GEORGE Bailey is aiming to leave Tasmania on a high prior to joining Hampshire for the coming English domestic season.

The 30-year-old was today skippering his state side in the first day of the Sheffield Shield final against treble-chasing Queensland on home soil in Hobart.

Bailey and co were actually sitting bottom of the table prior to their final regular league season clash with Victoria.

But Ricky Ponting inspired a 111-run victory with 104 and 86.

Bailey didn’t contribute much with the bat, out for a single in both innings.

Ponting is the leading runscorer in the 2012/13 Shield, with 875 runs at 87.50 with a highest score of 200 not out against New South Wales.

Bailey, right, also has two of the other top four runscorers to call on – Mark Cosgrove with 722 runs at 40.11 and Alex Doolan with 683 runs at 45.53.

Tasmania also have two of the top three leading wicket takers in the Shield – Luke Butterworth with 42 wickets at 20.43 and James Faulkner with 35 wickets at 20.94.

Bailey is aiming for his second Shield title, having lifted it two years ago.

On that occasion Bailey’s Tasmania defeated a New South Wales side captained by ex-Hampshire favourite Simon Katich.

Queensland have already won the one-day Ryobi Cup and are aiming for their first ever one-day/Shield double.

They are also chasing the first ‘triple crown’ by a state, after winning the Ryobi Cup and Big Bash League this season.

The Big Bash title was under the Brisbane Heat franchise name.