Shaun Marsh has struck an unbeaten half-century and holds the key to Western Australia’s run chase against South Australia in the Sheffield Shield.
Set 313 to win, WA are 4-146 at stumps on Sunday’s third day at Adelaide Oval with Shaun Marsh unbeaten on 72 and his brother Mitch making 44.
The Marsh brothers put on 83 runs for the third wicket in a promising tune-up for the four-Test series from December 6 against India. Mitch was well set, hitting six fours and a six, when bowled by Redbacks quick Daniel Worrall.
Teammate Ashton Turner (5) soon followed, caught behind to Worrall, as the game returned to the balance.
Worrall’s superb comeback from a five-month injury lay-off continued with 3-56, after his seven-wicket haul in the Warriors’ first innings.
Worrall achieved the crucial breakthrough of the Marsh partnership, bowling Mitch with an in-dipper.
But Shaun looked in ominous touch, cracking nine fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 102-ball knock.
Earlier, Redbacks wicketkeeper-batsman Harry Nielsen produced a fighting 82 as the Redbacks mustered a second-innings 268.
WA quick Matthew Kelly took five wickets but Nielsen and Tom Cooper (49), and a handy 38 from tailender Nick Winter, raised the victory target.
SA resumed on Sunday at 5-94 but soon lost Joe Mennie for a duck to extend a collapse of 5-11.
Cooper counter-attacked, striking nine fours and supported by Nielsen. The wicketkeeping son of ex-Australian Test coach Tim Nielsen hit eight fours and a six in his 134-ball stay.
“We were under a little bit of pressure … so it’s always nice to get runs when the team needs them,” Nielsen said.
“Some days you just see the ball better than other days and I felt really good basically from the word go. It’s always pleasing to hit the ball like that.”
No.9 Winter followed his career-best first innings of 53 not out with 38 featuring six fours, putting on 78 for the eighth wicket with Nielsen.
WA paceman Kelly’s 5-61 was supported by David Moody’s 2-35 and Jhye Richardson’s 2-48.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
And look at that, Sean with the best SS season average by a mile, Mitch 7th in the country,picked up a couple of wickets and two catches in the last game
George
Guest
Sorry, but Mitch Marsh is not even in the top 12. WA's second best perhaps but that's not saying much.
Rob JM
Guest
Simple fact is the two marsh boys are currently in the top 6 batsmen in the country. The cupboards are so bare that Maxi's 38 it the T20i would have landed any other batsen a test spot.
john goerge
Guest
Do you know when the test squad will be announced? I think we are in serious strife this summer. Why coudlnt it be the Windies who are coming out? Or Zimbabwe? Or NZ? Or Bangladesh? Our bowling is ok. But India is better. Bumrah will destroy our batting lineup. Our batting is perhaps the weakest in world cricket at the moment. RIP Tests in Australia. Ban Warner for Life (from Tests)
George
Guest
SMarsh fails more often than not in Tests. Good news for India that the selectors rate him so highly.
john goerge
Guest
Ok, Shaun Marsh deserves his spot in the Aussie XI for the tests. He is probably the best bat in Aus right now. Mitch on the other hand is very lucky that not many others have stood up and consistently been good. XI for first test (assuming Uzzy will not be fit in time) Harris/Renshaw Finch Burns S Marsh Handscomb M Marsh (they will pick him even if murders someone) Paine usual bowlers Not a team that will beat India. India 3-0. Blame the selectors. There was even some talk of playing Lynn in the test side as an experiment.