Tasmania 251 for 4 (District 92, Seda 74, Radhakrishnan 55) vs. New South Wales
In his second game back in the Tasmanian team after being dropped last summer, Ward scored 91 at the SCG on Sunday, before going down late in the day when caught down the leg side.
Ward, Radhakrishnan and Silk never played a senior game for NSW in their careers, but all grew up in Sydney and came through the Blues system before moving south. On Sunday, both were successful in their return home, with Ward’s runs particularly timely.
The 26-year-old was Bradman’s Young Cricketer of the Year in 2022 and was part of Australia’s A team in 2023 after a strong start to domestic cricket. But he lost his form last summer and found himself slumped at the end of the season after three successive failures.
Ward again started this season overseas, before scoring 51 in Tasmania’s comeback against Queensland in the final round. The No. 3 continued that form into Sunday, after Jackson Bird sent Jake Weatherald into the gully after a poor shot on the first ball of the match.
Ward drove Sean Abbott for four early in the day, and then burst through cover to hit Adam Zampa for six at mid-wicket. But for the most part it was an innings of steady build-up, before his 246-ball vigil ended when he was caught behind Abbott.
Radhakrishnan’s spells also came after being called up to the struggling Tasmanian team. Playing in just his second first-class match, the 21-year-old who rose to prominence as a switch-hitting spinner, impressed with the bat for Tasmania in his 55th over.
He pinned Jack Edwards for a four and hit him behind point for another in the same over, before using his feet to hit Green against the long rope. But four balls later he was off the spinner when he got caught in the pads of one that went straight.
Silk then walked to the wicket and reached 74, before he too was caught behind Abbott in the final 20 overs of the day.
Abbott finished the day with 2 for 55, after Radhakrishnan was fell twice in the slips and once by wicketkeeper Josh Philippe in the first session.
