queensland 291 (Renshaw 121) and 225 for 5 (McDermott 59*, Peirson 44*, Meredith 3-39) tied with Tasmania 461 (Weatherald 186, Doran 101)
Queensland earned a draw on the final day of their Sheffield Shield match against a Tasmanian team that dominated from the start.
The match was declared a draw with an hour left with Queensland 225 for 5 in their second innings, a lead of 55. Queensland has not won any of its last six games in Brisbane, a run comprising four defeats and two draws.
Tasmania posted 461 in the first innings but the weather conspired to ruin their hopes of a first win of the season after rain marred most of the second day.
Queensland resumed at 274 for 7 and immediately lost day three centurion Matthew Renshaw, who added just one to his overnight tally.
Meredith was the destroyer on the hour after the interval and took three wickets as Queensland reeled at 126 for 5, still 44 runs away from getting the visitors back to bat, before McDermott and Pearson worked hard to ensure they didn’t there would be a shameful loss.
Tasmanian opener Jake Weatherald was named man of the match for his magnificent 186.
Queensland captain Mitchell Swepson admitted Tasmania had dominated the game.
“We play Shield cricket to win and unfortunately we haven’t been able to put ourselves in positions to win,” he told AAP. “Tassie were leading the game from day one when we weren’t quite right with the ball. We were lucky to get a draw here.”
A day-night clash with table leaders Victoria begins on Sunday at the Gabba. Queensland must win to get their season moving in the right direction.
“Where we are at the table, we need some wins and we have great faith in this group,” Swepson said. “The Gabba has been a strength for us and is a place where we believe we can play an aggressive brand of cricket. The pink ball adds a different element and you would like to think there would be a result at the Gabba, where the wicket is nice and spicy. for Shield games.”
Tasmania will play NSW on Sunday as they also look for an elusive first win of the summer.
