overs - which took them top of the table having played three games. The entire match lasted three balls less than 50 overs.
The day began badly for the Redbacks when Jake Weatherald, who had spent the first two-and-half overs at the non-strikers' end, was run out without facing a ball as Mac Wright hit direct from cover.
Having progressed to the relative stability of 1 for 32 in the sixth over the wheels then came off. Harry Nielsen and Alex Carey both edged drives to the keeper off Jackson Bird either side of Travis Head getting a leading edge against Riley Meredith.
Meredith, who had been forced to sit out the previous match against Victoria due to complications over border restrictions, later claimed a return catch to remove Callum Ferguson which began South Australia's final slide of 5 for 15 to be all out with 18 overs remaining.
The spinners, Tom Andrews and Jarrod Freeman, combined to take 5 for 46 from 15 overs against the lower order.
South Australia are bottom of the Marsh Cup without a point and are also last in the Sheffield Shield.