Novice opener Tim Ward has struck his maiden first-class century to gift Tasmania opening-day honours against Queensland in their Sheffield Shield match.
Ward, in just his second first-class game, scored an unbeaten 126 as Tasmania posted 3-285 on day one in Adelaide.
Ward, a 23-year-old who moved to Tasmania from his native Sydney, batted the entire day of a fixture initially scheduled to be played in Brisbane last week but postponed due to a COVID-19 scare in Queensland.
The lefthander nullified a Queensland attack headed by Mark Steketee (2-52) and Michael Neser (1-47) but diluted by losing Blake Edwards to a lower leg injury after bowling 8.3 overs.
Ward, who made his Shield debut in Tasmania's final game of last season, featured in two telling partnerships on Thursday at Karen Rolton Oval.
After his opening partner Caleb Jewell (10) was caught at third slip from Neser's bowling in the fifth over, Ward combined with Charlie Wakim - another Sydney-born batsman - for a 120-run stand.
Wakim made 62 from 133 deliveries before turning a fullish Steketee ball to Marnus Labuschagne at square leg.
Ward, who struck 17 fours from 270 balls, and former Queenslander Ben McDermott then put on 145 runs until the latter fell just three overs before stumps, caught on the fine leg boundary for 71 to give Steketee a second wicket.
Tasmania's acting captain Beau Webster - standing in for regular skipper and Test leader Tim Paine who is recovering from neck surgery - won the toss and elected to bat.
The fixture is just the second Shield game this season, with Victoria and NSW yet to play because of coronavirus outbreaks in their states.
South Australia and Western Australia drew the Shield opener, also in Adelaide, late last month.
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