Pride is all South Australia has left to play for as an Evan Gulbis double century put Tasmania in an impregnable position in the Sheffield Shield match in Hobart on Thursday.
Already the highest-scoring No.8 in Shield history when he resumed on 156, Gulbis made his maiden ton one to remember by cruising past the 200 mark and helping his side to their highest ever Shield total of 651.
It meant the hosts banked a first-innings lead of 439 over the hapless Redbacks.
The Tigers are 4-102 early in the final session of day three, still some 337 runs adrift and with their season all but over.
Having needed outright points from their trip south to guarantee a first Shield final berth in 18 years, South Australia have been outplayed from the opening morning.
As well as representing a watershed moment in his 12-match Shield career, Gublis’ 229 was also the highest score ever by a No.8 in Australian first-class cricket.
The 27-year-old stroked 28 boundaries and three sixes in his 293-ball innings and didn’t offer the Redbacks a chance until he edged Callum Ferguson (2-32) low to Tom Cooper at slip.
With Sam Raphael (30) and Michael Klinger (10) both dismissed prior to the tea break, South Australia’s chances of staying in the match were reliant on stand-in skipper Phil Hughes and Tom Cooper digging in.
But Hughes (39) and Cooper (four) both departed in the space of four deliveries shortly after the resumption, further dampening Redbacks spirits.
Cooper went first, disastrously run-out when a misfield at backward point saw Hughes scurry from the non-striker’s end, only for both batsmen to meet mid-pitch as Ben Hilfenhaus (1-20) nonchalantly whipped off the bails.
Hughes followed later the same over when Hilfenhaus, operating around the wicket, found a way through his defences and knocked back off stump.
Earlier, Gulbis and Xavier Doherty (43) capitalised on Wednesday’s brilliant batting display by continuing to grind the visitors into the Bellerive outfield.
Doherty was out bowled by Cooper (1-82) after adding 84 in partnership with Gulbis before Jackson Bird (25 not out) combined with the man of the moment to add 60 for the final wicket and push Tasmania into record territory with their first ever score of 600-plus in Shield cricket.
