Caleb Jewell shines for Tasmania with a maiden Shield century against Queensland

Caleb Jewell produced a coming of age performance to post his maiden Sheffield Shield century and help guide Tasmania through a challenging opening day against Queensland in Hobart.

Jewell, 23, playing his first Shield match in 18 months, made a brilliant 131 not out, when the next highest score was just 27, to help Tasmania edge towards 300 at the close of the opening day after they were sent into bat.

He had previously scored just 139 runs in his first 13 Shield innings, at an average of just 11.58 with one half-century between 2016 and 2019. But he had earned a recall after scoring five centuries for North Hobart in Tasmania Premier Cricket this season and continued his rich vein of form.

Jewell entered in the 14th over with the Tigers struggling at 2 for 39 after Charlie Wakim and Mac Wright had fallen cheaply. The left-hander played with a fluency that none of his teammates could match scoring off both feet through all parts of the ground. He struck 19 fours and one six and never got bogged down against the Queensland attack.

Queensland were missing Michael Neser and Mitchell Swepson through injury but still bowled steadily to put the Tigers under pressure on a surface with plenty of grass on it. Xavier Bartlett and Brendan Doggett picked up two wickets each while Matthew Kuhnemann claimed Australia's Test captain Tim Paine as his first wicket in first-class cricket, forcing a return catch with some nice loop and drop.

Tasmania were 5 for 177 when Paine fell and then 6 for 226 when Beau Webster departed, but Jewell controlled the last 24 overs of the day with the help of Jarrod Freeman and Nathan Ellis to lay a strong foundation for day two.