Harris player of the match as Vics and Tasmania draw

October 11

Marcus Harris has pushed his case for a Test recall by winning player of the match in Victoria’s first Sheffield Shield match of the summer, a draw with Tasmania at Junction Oval.

Captains Jordan Silk and Peter Handscomb called the match half an hour before tea on the final day after it had become clear neither side had a realistic chance of victory.

The Victorians had earlier chased down Tasmania’s 99-run first innings lead with nine wickets in hand but fewer than two sessions to play in the game.

Wickets had been hard to come by all game on the traditionally batter-friendly Junction Oval deck, with the Vics (9d-428 and 2-120) 21 runs ahead of the visitors (9d-527) when the sides pulled up stumps.

it was Harris (52 from 70 deliveries) who shone brightest on Friday as Australia deliberates changes to the batting order amid Cameron Green’s back injury.

Harris would be an option at the top for the five-Test India series if selectors chose to move Steve Smith to No.4 as a replacement for Green, who is set to miss at least part of the summer.

The 32-year-old raised his half century by sweeping Matthew Kuhnemann to fine leg, continuing a promising start to the summer after scoring 143 in the first innings.

But the Tasmanians removed him two overs later when Harris edged Kieran Elliott to wicketkeeper Jake Doran.

On day three, Beau Webster announced himself as a possible like-for-like replacement for Green as a lanky allrounder but later had limited chances to showcase his capabilities with the ball.

After blasting 113 with the bat, Webster finished the second innings on figures of 0-3 from his four overs of off-spin and bowled the last over before the match was called.

Tasmanian captain Silk would have been left to consider what might have been had he made a sporting declaration on day three.

But Silk kept the Tasmanians at the crease as Bradley Hope charged his way to a second first-class century late on Thursday, making it difficult to envisage a result with a day to play.

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