Caleb Jewell and Beau Webster put Tasmania in a strong position

AAP14-Mar-2023

Caleb Jewell narrowly missed out his hundred•Getty Images

Queensland’s decision to send Tasmania in to bat at Bellerive Oval failed to pay dividends thanks to half-centuries from Caleb Jewell and Beau Webster.The in-form Jewell seemed set for a third century is as many outings for Tasmania, only to fall for 98 after a 228-ball innings.Webster ended the day unbeaten on 91, having struck 11 boundaries in a 157-ball knock. He was joined at the crease by Tim Paine, on 41 not out.Queensland, who are in a tense battle with Victoria for a spot in next week’s Shield final, commenced the day disastrously with the loss of strike bowler Michael Neser.The Test paceman was ruled out minutes before the start after suffering an ankle injury during the warm-up, with Liam Guthrie coming into the side in his place. To compounded Queensland’s woes, Mark Steketee could only manage 10 overs before limping off with a hip problem.Jewell, having hit three figures in his last Shield and One-Day Cup outings, fell to the new ball after edging a Guthrie delivery to Joe Burns at first slip.The 25-year-old left-hander had shared in two century partnerships, putting on 104 with Jake Doran (58) for the second wicket, and then 120 with Webster for the fifth.Left-armer Guthrie made the most of his eleventh-hour inclusion and made a double breakthrough after lunch, with two wickets in three balls knocking over Mac Wright and captain Jordan Silk for a duck.Steketee, the Shield’s second-highest wicket-taker after Neser, struck in just the third over removing Tim Ward for 2, but had little further joy despite the green-tinged wicket.Second-placed Queensland must at least equal Victoria’s result against Western Australia in Perth if they are to secure a spot in the season decider.