Mark Steketee skittles Tasmania with career-best performance
The Queensland quick claimed his maiden five-wicket haul before Sam Heazlett's unbeaten half-century put the Bulls in control
ESPNcricinfo staff
29-Nov-2019
Mark Steketee celebrates a wicket with his teammates • Getty Images
Queensland 4 for 98 (Heazlett 54*, Bird 3-26) trail Tasmania 107 (Doolan 34, Doran 32, Steketee 5-19) by nine runs
A career-best performance from Mark Steketee put Queensland in complete command against Tasmania in Hobart on day one.
Steketee took his maiden Sheffield Shield five-wicket haul, claiming 5 for 19, to skittle Tasmania for just 107. Sam Heazlett countered an early wobble with a timely unbeaten half-century to put the Bulls on the brink of a first-innings lead at stumps.
Steketee made the most of the helpful bowling conditions after the Bulls opted to bowl. He trapped Jordan Silk, Beau Webster and new national selector George Bailey lbw with swing and seam to leave Tasmania reeling at 3 for 4 in the third over.
Alex Doolan fought hard for 34 and Jake Doran made 32 down the order but Tasmania could not recover from the early setbacks. Steketee returned to rip out two more to complete a five-wicket haul.
In response, the Bulls too slumped to 3 for 11. Gabe Bell got rid of Matt Renshaw in the second over of the innings, while Usman Khawaja fell to Jackson Bird while trying an ambitious drive. Heazlett and Bryce Street steadied the side with a 61-run stand. Street was Bird's third victim late in the day but Heazlett reached his first half-century of the Shield season having missed the last three matches. Queensland finished the day just nine runs behind the Tigers.