Michael Neser launches season with five but Beau Webster lifts Tasmania
Tasmania’s lower order hauled them to a respectable total after they suffered an afternoon collapse
Andrew McGlashan10-Oct-2020Michael Neser enjoyed a fine opening day to the season as he claimed 5 for 32 to help dismiss Tasmania for 250. However, that was more than what Tasmania looked likely to get at tea with Beau Webster anchoring a lower-order rally to complement Ben McDermott’s earlier half-century.Tasmania’s last three wickets added 101, the innings ending when Webster was brilliantly caught on the deep midwicket rope by Marnus Labuschagne. He sprinted to take the catch and then flicked it back to Mitchell Swepson as he slid near the rope. The umpires conferred, without the benefit of replays, before giving it out as Xavier Bartlett picked up his fourth wicket of the innings.Neser, who has been a regular member of Australia Test squads without yet making a debut, removed Queensland’s first three wickets during the morning session – including his first two scalps in the space of four balls as Jordan Silk was lbw and Charlie Wakim spooned a catch to point – before completing his haul in the final session.In the middle session, Bartlett did most of the damage with a three-wicket burst that included removing Australia Test captain Tim Paine to a catch at first slip as Tasmania slipped from 3 for 138 to 7 for 149. McDermott, who added 68 for the fourth wicket with Jake Doran to lead a recovery from 3 for 70, had been the best of Tasmania’s early batting as he compiled a steady 74 before driving Bartlett to cover.Michael Neser claimed the first two wickets of the season in the space of four balls•Getty ImagesThe final wicket of the afternoon came through a brilliant rebound catch at slip by Usman Khawaja when Nathan Ellis cut a quicker delivery from legspinner Swepson, who bowled a 23-over spell, with the edge initially parried before Khawaja flung himself to his left to take a brilliant grab.Tasmania fought back in the final session as Webster and Peter Siddle, who joined in the off-season from Victoria, added 57 for the eighth wicket in a stand that Siddle dominated before he was pinned lbw on the back foot by Neser who quickly accounted for Jackson Bird.However, the end did not come quickly for Queensland and the efforts of the first day in the field started to show on the quicks. Webster smartly farmed the strike – although Meredith more than did his part – then brought up his fifty by swinging Bartlett over deep midwicket. An attempted repeat next ball was the end of the innings.Queensland’s openers, Bryce Street and Joe Burns, managed to survive eight very challenging overs from Bird and Siddle to stumps.