Tasmania’s Jake Weatherald dominated the Queensland bowlers on day one of their Sheffield Shield clash, closing in on his highest first-class score with an unbeaten 185. The 31-year-old opener, along with fellow left-hander Jake Doran (89*), guided Tasmania to a commanding 358 for 3 at the end of the day’s play.
Weatherald and Doran forged an unbroken 161-run partnership for the fourth wicket, showcasing their class and resilience against a lackluster Queensland bowling attack. Tim Ward had earlier contributed a valuable 51 at No. 3.
Queensland captain Mitchell Swepson’s decision to bowl first under overcast conditions backfired as Weatherald and Doran seized control of the innings. The visitors’ batsmen capitalized on the poor line and length of the Queensland bowlers, who also committed fielding errors.
Weatherald, known for his aggressive batting style, maintained a strike rate of 91.58, sending the ball to the boundary with ease. He expressed satisfaction with his approach, stating that he had learned from his previous match where he had been more cautious.
Despite his impressive performance, Weatherald acknowledged that he may have missed his chance to earn a Test call-up. However, he praised the depth of quality opening batters in the Australian domestic scene, highlighting the recent success of Nathan McSweeney, Sam Whiteman, and Caleb Jewel.
Queensland’s bowling attack, missing strike bowler Michael Neser due to injury, struggled to contain the Tasmanian batsmen. Swepson’s attempts to rotate bowlers proved ineffective as none of the six bowlers used could make a significant impact.
Tasmania’s strong start is a stark contrast to their previous Shield clash against Western Australia, where they were bowled out for 98 in the second innings. The visitors will look to continue their dominance on day two and build a substantial lead.
