Record haul from Rainbird all but ruins Queensland's finals hopes
Left-arm quick claimed 8 for 21, the greatest ever first-class figures for Tasmania, to bowl Queensland out for 104
AAP
23-Mar-2022
Sam Rainbird took career-best figures of 8 for 21 • Getty Images
Tasmania 4 for 157 (Doran 48*) lead Queensland 104 (Rainbird 8-21) by 53 runs
Queensland's slim hopes of reaching the Sheffield Shield final hang by a thread after an extraordinary record-breaking bowling spell by Tasmania's Sam Rainbird.
Queensland were dismissed for 104 after being sent in to bat on a green-tinged Bellerive Oval wicket. Tasmania batted confidently in reply to reach 4-157 at stumps on day one, a lead of 53 runs.
Queensland were almost single-handedly undone by Rainbird who returned the best-ever bowling figures for Tasmania with 8-21 from 14.5 overs. William Brown took 8-31 in a first-class match against Victoria in March 1858 with his mark finally overhauled after 164 years.
Rainbird's figures were also the best for Tasmania since the state's introduction to the Sheffield Shield - the previous mark was set by Peter Clough 38 years ago with 8-95.The figures were the 16th best bowling performance in an innings since the Sheffield Shield started in 1892. It was also the most economical eight-wicket haul ever achieved.
"(It feels) pretty surreal, I was sitting there with the guys before and it still hasn't sunk in," said Rainbird. "You tend to have more bad days than good days in cricket, so when you have a good day like this it is really nice and you want to take it in.
"Both teams wanted to bowl first so well done to (captain) Beau (Webster) for winning the toss and getting us in that position.
"We bowled really well, and our batters batted really well.
"We probably have the best of the conditions with bowling first and I think the wicket has flattened out a bit."
The 29-year-old unheralded Hobart local, who only returned to the side in place of the rested Peter Siddle, induced two separate Queensland collapses with the visitors losing 4-7 and later 6-21. Only three Queenslanders managed to reach double figures - openers Joe Burns (28), Bryce Street (23) and captain Jimmy Peirson (23).
Both sides went into the fixture still in the hunt for a spot in next week's season decider, but requiring other results to fall in their favour.
Tasmania chased quick runs in the final session with Jake Doran top-scoring with 48 not out while opener Caleb Jewell contributed 44.
Young fast bowler Blake Edwards (2-44) was a lone shining light in his return to the Queensland side, picking up Jordan Silk in the final over the day, having earlier knocked over the Tigers leading run-getter Tim Ward (15).