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Winning Tigers are now stalking the Bulls

10 Feb, 2012 03:00 AM
DEFENDING champion Tasmania believes that it is building a momentum that will be difficult to stop when it hosts Sheffield Shield ladder leader Queensland next week.

The Tigers yesterday cruised to a six wicket victory over New South Wales before tea on day four at Bellerive, backing up a one-day win on Saturday as it emerge in the best possible shape from the interruption of the Big Bash League.

Set a modest target of 147 to win yesterday, Tasmania's batsmen had few jitters knocking off the runs, Ed Cowan top-scoring with 39 and Mark Cosgrove hitting the winning runs with a boundary in his innings of 25 off 22 balls.

``I think we're in a really good place,'' Tigers' coach Tim Coyle said.

``When the Tasmanian cricket team gets momentum it's really hard to stop.

``We've had the perfect start to the back half of the season.

``I don't think it matters who we play next week, I reckon we've just got a good game developing and we're only going to get better from now.''

Third-placed Tasmania (22 points) hosts the Bulls (30), whose lead has been cut by second-placed Western Australia (26), from Friday next week.

Coyle described captain George Bailey's first innings 117 off 140 balls as game-changing and was pleased with the form of pacemen James Faulkner (4-52) and Jackson Bird (4-51) as they reduced the Blues to 9-150.

``When we're at our best, we're as good a team with the ball going around in the competition,'' Coyle said.

Phil Hughes top-scored in NSW's second innings with 39, while the injured Simon Katich was unable to bat after being struck in the face on Monday.

Fifth-placed NSW, who fly to Perth on Wednesday to prepare for their next match against WA, watched their final hopes all but disappear. It is still not sure whether Katich, who suffered concussion, will be fit to play.

``He's still pretty groggy,'' coach Anthony Stuart said.

``Morning seems to be his worst time. After a night's sleep he's a bit drowsy waking up.''

Stuart said former Test star Hughes was disappointed not to have built on his start.

``He's had a rough time of it lately,'' the coach said.

``There's a lot of speculation in the media after his couple of Tests.

``He's just got to keep it simple and spend as much time out there and the runs will come again.''

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