Maddinson snares a stunner but trio puts Tassie in control

Axed Test opener Nic Maddinson snared a spectacular catch, but he couldn't produce any surprise heroics with the ball as Tasmania took the opening-day honours of their round three Sheffield Shield clash with NSW at Bellerive Oval.

After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, Tasmania went to stumps on day one at a dominant 5-335, with Brad Hope (83 not out off 145 balls) and Jake Doran (69no off 99 balls) in complete control.

Maddinson, suiting up for the first time since being dropped for Australia's series-deciding Test against the Proteas in South Africa, pulled off a spectacular diving effort at square leg to dismiss dangerman Mitch Owen for a first-ball duck on Friday.

But steadying knocks from former WA batter Teague Wyllie (64) and Caleb Jewell (46) swung momentum back Tasmania's way, before Hope and Doran piled on the pain.

Maddinson, who bowls part-time spin, turned to himself as seventh NSW bowler in an attempt to break down Tasmania's batting line-up, but he was only able to return figures of 0-31 from eight overs.

The 34-year-old will have the chance on day two to strut his stuff where he feels most comfortable – at the batting crease.

Maddinson received a surprise Test call-up for the series in South Africa, but apart from his brisk 48 in the second innings of the first Test in Durban, his other three scores of 0, 0 and 8 saw him sent home ahead of the third Test where Cameron Green and Josh Inglis both returned from injury.

NSW will need him to be firing all cylinders given Tasmania are well set to post a first-innings total that could give 500 a nudge. 

Doran and Hope's unbeaten partnership currently stands at 153, with the pair combining for 22 boundaries as the NSW attack tired.

Jake Scott (2-66) had the most luck, the paceman snaring the edge of Jewell before dismissing Wyllie caught and bowled.

Wyllie threw his head back in disbelief after popping the easy return catch to Scott.

"It would have been nice to kick on and make a big score, but (we're) able to sit back at the end of the day in a really good position, so hopefully we keep driving the game forward," Wyllie said at stumps following his first half-century for his new state.

"It probably hasn't quite gone to plan yet (so far this season), but to be able to contribute today was really nice and hopefully I can keep putting the right steps forward as the season progresses to help me contribute to many more games."

And when Sean Abbott (1-37) trapped Jordan Silk in front for 37, Tasmania were looking shaky at 5-182.

But Doran and Hope steadily took the game away from NSW, seeing out the rest of the day to put Tasmania into a position of strength.

2026-27 Sheffield Shield standings

Round 1

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Ties T	Drawn D	No results N/R	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Bowling Bonus Bowl	Total points PTS
1 Western Australia Men WA	3	2	0	0	1	0	0	2.53	2.5	18.03
2 South Australia Men SA	3	1	2	0	0	0	0	1.42	2.4	9.82
3 Tasmanian Tigers Men TAS	2	1	0	0	1	0	0	0.86	1.9	9.76
4 NSW Men NSW	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	4.75	1.9	8.65
5 Queensland Bulls QLD	2	1	1	0	0	0	-1	1.45	2	8.45
6 Victoria Men VIC	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0.51	1.6	2.11

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

T: Ties

D: Drawn

N/R: No results

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

Bowl: Bowling Bonus

PTS: Total points