NSW slump to historic low in 129-year Sheffield Shield first
NSW have been bowled out for their lowest total - and the fourth-lowest of any team - in Sheffield Shield history.
Jackson Bird whacked a run-a-ball 54 and then decimated the NSW order to put Tasmania well on top in their Shield clash.
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The former Test bowler took 7-18 on Saturday as NSW were bowled out for just 32.
It marks the Blues' lowest total in the 129-year history of the Sheffield Shield.
Only South Australia's 27 in 1955, South Australia's 29 in 2004 and Victoria's 31 in 1907 are lower.
Funnily enough, NSW were the bowling team on all three of those occasions.
Bird's 7-18 off 10 overs are the second-best figures by a Tasmanian in Shield history, only bettered by Peter Clough's 8-95 against Western Australia in 1984.
NSW recorded four ducks in their innings, while Peter Nevill was the only player to reach double figures with 10 not out.
Sean Abbott didn't bat for NSW after splitting the webbing in his hand on the opening day.
The cricket world was left stunned by the extraordinary scenes.
WOW! NSW all out 32 at Blundstone.
- Fourth lowest total in Sheffield Shield history
- NSW's lowest total
- Second shortest completed innings (19.3 overs) in the six-ball over era!— Matthew Taylor (@MattyA_Taylor) March 21, 2021
Pathetic
— Sami Dowd (@samidowd) March 21, 2021
Woeful
— Deep Longstop 🐶🏏 🍻 (@deeplongstop) March 21, 2021
Staggering
— Jason S (@fantasyfan518) March 21, 2021
Lowest ever Sheffield Shield score by NSW!
— Jars (@JarmanSimon) March 21, 2021
Jackson Bird also stars with the bat
Earlier, Bird also starred with the bat as he shared an 83-run stand with Test skipper Tim Paine (87) to help the Tigers post 333 in their first innings.
The former Test quick picked up three scalps in his first eight deliveries to leave the Blues reeling at 3-0, with Daniel Hughes, Daniel Solway and Kurtis Patterson all failing to score.
He then dismissed Nick Larkin (four), who lobbed a catch to Charlie Wakim at short leg.
The 34-year-old Bird, who has nine Test appearances to his name, surpassed 300 Shield wickets in the process.
Fellow veteran Peter Siddle chipped in with the scalp of Jason Sangha (nine), who edged behind to Paine.
Tasmania added 75 runs to their overnight score of 7-258, with Paine falling for 87 - his equal-highest first-class score on home turf.
Bird took the long handle to a strong NSW attack and notched his second first-class half-century and highest score at this level.
He brought up the milestone with a straight six of Trent Copeland and also hit Harry Conway for a maximum.
Mitchell Starc, Copeland and Conway took three wickets each while Nathan Lyon picked up the solitary scalp of Matthew Wade.
In his first red-ball game since the Test series against India, Wade scored a patient 57 on day one.
The Tigers are chasing their first win of the Shield season while NSW are in second place behind Queensland.
Lowest totals in Sheffield Shield history
27 - South Australia v NSW, 1955
29 - South Australia v NSW, 2004
31 - Victoria v NSW, 1907
32 - NSW v Tasmania, 2021
35 - Victoria v NSW, 1926
with AAP
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