The English import claimed three wickets and recorded a half-century as the Demons finished the opening day just 72 runs shy of first innings points with eight wickets in hand.

A brave lower order fightback helped Devonport post a competitive total against the Burnie Hurricanes, while similar lower order heroics and a couple of late wickets gave Ulverstone a slight edge over Sheffield heading into day 2.

Wynyard won the toss and decided to bat first at home against Latrobe.

After the loss of an early wicket, Jim Martin and Josh Barry combined for a 54-run second wicket partnership.

Barry was the aggressor, smashing 10 fours and a six on the way to an entertaining 51 from 31 balls, but he was eventually brought undone by Micheal Bishop (4-49).

Two more quick wickets saw the Blues reduced to 4-98, but the fighting Martin battled on, forging a 53-run fifth wicket partnership with Matthew Kinch (32).

Latrobe turned to spin in a bid to break the partnership, and Jake Libby (3-20) broke through, claiming the wicket of Martin for a patient 34 from 117 balls. From 5-151 the Blues collapsed, losing their last five wickets for just 26 runs, and were all out for 177.

Bishop and Libby were the Demons' bowling stars, sharing in seven wickets to lead a terrific fightback with the ball.

Latrobe's innings started brightly, with Libby and Wes Richardson sharing in a 50-run opening stand.

Richardson eventually fell to Brodie Stokes (1-21) for 24, but Libby continued to control the innings, recording another half-century of his own in a 55-run partnership with Nathan Avery.

Wynyard introduced Josh Barry (1-14) into the attack, and he delivered, drawing a false shot from Libby to have the Englishman caught behind for 63.

Avery (13 not out) and Callan Morse (0 not out) then survived a high pressure final five overs to help the Demons to 2-105, requiring 73 runs to claim first innings points when play resumes next Saturday.

Devonport staged one of the great recoveries to post a competitive 194 against the Burnie Hurricanes at West Park.

The first half of the day belonged to the Hurricanes, with inspired spells from veterans Adrian Scolyer (5-45) and Adam Drinkwell (2-37) reducing the Orions to 8-92 from 42.1 overs.

Bruce Will (28) and Sam Robinson (26) were the only Devonport top order players to reach double figures, but their dismissals in quick succession prompted the loss of 6-37 either side of lunch.

But the reigning premiers dug deep, with the recalled Brent Lawler and determined Chris Lindsay fighting hard to safely negotiate long spells from Scolyer and Drinkwell.

The left handers refused to give up their wicket, and combined for a vital 99-run partnership. Lindsay eventually fell for 34, but the determined Lawler batted on, finishing the innings 72 not out.

Scolyer was rewarded for his persistence, claiming the final wicket of the innings to secure a well-deserved five-wicket haul.

Hurricanes openers Adam Drinkwell (8 not out) and Brodie Hayes (12 not out) safely negotiated the eight overs to stumps, with the home side to resume at 0-24 next week, requiring 171 more runs to claim a first innings result.

Ulverstone batted first at home to Sheffield. Opener Jacob Snare was the mainstay of the innings, striking a patient 53 from 168 balls.

He combined for a 45-run third wicket partnership with Sam Perko (25), and at 2-100, it looked like Ulverstone were poised to go on to a big total.

But Aiden Marshall broke the partnership, trapping Perko lbw, prompting the home side to lose 4-10 in the middle session.

Now struggling at 6-110, Ulverstone's lower order rallied, with Andrew Van Tatenhove (21), Darren Banham (17) and Corey Briggs (16) making vital contributions to help their team to a defendable 180. Scott Jaffray (3-29) and Marc Simonds (2-57) were the pick of a disciplined Sheffield bowling attack.

Sheffield lost the early wicket of Jordon Marshall, then suffered a double blow when Marc Simonds was forced to retire.

Alex King (11) and Aiden Marshall then set about regaining some momentum, helping the Mountaineers to 1-45 within sight of stumps.

But two late wickets hurt their chances, as King (11) and nightwatchman Dayne Suna (0) fell in the final half hour.

Sheffield will resume day 2 on 3-48, requiring 133 runs to score first innings points, with Aiden Marshall (26 not out) and Richard Miles (0 not out) at the crease.