Western Australia have turned the Sheffield Shield match against Victoria on its head, dominating Day 2 at the WACA.
At stumps Victoria had slumped to 7-186 in reply to the home side’s 9(dec)-391 as both sides push for an outright win to stay in contention for the final.
With WA 5-114 midway through Day 1, it was advantage Victoria but the Bushrangers have been held to ransom in the four sessions since.
Continuing to build after former Australian opener Cameron Bancroft added starch with three figures on Thursday, WA had two more centurions by the time they’d declared.
Paceman Joel Paris (102 not out) bagged his maiden first-class ton, combining with wicketkeeper Josh Inglis (115) for a match-shaping 143-run stand.
Josh Inglis. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
The left-arm quick, who was once seen as a potential successor to Mitchell Starc, showed he could be just as destructive with the bat, as he clubbed 11 fours and a six at number eight.
Inglis bagged 16 boundaries in his knock before being bowled by the pick of the Victorian pacemen, Will Sutherland (4-81). Spinner Jon Holland took 3-106.
Paris then got straight into the action with the ball, picking up incumbent Test batsman Marcus Harris (two) before the Vics settled and moved to 1-73.
Things fell apart after that. Travis Dean (38) and Peter Handscomb (32) were dismissed in the space of a run to Lance Morris (3-40) before he picked up Nic Maddinson (two).
When Matt Short (six) was out edging a drive to Inglis off the bowling of Cameron Gannon the Bushrangers were in deep trouble at 5-85.
Seb Gotch (32) and James Pattinson (24) put on a valuable 53 but when Matthew Kelly (2-31) removed them the visitors looked to be facing a significant deficit.
Sutherland (23) and Scott Boland (20) are the not out batsmen.
Queensland (30 points) and NSW (29) remain in pole position to play in the final but consecutive wins to finish the competition by WA (19) or Victoria (18) would leave them with some hope.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
0/95 of 33 overs for Pattinson for the game. Be plenty of aggro if Starc returned those figures.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
No. I'm holidaying for the weekend up the coast.
Paul
Roar Guru
Agreed Jeff, tomorrow should be a great days play. Can't see the Vics winning but interesting to see if they can bat the day. There was certainly enough there for the bowlers, with more than a few doing something off the wicket. Did you get out to the game?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Shaping up as a fascinating finish Paul. Odds on WA for me, but you never know on day 4 at the WACA. It's a decent wicket to bat on, but also a decent wicket for the bowlers if they keep up the pressure as errors are likely to be fatal. FYI if you haven't seen it, the proposed redevelopment plans for the WACA which will reduce capacity from 18,000 to 10,000. Works due to commence later this year: https://www.waca.com.au/news/waca-unveils-plans-for-ground-improvement/2021-03-24
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
...D'Arcy Short.
Nyang
Roar Rookie
They will all arrive between 28th and 1st April and quarantine for 7 days. Adam Zampa will arrive a week later as he is getting married next Saturday.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
It was a pretty good ball! :thumbup:
JGK
Roar Guru
Yeah - no scores between 10 and 102*!
Paul
Roar Guru
Hi John. I'm not 100% sure when the Aussie IPL players leave but it makes sense they'd need to go some time next week. The IPL starts on the 9th of April. Unless they have some sort of exemption, all would have a 14 day quarantine which means they'd need to leave about now. If the quarantine is reduced because they're flying from a country where the virus is pretty much under control, they'd still likely have to do 7 days, then have a few days practice, so again, they'd be leaving mid week, I'd imagine. Such a shame they're not available, when the Shield is likely to come down to the last round to sort out the finalists
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Have you not been following Harris' season? Not too much wrong there. He just got outdone by Paris who moves it either way at will. Paris' back injury has taken some of his pace but his skills are well and truly still there.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Good morning Paul. I am a long time Shield follower & wonder exactly when the IPL players fly out. Am I right that NSW will have 5 absentees & Queensland none next week if they are unavailable for the last round?
Paul
Roar Guru
I'm curious to get a player take on this WACA pitch. It did a bit when both sides used the new ball, which is fair enough. Jon Holland bowled his first over just before lunch on day one and the first ball exploded off the wicket and turned a mile. It then settled down enough for 3 guys to make hundreds, yet the Vics are 7 down for not many at the end of day 2. Certainly appears to be a sporting wicket.
Peter Warrington
Guest
it's good to see Harris has taken the slips catching routine to another level, he can even do it involuntarily now. doesn't Victoria have a batting coach?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Quarantine after NZ. And Behrendorff, Marsh, Turner, Phillippe, Stoinis, Tye, Agar...
Peter Warrington
Guest
yes it was quite bizarre, 111,11,11,11,111,111,11,11 sort of scoreboard. funny old game...
JGK
Roar Guru
Lowest Shield total ever to feature 3 centuries.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Resting probably. Thou I think players are heading off to the IPL before the Shield final. CA should be holding the final before players are due to head off to the IPL.
Micko
Roar Rookie
C'mon WA! :thumbup: :cricket: (Where is Jhye Richardson, IPL or T20 somewhere?)