RESULT
Hobart, March 08 - 11, 2007, Pura Cup
(T:182) 370 & 183/3
(f/o) 53 & 498

Tasmania won by 7 wickets

Player Of The Match
181 & 79*
michael-di-venuto
Report

Tasmania seal first home final

Tasmania earned their first home Pura Cup-Sheffield Shield final

Cricinfo staff
11-Mar-2007
Tasmania 370 and 3 for 183 (Di Venuto 79*, Dighton 68) beat New South Wales 53 and 498 (Rohrer 163, Thornely 138, Hilfenhaus 4-102) by seven wickets
Scorecard


Michael Di Venuto, who posted a first-innings century, guided Tasmania to a seven-wicket win © Getty Images
Tasmania earned their first home Pura Cup-Sheffield Shield final when they finally ended New South Wales' resistance and secured a seven-wicket win. Despite falling to a heavy loss after a record low of 53 in the first innings, New South Wales managed to hold second spot as their contenders fell over in the final round.
The two teams will face-off again in the five-day final, which starts in Hobart on March 19, but New South Wales will not want a repeat display. Tasmania, who have never won a domestic first-class title, will need only to draw the decider to take the Pura Cup and will hope to continue their dominance over a team that is fortunate still to be alive.
Western Australia and Victoria both wanted outright victories to progress to the final, but in an extraordinary last round the Bushrangers were dumped in three days by Queensland and the Warriors allowed South Australia's opening victory of a disastrous season. The generosity of the other states gives New South Wales a chance to collect their 45th title.
The Blues staged a brilliant recovery from their first-innings disaster to set Tasmania a target of 182 after they were dismissed in the opening session of the final day. Ben Rohrer's superb debut performance ended on 163 when he was caught-behind off Ben Hilfenhaus, who carried the Tasmania attack with 4 for 102 off 46 overs.
Hilfenhaus also dismissed Grant Lambert (59) and Mark Cameron while Luke Butterworth finished the innings quickly with two wickets as New South Wales were dismissed for 498. Michael Di Venuto, who scored 181 in the first innings, completed a fine double with 79 not out and Michael Dighton picked up 68 to help end a long Tasmania drought.