Tassie momentum awaiting Bulls, says coach

9 Feb 2012, 5:55 pm   -   Source: AAP
Share This

Tasmania remain in the hunt for the Sheffield Shield final after securing an outright win over NSW at Bellerive.

Defending champions Tasmania believe they are building a momentum that will be difficult to stop when they host Sheffield Shield ladder leaders Queensland next week.

The Tigers cruised to a six wicket victory over NSW before tea on day four at Bellerive, backing up a one-day win on Saturday as they emerge in the best possible shape from the interruption of the Big Bash League.

Set a modest target of 147 to win on Thursday, Tasmania's batsmen had few jitters knocking off the runs, Ed Cowan top-scoring with 39 and Mark Cosgrove hitting the winning runs with a boundary in his innings of 25 off 22 balls.

"I think we're in a really good place," Tigers coach Tim Coyle said.

"When the Tasmanian cricket team gets momentum it's really hard to stop.

"We've had the perfect start to the back half of the season.

"I don't think it matters who we play next week, I reckon we've just got a good game developing and we're only going to get better from now."

Third-placed Tasmania (22 points) host the Bulls (30), whose lead has been cut by second-placed Western Australia (26), from Friday next week.

Coyle described captain George Bailey's first innings 117 off 140 balls as game-changing and was pleased with the form of pacemen James Faulkner (4-52) and Jackson Bird (4-51) as they reduced the Blues to 9-150.

"When we're at our best, we're as good a team with the ball going around in the competition," Coyle said.

Phil Hughes top-scored in NSW's second innings with 39, while the injured Simon Katich was unable to bat after being struck in the face on Monday.

Fifth-placed NSW, who fly to Perth on Wednesday to prepare for their next match against WA, watched their final hopes all but disappear.

They are still not sure whether Katich, who suffered concussion, will join them.

"He's still pretty groggy," coach Anthony Stuart said.

"Morning seems to be his worst time. After a night's sleep he's a bit drowsy waking up."

Stuart said former Test star Hughes was disappointed not to have built on his start.

"He's had a rough time of it lately," the coach said.

"There's a lot of speculation in the media after his couple of Tests.

"He's just got to keep it simple and spend as much time out there and the runs will come again."

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube