Monday 8 February 2010

A pair of pocket dynamos stood tall today and the XXXX GOLD Queensland Bulls were grateful they did on a challenging opening day of the Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield match against the PKF Tasmanian Tigers in Hobart.

Left-handers Wade Townsend and Chris Hartley led a timely fightback after the Bulls had lurched to 4-45 at lunch after winning the toss and batting on a well-grassed Bellerive Oval track.

But the dynamic duo absorbed the Tigers attack and then took advantage of some untidy fielding to put on a fifth wicket stand of 172 that has the potential to not be match changing, but also season changing.

The second placed Bulls came into the game knowing that Tasmania had to take outright points from the encounter to keep their season alive, and their stumps score of 7-244 ensures Queensland can still dictate the terms of the game if they bat and bowl well tomorrow.

Townsend, in his seventh first class match, hit his highest score of 121 and finished with his second first class ton this season, while Hartley maintained his spot as the Bulls leading runs-scorer this season with another gritty knock of 68.

Townsend again demonstrated his mental toughness, prepared to leave wide balls and be patient as the Tigers fell into the trap of bowling too wide or too short.

But the nimble Townsend was also quick to seize on loose balls, belting 16 fours and two sixes in his 258 ball innings.

On a pitch that was slower than anticipated and favoured the new ball, Hartley and Townsend were both given lives by the Tigers, which dropped four chances in the innings.

It took the second new ball to prise the pair out, and they were followed by Nathan Reardon (23) who fell in the shadow of stumps just as he was beginning to flourish.

Experienced paceman Adam Griffith (3-60) picked up three wickets in his return to the Tigers side after a lengthy battle with injury while former NSW quick Adam Maher claimed 2-47.

Bulls skipper Chris Simpson and the in-form Ben Cutting will resume tomorrow, hoping to lift their score past 300.