TAS vs SOA | Webster and Doggett gear up for Ashes as South Australia taste first win in Sheffield Shield

‌South Australia pulled off their maiden win in the Sheffield Shield 2025-26 season, beating Tasmania by three wickets in a low-scoring thriller in Hobart on Wednesday. Liam Scott shone for the visitors with an all-round performance, picking up five wickets and scoring a crucial half-century in the chase, while Brendan Doggett ended with a match haul of six wickets. Meanwhile, Beau Webster, who is in Australia’s squad for the first Ashes Test, alongside Doggett, also gave a good account of himself picking up eight wickets, albeit finishing on the losing side.

After being put into bat at the Bellerive Oval, Tasmania could manage just 209 runs with captain Jordan Silk (64) being the lone half-centurion in the innings with nine fours and a six. Doggett ran through the middle order and the tail to end with figures of 5/66, while Scott had three wickets to his name.

The visitors’ reply was not on ideal lines as Webster and Jackson Bird, together, picked up eight wickets to bowl them out for 177, to get a handy lead of 32 runs. Wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey (59 off 63 balls) helped reduce South Australia’s deficit with an aggressive half-century, which included six fours and a six. Webster had 5/50 in 13 overs, while Bird took 3/47 to hand the early advantage to the home side.

But all that dissipated in quick time as Tasmania endured another batting collapse to be skittled out for 184 runs inside 52 overs. Medium pacer Henry Thornton and off spinner Ben Manenti picked up three wickets apiece to keep the visitors in the game as the target was locked at 217.

Despite another inspired bowling display from Webster and Co, South Australia went past the target to finish at 219/7. After being reduced to 116/6, Scott and Manenti were involved in a game-changing partnership of 71 runs that took the side closer to the target. Scott hit five fours and a six during his 53-run knock, while Manenti scored four fours and a six to remain unbeaten on a 54-ball 49. Webster complemented his fifer in the first essay with a three-wicket haul, while Gabe Bell also chipped in with three wickets to keep the hosts in the game till the last moment.