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Tigers out to secure finals berth

Tigers out to secure finals berth

02/03/2012 05:21:34 AM

The PKF Tasmanian Tigers and NSW SpeedBlitz Blues will be firmly back in State colours at Hobart's Blundstone Arena for their Ryobi One-Day Cup clash on Saturday afternoon.

Following a long break due to the inaugural KFC Big Bash League during December and January that saw players travel far and wide for the city-based competition, State cricket is back with a full round of one-day and Sheffield Shield fixtures on the horizon.

Sitting second on the Ryobi Cup ladder, the Tigers will be hoping to consolidate a position in the finals with victory this weekend, while the Blues desperately need the points to keep their season alive, languishing in fifth position and only ahead of the winless Warriors.

Both squads have been refreshed by the return of players and boast strong line-ups look likely to take the field for the 50-over contest.

Fresh from captaining the Australian T20 side this week, George Bailey will lead the Tigers and while he'll have Ed Cowan and James Faulkner available following recent international duties, off-spinner Xavier Doherty and swing maestro Ben Hilfenhaus won't be on deck for Tasmania, leaving plenty of responsibility on the shoulders of Faulkner, Luke Butterworth, Jason Krejza and Jackson Bird with the ball.

The Blues will be skippered by Stephen O'Keefe and will be keen to reverse the result from last time these teams met when Tasmania managed to defend 188-runs at Canberra's Manuka Oval in early-December.

Short-form specialist Ben Laughlin wrecked the Blues' batting card that day, snaring 6-53 from 13-overs, but NSW have added batting depth to the team that failed to get the job done in Canberra.

Simon Katich will return to the top of the order alongside Phil Hughes and Usman Khawaja with youngster Nic Maddinson likely to complete a classy top-four that will go a long way to determining the Blues' success or otherwise.

Trent Copeland and Scott Coyte are set to spearhead a steady bowling attack and will be looking for support from a raft of NSW all-rounders including Steve Smith, Moises Henriques and O'Keefe.

The Tigers will be welcoming Brady Jones back to the fold, the young wicketkeeper named to replace an injured Tom Triffitt, while Ashton May is a chance to make his debut for his adopted State - although his place in the team will likely depend on the balance the Tigers' hierarchy opt for on the morning of the game.

The match is scheduled for a 2.15pm start and given a spell of good weather in Hobart, Blundstone Arena should be cherry ripe for a big first innings score and run chase under lights on Saturday evening.

 

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