Sheffield Shield: Western Australia’s Brody Couch takes stunning hat-trick against Tasmania in Hobart
A remarkable hat-trick from West Australian quick Brody Couch has put the three-time reigning Sheffield Shield champions on the cusp of victory over Tasmania.
WA needed four wickets in the final session of their match against the Tigers in Hobart to seal back-to-back wins.
In the first over after the break, Couch had Jake Doran trapped in front lbw, then Lawrence Neil-Smith guided a ball onto his own stumps.
On a hat-trick and with fielders crowding the bat of Kieran Elliott, couched delivered an almost unplayable ball that clipped the off-stump.
It comes in just his fourth first-class match and third for WA after signing from Victoria in the off-season.
The three wickets left Tasmania 9-89, still 54 runs behind WA’s first-innings score.
Couch, who played just one match for Victoria, is rapidly emerging as one of the best domestic signings of the season.
He has 3-7 from 12 overs as the Tigers target a draw.
WA took two late wickets in the shadows of stumps on day three to set the table for their looming victory.
The win would leave Adam Voges’ side undefeated — with a win and a draw — and keep them at the top of the table through three rounds.
Former West Aussie Brad Hope was a part of a sixth-wicket partnership with Jake Doran that kept their innings from falling in a heap. His wicket in the middle session opened the door for WA to turn the screws on the tail.
Seamer Matt Kelly did not bowl in the second innings after straining his quad on day two. It is another injury blow for WA after captain Sam Whiteman was pulled out the day before the match with a side strain.
Agar, who was playing first-class cricket for the first time in almost two years, bowled nightwatchman Gabe Bell and had Tigers captain Jordan Silk trapped in front in a meticulous first spell of the day.
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