NSW opener David Dawson has continued to torment his former state Tasmania with a maiden one-day century in his side’s 4-246 batting first in the match at Bellerive.
Dawson, who starred in last week’s Sheffield Shield match against the state he spent six seasons playing in, cracked an unbeaten 124 from 139 balls to anchor a competitive total from the last-placed Blues after they’d won the toss.
The 30-year-old had previously only passed 50 once in 11 domestic one-dayers for a best score of 55.
He had two lives with tough chances to Tigers keeper Tim Paine, on 37, and paceman Matt Johnston (2-39) who spilled a caught and bowled opportunity with Dawson on 92.
But the Blues opener brought up his ton off 127 balls in the 47th over when he stroked Johnston to deep cover for a single.
Dawson made 75 in the first innings of the Shield match but his unbeaten 19 in the second was just as important as he saw off the tense final over of the match with Tasmania needing two wickets for an unlikely victory.
On Monday, he put on 93 with Tim Cruickshank (61 from 85) after NSW had lost Scott Henry (5 from 19) when the score was 27 to a brilliant run-out by Alex Doolan.
Cruickshank hit four boundaries and a six before he was out to a superb first ball of a new spell from Andrew Fekete (1-35) that rattled his off-stump at 2-120.
Nic Maddinson (19 from 19) was bowled by Johnston at 3-153 and skipper Peter Nevill (18 from 18) was caught at point by Jordan Silk off Johnston’s bowling at 4-191.
Tasmania need to win the match with a bonus point to remain a mathematical possibility of reaching the competition’s February 27 final.