Young opener Ash Chandrasinghe’s unbeaten vigil has shepherded Victoria towards a respectable first-innings total against Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield final.
Sent in to bat in a rematch of last year’s decider at the WACA Ground, the visitors were in trouble at 6-129 when Lance Morris (2-52) had Sam Harper (13) caught behind off a brutish delivery on the last ball of Thursday’s middle session.
But Chandrasinghe (46no off 266 balls) dug in his heels in a knock reminiscent of Indian stalwart Cheteshwar Pujara, combining with Mitch Perry (33) for a 52-run seventh-wicket partnership as Victoria reached stumps on day one at 8-194.
Recalled Test offspinner Todd Murphy was yet to score on a pitch which appears likely to offer turn and bounce.
Chandrasinghe added just five runs to his score in the middle session in one of the slowest Shield innings in recent memory.
The 21-year-old, who scored an unbeaten century on debut against Tasmania earlier in the season, rode his luck after securing a place in the XI when first-choice opener Travis Dean was ruled out with a shoulder injury.
He survived being caught behind off a front-foot no ball from Morris while on 25 shortly before tea, then withstood a fervent appeal for caught behind off Matt Kelly (1-50) on 45.
Ashes hopefuls Marcus Harris and Peter Handscomb each fell cheaply, the former trapped lbw by Morris on 19, two balls after he was caught in the slips off another overstepped delivery by the tearaway quick.
Ashley Chandrasinghe of Victoria bats during the Sheffield Shield Final. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Returning skipper Handscomb (11) was trapped in his crease and caught at first slip off the bowling of Kelly shortly after the lunch interval.
On a day where the momentum ebbed and flowed, Victoria were 2-66 at lunch before Matt Short (36 off 60) added valuable middle-session runs, pouncing on some loose deliveries from allrounder Aaron Hardie.
He was eventually tied up from around the wicket by left-arm paceman Joel Paris (2-34), playing and missing several balls before edging to second slip.
Will Sutherland fell off his second ball faced, stumped by Josh Philippe after being bamboozled by offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli.
Perry was dropped by Josh Philippe on four off Paris’s bowling but the pair combined again to dismiss him with the new ball.
WA will be determined to take early wickets on day two after several opportunities went begging.
“We probably would have liked to have batted tomorrow,” Morris said.
“Overall, we’ve had a pretty good day. When we weren’t taking wickets, the scoreboard wasn’t really moving.
“If we can bowl them out for about 200, we’ll be pretty happy with that result … I think 250, 300 would probably be a pretty good score (on that pitch).”
Handscomb believed the visitors remained in a solid position after the final-session fightback.
“The wicket’s been tough to score on,” he said.
“For us to drag it out and get almost 200 today, I think can still put us in a position if we bowl well over the next few days to really challenge this game.”
The skipper praised Chandrasinghe’s focus after being a late call-up to Victoria’s XI.
“For Ash to do what he did, carry his bat throughout the entire day in challenging conditions and not go outside his bubble, was very, very impressive,” he said.
WA are chasing an unprecedented “six-peat” of consecutive Shield, one-day cup and Big Bash League titles.
In the scenario of a draw, the bonus points system will be used.
Teams score 0.01 of a bonus point for every run over 200 they score during the first 100 overs of their first innings, while 0.1 of a bonus point is earned for every wicket the bowling side claims during the same period.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
Sutherland will play for Australia as a bowler. I cannot recall seeing a single bowling all rounder in the test side so his batting would have to improve a lot for him to be a test all rounder, but his bowling is nearly good enough already. I mean, he is down at eight or nine in the pecking order or something, but he is 23 and everyone that is ahead of him is about 30.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
I hear the surplus size singer clearing her throat. Valiant by the Vics, but they came up against a pretty good side. Six titles out of six, not even the Blues of renown could claim that
Nobody likes a smarta*s
Roar Rookie
Counterattack is the only way to go now for the Vics at 6 for 83. If the city of love can get 2 more wickets to make it a 5-for, then he is on the Qantas flight to the UK come June. I wonder if he will visit Paris when he is over there?
Rusty Brooks
Roar Rookie
I don’t mind Haydos watching cricket. I just don’t want to hear him talking about it.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Now the Vic's are 2 down for not many. Giddy up WA!!
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
City of light. 2/2 from four overs. You wouldn't be alone in admiring his bowling.
Nobody likes a smarta*s
Roar Rookie
France's capital looking dangerous early on. I like him 4 the Ashes
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Easy as, Sir!!!
The Late News
Roar Rookie
And now we have a good hundred lead...
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Haha :thumbup:
TheCunningLinguistic
Roar Rookie
Credit where it's due, even if obvious! :happy:
TheCunningLinguistic
Roar Rookie
Great recovery, we go deep in WA!
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Prefer ostrich feathers, Chanon? 120 ahead, eight down, no lay down misère, sure, but who's betting?
Nobody likes a smarta*s
Roar Rookie
The main difference in this game is the performance of the 3rd and 4th quicks – WA’s have done much better than the VICs
Simoc
Roar Rookie
There is no place for these dinosaurs in modern day cricket. You may like watching grass grow but it won't ever win you a cricket game. The other bat knows its up to him to do something because his partner just loves looking at himself in the mirror. Completely hopeless. A match losing innings from Ashley. Send him back to club cricket.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Mate it was pretty obvious...
TheCunningLinguistic
Roar Rookie
Prescient!
TheCunningLinguistic
Roar Rookie
Not anymore... :laughing:
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
And,lucky or not, Turner has 100. No-one else got past 50. WA also has at least 0.5 batting bonus points
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
WA are now in front. Turner and Paris are ticking along. Good bowling, better batting.