Harry Hoekstra breaks through again for Victoria on Day Three

KOONWARRA-Leongatha RSL cricketer Harry Hoekstra has continued his stellar start to his first-class career with another wicket on the morning of Day Three in the Sheffield Sheild match in Hobart to open up the Tasmanian batting order once again.

Reducing the Tassie Tigers to 5/75 at that stage, with the wicket of the dangerous Ben McDermott, the heroic centurion of the first innings, he’s done his job again for the Vics and for his captain Will Sutherland after taking the scalp of Jordan Silk with his initial spell towards the end of Day Two.

That makes it seven wickets in the match for Hoekstra as the go-to bowler, having taken 5/46 off 20 overs in the first innings.

It must be said that Harry received plenty of support in the field with Matt Short taking a very sharp catch at short midwicket to se McDermott on his way.

Hoekstra continued to trouble the bats in the following overs, getting some challenging swing on an otherwise evenly-balanced Ninja Stadium deck, with a couple of decent shouts from teammates and some false shots offering plenty of encouragement.

But all the time the Tigers were inching their way towards a defendable total, closing in on a lead of 150, prior to setting up a challenging chase for the Vics still with a day and a half to go in the match, a must-win after a poor showing in the first round against South Australia.

But, on an individual note, the local boy continues to impress, almost certainly cementing his place in the Victorian line-up, which is no mean feat with plenty of competition for spots in what is the main launching pad for an international career.