Ricky Ponting’s brilliant Sheffield Shield form shows no sign of a let-up, with the former Australian skipper moving to 193 not out at lunch on day two of Tasmania’s clash with NSW at Bellerive.
Resuming on 138 on Thursday morning, Ponting’s chanceless knock, with 27 fours and a six, continued as he and Jason Krejza (102no) put Tasmania on top at 4-402 batting first.
The 38-year-old and No.8 Krejza produced a Tasmanian record 270 for the seventh wicket, bettering the 215 set by Michael Bevan and Damien Wright in 2004.
Krejza notched his first Shield and second first-class ton with 11 fours and a six to help Ponting grind the Blues attack down after the Tigers had resumed at 6-310.
Ponting, who passed 150 with consecutive boundaries off Trent Copeland, has now amassed 548 runs in his five Shield matches this season at 182.66.
Krejza made 101no for Australia A against Pakistan A in Townsville in 2009.
Tasmania had been in trouble at 6-132 when Ponting and Krejza came together after lunch on day one, but they now look firmly in control.
A win is vital for both sides on a congested Shield table, with fourth-placed Tasmania (16 points) just a point ahead of the Blues.