Thursday was a day to remember for Will Pucovski, with the Victorian youngster bringing up his third first-class century.
Just a month after his 21st birthday, Pucovski demonstrated the smarts of a veteran to massage the ball around the ground to reach his hundred, before flaying Tasmania's bowlers around Junction Oval to set the away side a massive target ahead of the final day.
It has been a turbulent few months for Pucovski - in October, he cracked a whopping double ton at the WACA against Western Australia, and signalled his potential as a future Test accumulator.
However, he later took an indefinite break due to a mental health-related illness, but returned and earned a national call-up for the Test series against Sri Lanka.
He wouldn't play a match, with Australia coach Justin Langer defending the decision to overlook Pucovski for a Test debut at the Gabba.
Pucovski was later released from the Test squad to deal with his mental wellbeing, and only managed 22 and 11 in Victoria's win over Queensland last week.
After copping a duck in the first innings against Tasmania, the pressure was on - but the new Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year responded in a fashion only some players could dream of.
All three of Will Pucovski's first class hundreds have been scores of 130+ 🔥#SheffieldShield | #VICvTAS pic.twitter.com/gqlYh9Rd3k
— #7Cricket (@7Cricket) March 7, 2019
Sporting News wraps up the ongoing Shield round. Earlier in the week, New South Wales downed Queensland at the Gabba before Western Australia kept South Australia winless and anchored to the bottom of the table.
VIC v TAS
STUMPS DAY 3: Victoria 454 (Maddinson 136, Meredith 4/86) and 3d/307 (Pucovski 131*, Meredith 1/30) lead Tasmania 286 (Wade 86, Boland 4/63) and 0/27 (Doolan 12*, Silk 7*) by 448 runs
Day 1 was all about Nic Maddinson, who scored his third Shield ton in as many matches.
While he joined a very exclusive party with the century - joining a now-two-man club with Sir Don Bradman - the run home at Junction Oval was centred on Pucovski.
After Victoria's bowlers worked their side to a 168-run first innings lead - with only Matthew Wade providing any resistance - the home side set about putting Tasmania in a no-win situation.
Travis Dean (11) failed again, and when Marcus Harris (44) left the score 2/78, Pucovski took control.
He ended unbeaten on 131, which included 16 boundaries. The 160-ball knock included flashes of brilliance, including a tasty on-drive that harked back to the days of Ponting.
Will Pucovski scores his third first class century for Victoria in a very composed innings against Tasmania.
— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) March 7, 2019
108* and climbing at the moment, including a stunning on drive that brings back memories of R.T.Ponting. #SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/8TX89wDDW4
Maddinson backed up with first innings ton with 61, and Cameron White's unbeaten 52 came in an unbroken 100-run stand for the fourth wicket with Pucovski.
However, once passing triple figures, Pucovski freed the arms and sent the ball to all parts as Victoria's run rate hovered around the four mark, grinding Tasmania into the dirt to set an intimidating target of 475.
Tasmania's openers - Alex Doolan on 12, Jordan Silk on seven - survived eight tricky overs before stumps as Victoria tried to find the breakthrough, using all four frontline bowlers.
QLD v NSW
New South Wales 150 (Larkin 31, Feldman 5/20) and 298 (Henriques 78, Neser 3/73) def. Queensland 185 (Steketee 41*, Copeland 3/49) and 89 (Renshaw 31, Abbott 5/31) by 174 runs
WA v SA
Western Australia 157 (Philippe 47, Winter 4/23) and 4/243 (Philippe 53*, Mennie 3/55) def. South Australia 159 (McInerney 43, Guthrie 4/53) and 240 (Head 72, Kelly 6/67) by six wickets
