Tasmania Clinch Thrilling Three-Run Victory Over WA in Sheffield Shield Classic

In one of the tightest finishes in Sheffield Shield history, Tasmania edged out Western Australia by just three runs in a dramatic final session at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval.

Defending a target of 259, Tasmania held their nerve on the final morning to claim the last two Western Australia wickets, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. The visitors, needing just 44 runs to win with two wickets in hand at the start of play, came agonisingly close thanks to a gritty ninth-wicket partnership between Joel Curtis and Corey Rocchiccioli.

Curtis looked set to lead his side to an unlikely win, reaching a well-composed 50 while also shielding Rocchiccioli during crucial stages of the stand. The duo added 52 runs together, bringing WA within seven runs of victory before Tasmania’s pace duo, Riley Meredith and Jackson Bird, delivered the knockout blows.

Meredith struck first, trapping Curtis lbw with a low delivery from around the wicket — a turning point in the match. Moments later, Bird sealed the result, producing a superb in-swinging yorker to dismiss No.11 Liam Haskett, also lbw, with WA all out for 255.

The result is Tasmania’s first win of the season and marks the equal-second closest victory by runs in the 134-year history of the Sheffield Shield.

Match Summary:

Tasmania 171 & 259
(Weatherald 94, Silk 57; Kelly 6-49, Gannon 3-65)
Western Australia 172 & 255
(Hardie 61, Curtis 50; Bell 3-79, Meredith 3-41)
Result: Tasmania won by 3 runs

The match mirrored last season’s heartbreak for Tasmania, when they lost to South Australia by two runs at the same venue. This time, however, the bowlers delivered under pressure to seal a memorable win.

Rocchiccioli had earlier played his part with the bat, flicking Jackson Bird through midwicket for four and cutting Meredith to the boundary, showing remarkable composure for a No.10. But the tide turned sharply once Curtis fell, ending Western Australia’s hopes.

Tasmania now have one win and a draw from their opening two matches, while WA are left reeling with back-to-back losses to start their Shield campaign.