Tigers sag before tail wags

David Saker and Shane Jurgensen are known predominantly as fast bowlers. But a spectacular stand between them with the bat helped a new-look Tasmania nearly wipe out one of its oldest records and frustrate Queensland on a fluctuating opening day of the teams' Pura Cup clash here in Hobart today.

The Tigers, in bottom place on the Cup table and inserted on a difficult pitch by the competition powerhouse, struggled initially to bridge the gulf between the teams. But, in adding 114 for the last wicket to take the Tasmanians to a respectable 281, Saker (66*) and Jurgensen (56) tilted the scales unexpectedly in the late afternoon.

In reply, Queensland was 0/5 by stumps.

The Tigers lost three wickets in the first session; another two in the second; and then a further four were surrendered shortly after tea. Dismal recent form had led to the axing during the week of three of the most experienced players in the state's history, and it seemed like a small crowd was now watching even more of the team's dwindling levels of confidence ebb away.

Scott Kremerskothen (42) and Scott Mason (22) played with great determination but the idea of quick run scoring became lost in a general fight for survival. All of the top six batsmen illustrated the difficulty of countering seam and swing movement by falling to catches behind the wicket. And, by the time that Shannon Tubb (5) mistimed a drive at Nathan Hauritz (3/41) to send a high catch to point, the locals' score had duly plunged to a sorry 9/167.

It was with its back firmly pressed up against the wall that Tasmania perversely discovered a new-found sense of purpose. It was best displayed by Saker, whose effort in equalling his highest first-class score in a career that has now spanned seven years was a tribute to a mix of belligerent hitting, careful defence and the occasional slice of good fortune.

In truth, the ex-Victorian should have been run out with his score at just 17 and with the Tasmanian total at 174. He and Jurgensen all but met in mid-pitch before Saker dashed back in what looked a vain attempt to beat bowler Ashley's Noffke's throw to James Hopes over the stumps at the non-striker's end. Somehow, Hopes lost the ball and his bearings near the wickets and the chance was missed.

It took nearly another hour-and-a-half before Saker and Jurgensen's association was severed.

Though their batting at times relied on improvisation, there were plenty of authentic strokes too. Saker's off and cover driving was a delight, while Jurgensen - who was struck a nasty blow on the side of his helmet late in his stay and who often fanned and missed outside the line of off - impudently lifted the ball over the field on a serial basis.

By the time that the latter stepped back and sliced a catch to Martin Love at slip off young paceman Damien Mackenzie (3/45), they had moved to within 9 runs of wiping out Tasmania's all-time best for the last wicket in first-class cricket. That was established a mere 103 years ago - by household names William Ward and Norman Dodds.

With their opponents languishing at the bottom of the table, there seemed an appropriate sense of empathy in the fact that the Queenslanders should have gone into the match without three of the country's best fast bowlers. Albeit that it was only for reasons of unavailability and injury that Andy Bichel, Michael Kasprowicz and Adam Dale were absent.

They were also generous in their usage of the new ball, giving openers Mason and Jamie Cox (12) the chance to continually leave deliveries alone. As many as 23 no-balls and 7 wides flowed - ultimately guaranteeing a slow over rate that caused stumps to be drawn 48 minutes late.

Not so benevolent was their decision to turn up armed with the latest product off their veritable assembly line of impressive pace bowlers, unleashing upon the Tigers the tall, bristling form of 21-year-old debutant MacKenzie. Though wayward at times, his pace was quick and his demeanour was snarlingly aggressive.

Young off spinner Hauritz also bowled well and his accuracy was such that it allowed him to tease a trio of batsmen into error in the middle stages of the afternoon.

Yet the Queenslanders remained under pressure for much of the last session all the same. Saker and Jurgensen's heroics left them visibly frustrated; Jerry Cassell sustained an injury to his right arm while fielding at short leg; and there might well have been another body blow awaiting them if Jimmy Maher (5*) hadn't survived a beseeching caught behind appeal off Saker (0/3) in the penultimate over of the day.