Tigers pull off outright victory against the Warriors

Tasmania has taken outright points with a stirring two-wicket victory late on the fourth and final day of the Pura Cup match against Western Australia at the WACA Ground in Perth.

Led by middle-order batsman George Bailey, the Tigers reached the 348-run target with 11 overs and 35 minutes to spare. Bailey for his game-wining knock of 117 took man of the match honours.

Going into the final day all involved with the Western Australians were confident of claiming their first outright of the season. However the Tigers had other ideas and attacked from the first ball of play.

Resuming from their overnight score 0-53, Michael Di Venuto notched up back-to-back 50's in the match before he cut the ball to Brett Dorey fielding in the gully region. David Dawson, who played the support role in both innings to Di Venuto, fell three overs later, while Michael Bevan was the third to fall before the lunch break.

Travis Birt and Bailey shared a 73-run partnership for the fourth wicket, taking the Tigers to lunch (3-168) and beyond. Birt the first to fall after lunch bowled by Dorey's inswinging delivery, while Beau Casson was finally rewarded with the cheap scalps of Sean Clingeleffer (6) and Scott Kremerskothen (7).

Bailey and Shannon Tubb saw Tasmania through to the tea break (6-274) with an unbeaten 50-run partnership. The match could have gone either way with one session to play - the Tigers needed 74 runs, while the Warriors just four wickets.

David Bandy, though, ensured the door was still open for the home side when he ended the partnership on 81 and claimed Tubb lbw for 45. Bailey marched on to a century that saw Tasmania just six runs short when he attempted to smash the winning runs only to be stumped by keeper Ryan Campbell.

Darren McNees and Adam Griffith were left to guide the Tigers to the outright victory target of 348, and the task was completed 15 balls after Bailey's exit.

Casson finished the best of the bowlers with four scalps, Di Venuto and Bailey amongst them, while Dorey took two wickets. Bandy and Edmondson managed one each.

Tasmania's first outright win of the season comes after a heartbreaking loss to Victoria two weeks ago, while Western Australia have notched an unwanted record with four straight defeats their worst ever start to a first-class season.

The Tigers retain fifth place on the table, only two points behind fourth placed Queensland Bulls. The Warriors are stranded at the foot with only the first innings points from this match to show for after four matches.

Tasmania host South Australia in their next set of matches with the ING Cup clash on December 10 to be followed by the Pura Cup match starting Monday December 12 - both at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart.

Western Australia hit the road to Brisbane where the Bulls await. Pura Cup action begins on December 17, with an ING Cup match to complete the trip on Thursday December 22.

Full scorecard available here.

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