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Player of the Match
Player of the Match

Alex Doolan, Matthew Wade look to build advantage for Tasmania

Matthew Wade plays a flick during his half-century Getty Images

Tasmania 117 for 2 (Doolan 54, Copeland 2-35) trail New South Wales 375 all out (Larkin 67, Hughes 61, Bird 3-85) by 258 runs

Matthew Wade and Alex Doolan have the chance to help Tasmania derail New South Wales in their bid to make the Sheffield Shield final after making promising inroads in reply to the Blues' first innings tally on day two at Bellerive Oval in Hobart.

The visitors posted 375 on a rain-interrupted day after Sean Abbott had guided the NSW tail to the addition of 64 runs for the final two wickets, frustrating the Tigers in the process.

However the Blues pacemen were stunted in their efforts to burrow into the Tasmanian batting order as Doolan and Wade, their state's two leading run-scorers this season, worked at establishing a key partnership.

Progress was slow, but it was clear that Wade and Doolan were seeking to establish a platform to be exploited on day three, with Ben McDermott and Tim Paine still to come. NSW must win outright to be sure of their place in the decider, which will be hosted by Victoria.

Tasmania 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st7AJ DoolanJC Silk
2nd0AJ DoolanCA Wakim
3rd4MS WadeCA Wakim
4th4MS WadeBR McDermott
5th8TD PaineMS Wade
6th33MS WadeS Milenko
7th44MS WadeHP Kingston
8th15JM BirdHP Kingston
9th0HP KingstonGT Bell
10th5GT BellRP Meredith