Green scores timely Shield ton as Bancroft fires again

Cameron Green has scored a timely century ahead of the Australian Test tour of New Zealand as WA drew their Sheffield Shield match with top side Tasmania.

Once leading Shield run-scorer Cameron Bancroft also scored his third ton in the competition this summer on Monday afternoon, the game in Hobart was called off early.

WA were 2-242 in their second innings and Bancroft finished on 100 not out, while Green brought up his ton with a six and a three off successive balls and was unbeaten on 103.

Green had not scored a century at this level or better since his maiden Test ton in March last year against India.

Since that Ahmedabad innings, the Australian No.4’s best Test score is 42 last month against the West Indies.

“It’s a bit of a luxury to play with Cam,” Bancroft said post-match of Green’s rare Shield appearance.

“He’s obviously flying around the world playing for Australia. He’s a quality player, he played really nicely today.

“He got a bit more flow into his batting the longer the innings went on, I thought.

“I’m sure he’ll be really pleased with that and hopefully it’s something he can carry forward into New Zealand.”

The two Camerons came together with WA 2-86, after losing opener Sam Whiteman (28) and No.3 Jayden Goodwin (5) in quick succession.

Western Australia’s Cameron Bancroft has scored his third Sheffield Shield century of the season. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)

While it wasn’t quite a crisis, the visitors needed a solid partnership to stay out of trouble on the last day of the match, and Bancroft and Green delivered.

Bancroft anchored the visitors with his 205-ball innings, which featured 11 fours, while Green also hit 11 fours and a six in his 142-ball knock.

Tasmania remain top of the Shield ladder and WA are third.

Caleb Jewell was named man of the match for his career-best 227 in the Tigers’ second innings.

The home side declared on their overnight score of 8-537, setting WA an improbable target of 449 in a day.

Bancroft, Cricket Australia’s domestic player of the year, leads the Shield in scoring this season with 692 runs at an average of 57.66.

Tasmania next host second-placed Victoria in a massive game, while WA are also at home from March 1 against second-last Queensland.