Tasmania 364 and 226 for 4 (District 79*) advantage New South Wales 338 (Patterson 99, Gilkes 62, Bell 4-52) by 252 runs
Tasmania led by 252 runs at the end of the game but will likely need to make a sporting statement early on day four to have any hope of victory.
In the third session, Ward recovered a third half-century from as many first-class knocks this summer by hitting Australia’s Adam Zampa backward square leg for a single. It came after the 26-year-old scored 92 in the first innings to take Tasmania into a first-innings lead.
“Tim hit really well all game,” Bell said.
Webster, the Sheffield Shield player of the year last summer, is tipped to be the next all-rounder in line should Marsh need a rest.
Earlier, Webster showed off his athleticism with a low catch to dismiss Chris Green. It would be the first wicket for right-arm quick Bell, who cut through the tail and ensured NSW returned to the sheds for lunch.
Matthew Gilkes resumed play in the 38th over before that, pulling a short ball from Kieran Elliott for four to make his 14th first-class half-century before clipping one of Matt Kuhnemann’s two scalps.
