THE FAIRYTALE ending may have been missing, but the 4907 fans who turned out to the Devonport Oval for yesterday's ING Cup cricket match did not leave disappointed. The huge crowd saw a spirited effort from the Tassie Tigers up against a New South Wales Blues side which looked more like an Australian side, and a man-of-the-match performance from Tasmania's latest Australian star Shane Watson. While New South Wales won the game, Tasmanian Cricket Association chief executive David Johnston yesterday hailed the match a win for future games at the Devonport Oval. ``It's an excellent result, exactly what we wanted,'' Johnston said. ``The organisation has been very good and the big crowd was well behaved. ``The scheduling is up to the ACB and ING, but there's every indication that a game can be successfully hosted here. ``It's a big exercise for us, but it's certainly been a worthwhile one.'' Despite acting captain Jamie Cox being ruled out before the match and Dan Marsh making his debut as captain, Tasmania made a solid 249 off its 50 overs, featuring 96 from Watson. On a perfect batting track, New South Wales reached Tasmania's total with 10 balls remaining, Mark Waugh and Corey Richards making 60 each, Michael Bevan unbeaten on 62 and Steve Waugh unbeaten on 32. The other major highlight of the day featured an exhibition by the RAAF Roulettes, which rocketed in formation low over the Devonport Oval during the luncheon break. By Advocate Staff Writer - Monday February 11, 2002.

Fans at The Devonport Oval	Brett Lee at The Devopnort Oval

Fans can take a bow THE NORTH-WEST Coast sporting fans can again take another bow. With some of Australia's best cricketers on display, yesterday's game at the Devonport Oval warranted a strong turn-out and the North-West did not let the Tasmanian Cricket Association down. Not only did a large crowd turn out, but it was a largely well-behaved one - with hardly a beach ball in sight. The one beach ball doing the rounds in the afternoon met an untimely death at the hands of some rather officious security guards, who appear allergic to anything rubber and inflatable. A crowd of 4907 was a great result and many of those who regularly attend ING Cup games in Hobart predicted yesterday a similar crowd would not have been achievable in the South despite the stars playing for the Blues. The crowd won high praise from TCA chief executive David Johnston for its behaviour. There were plenty of individual highlights through out the day, but Tasmanian batsman Michael Dighton deserves special mention for thrilling the crowd. Dighton put Stuart MacGill's first ball of the day well over the fence with a massive hit, the ball luckily hitting about 10 metres to the left of the windows of the Devonport Athletic Club rooms. Dighton hit another big six in the over, this one clearing the bike track and boundary fence before bouncing up into the Eric Webster stand. Never one to be left out of things, Ulverstone football coach Max Brown tried to pocket some extra cash, dropping one of Dighton's sixes and as a result will be sporting a rather large bruise on his arm today. Any Robins footballer who drops a sitter in the 2002 NTFL season now has some self-defence against ``The Fox'', although it was a courageous effort. By Julian O'Brien - Monday February 11, 2002.