Harris returns to form as Victoria chase Tasmania's 452

Victoria 142 for 1 (Harris 59*, Kellaway 51*) trail Tasmania 452 (Wakim 148, Webster 97*, Owen 74, Sutherland 3-83) by 310 runs

Test contender Marcus Harris is digging in during Victoria’s steady start to their reply of Tasmania’s imposing 452 in their Sheffield Shield match.

Harris, who last played for Australia in January 2022, got to stumps on day two at the Junction Oval in Melbourne unbeaten on 59 with Victoria 142 for 1 after Tasmania allrounder Beau Webster was stranded on 97 not out as the visitors were bowled out prior to tea.

The 31-year-old has endured a difficult start to the Shield season and is coming off scores of 0, 10, 0 and 11 in Victoria’s last two matches against Queensland and New South Wales after he missed the season-opener against Western Australia due to paternity leave.

Harris is hoping to break back into Australia’s XI when David Warner bows out of Test cricket in January following the home series against Pakistan.

The only wicket to have fallen in Victoria’s first innings was that of Will Pucovski, who was bowled by Mitchell Owen for 26. Pucovski was elevated to open the batting having been listed at No.3 after opener Travis Dean was subbed out of the match on day 2 with concussion after being struck on the helmet while fielding at short leg. The 31-year-old walked from the field without assistance but is being monitored by medical staff.

Campbell Kellaway was subbed into the game in place and the Victoria young gun made the most of his unexpected opportunity batting at No.3 scoring 51 not out in an unbeaten 91-run stand with Harris.

Tasmania took full advantage of a typically good batting pitch at Cricket Victoria headquarters, adding another 170 after starting day two at 282 for 4.

Tigers No.3 Charlie Wakim didn’t add to his overnight score of 148 before falling to Victoria captain Will Sutherland who picked up 3 for 83.

Webster was left stranded on 97 not out as tailender Sam Rainbird was run out for two, bringing an end to Tasmania’s innings.

Webster and Owen powered the visitors to a position of dominance with a 118-run seventh-wicket stand as they seek to follow up their record-breaking run chase against Queensland. Owen made his maiden first-class half-century falling to Sutherland for 74 with 11 fours and a six.

This article was originally published by Espncricinfo.com. Read the original article here.

Harris returns to form as Victoria chase Tasmania’s 452

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