Test opener Ed Cowan’s lean Sheffield Shield season has continued after he was bowled for just six in the first innings of Tasmania’s clash with South Australia at Bellerive.
In his final hitout before the crucial series against world No.1 side South Africa beginning next week, Cowan played on to Redbacks paceman Daniel Worall late on a rain-delayed day one.
The left-hander is yet to pass 50 in six Shield innings this season, with a top score of 42, but did make 74 in the Tigers’ one-day loss to Victoria last weekend.
The pressure is mounting from in-form ex-Australian opener Phil Hughes, who has been plundering runs in both tournaments, even before Cowan plays his first Test of the season.
Ricky Ponting’s Test preparation also didn’t last long when he was caught behind for just five, although he stood his ground at a decision he clearly didn’t like.
At stumps, the Tigers were 3-63 after scuttling struggling South Australia for just 112 with left-arm quick James Faulkner bagging a superb 5-23.
Skipper George Bailey (24no) and Aiden Blizzard (17no) were at the crease at the close, while opener Mark Cosgrove made a duck.
Earlier, Test paceman Ben Hilfenhaus bowled 13 overs and took 2-25 in his first red-ball game in six months.
The Tasmanian quick snared Redbacks opener Sam Raphael (22) and key man Callum Ferguson (five) as South Australia collapsed from a decent 1-51 after they were sent in in tough conditions.
Faulkner bagged his third Shield five-wicket haul, while Hilfenhaus, Luke Butterworth (2-14) and an out-of-sorts Jackson Bird (1-46) leant support.
A collapse looked on the cards when the left-armer grabbed two scalps in the 26th over, leaving the visitors 4-51.
He later grabbed the key wicket of Dan Christian, trapping him lbw for eight, for SA to find themselves 6-68.
In a telling sign for the struggling Redbacks, it was left to the debuting Raphael to equal top score with skipper Johan Botha.
Conditions didn’t help the visitors, who were sent in by Tigers skipper George Bailey, with the morning session lost to persistent drizzle and the temperature in Hobart hovering below 10C.
