Powerhouse Western Australia have stamped themselves Australian cricket’s premier team of the 2020s after securing their third straight Sheffield Shield with a 377-run dismantling of Tasmania in a lopsided final.
After setting the Tigers a near-impossible target of 537 at tea on day four at the WACA Ground on Sunday, veteran seamer Cameron Gannon (5-23) led a lethal bowling performance for WA, who took 10 wickets in an extended third session to rout the visitors for just 160.
WA officially extended their dynasty – sealing an unprecedented ‘triple double’ with their hat-trick of titles complemented by their three straight Marsh Cup one-day trophies – when Tasmanian tail-ender Iain Carlisle fell to a diving screamer by Joel Paris at gully off a Gannon bouncer.
Captain Jordan Silk offered the only real resistance with a counterpunching 46 for the Tigers, whose unlikely pursuit of the mammoth target started horribly when they nosedived to 3-26 through the losses of Matthew Wade (3), Charlie Wakim (15) and Caleb Jewell (8).
Skipper Sam Whiteman was named player of the match for his enterprising first-innings 104, which set up WA’s 347 after being sent in by the Tigers, who fell well behind the eight-ball when they replied with 186.
“I feel incredibly lucky just to be a part of this group,” Whiteman said. “What we’ve achieved over the last few years has been just amazing. Long may it continue.”
Former Test wicketkeeper Wade, who has announced his retirement from first-class cricket, walked off to generous applause after enduring a forgettable swansong.
The 36-year-old made one in the first-innings and was dismissed cheaply again in the second, charging Gannon but only succeeding in nicking to WA gloveman Josh Inglis.
Silk also edged one to Inglis before Hilton Cartwright took a pair of catches to dismiss Jake Doran (31) and Shield player of the season Beau Webster (19).
Western Australia pose after winning the Sheffield Shield final. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)
Gannon trapped Jarrod Freeman plumb in front for a second-ball duck before Corey Rocchiccioli spun through the tail, following his first-innings 4-48 with 3-55.
Taking match figures of 8-61, Gannon also played a role with the bat with his lusty 42 at No.10 lifting WA to 376.
Hilton Cartwright (94) top-scored in the second innings for the hosts, who continued to grind Tasmania into the ground.
Skipper Sam Whiteman was named player of the match for his enterprising first-innings 104, which set up WA’s 347 after being sent in by the Tigers, who fell well behind the eight-ball when they replied with 186.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
ant your angry . stay calm
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Doctor I’d keep wine off he table I’ll run rings around you . I’ll send you down to great southern for best value over you way. I don’t go to the Margaret river cash 5 star grab . Hey .perhaps more evidence your state is overpriced haha. Thanks s for admitting it and agreeing. I won’t spell check for a low iq type like don he doesn’t deserve it . Warner and inxs are merely examples of superior talent despite the fact I like cam green and tame impala . You don’t seem to get it . Your state has some gems but is mediocre by comparison to others is my point . The nsw bowling quartet proves my point time after time. Little Donny can’t stand it as he wanted Cummins out who has won two tests with the bat let alone ball . Wa folk just can’t handle they are not the best at elite level. Once again a shield win at those against Tassie is ok but not elite level my point before the kids threw the toys out the pram from wa on here .
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Don ….Or maybe write facts and don’t make up bs and haress people like sports tragic and the countless others you do. I just laugh as it’s so easy to prove you wrong and call you out time after time
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Ant is likely dons second account. Let’s be clear don is the originator of harrssment on roar . Most would agree
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Well said sports , but he won’t stop.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Correct sports . The fact I give don reality bites and humor grates on him. Look it’s not his faultdeep down he’d need a psychologist to help we don’t know what he went through when younger and he may not have left the state ever
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Spot on sports tragic you can’t the likes of don though he won’t walk a dog much further away than his local sports ground
Pierro
Roar Rookie
That is true but others are mentioning locations first not me ant so just giving the wall building trump mob in wa an ego rinse Little to much dribl# coming out of wa egos on here . As I said place is ok there are better spots tho in aus with more culture and diversity
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Yes maybe scale back on your substances don, less alcohol maybe too
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Comedy Jeff how bias and close minded can your comments get . Meh end of the day your a quarry state out of the ground . Pot luck. McGowan and yourself shown to be deluded fools over a vax rate that never mattered over 85 percent for the third strain which I predicted as your dictator kept you in fictional fear . Keep up with the hick or self privileged mentality thin , you sound like you need one of trumps 60 buck bibles for sale mate . Dons already bought one I suspect ;
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Not sure there would be interest from various associations to pony up cash to compete for such a prize. Although given some of the rubbish international cricket that comes to our shores, it would be good say during November before the test series start. Two four day games in each country over a month. The sweetest flavour? A big dollop of Dwarshius
The Bush
Roar Guru
You think two Victorians and a Tasmanian are ignoring a WA (Bancroft) because he's WA? Even though what they did do most recently was bring in a WA (Green). Paranoia...
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Nah they are your selections of my responses to trolls. You're one of them, it seems. If you don't like it, improve the way you present yourself.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
One wonders, then, why you post the rubbish you just did. We can only go on what you write. You are choosing to characterise yourself this way.
ant
Roar Rookie
So you can harrass others but he can't harrass you. Great reasoning.
ant
Roar Rookie
This is a cricket site, not a city comparison site.
ant
Roar Rookie
Now we're talking about house pricing. Are you kidding? You are just grasping at straws here trying to salvage your ridiculous ideals.
ant
Roar Rookie
Grow up.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Now that's not fair,Jeff. They make each other's coffee, design each other's websites,mow each other's lawns and cut each other's hair. They invented the circular economy after all. They do have the most indebtedness of any provincial government in the world, that's something to be proud of.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Nutter? Imbolicile? Personalised attack right there, Pierro.Spell check is your friend. I’m impressed by your list of notables from WA. Tame Impala,INXS, WArne. Overpriced wine you say. They saw you coming. Cellar door sales as any tourism brochure would tell you,will save you money,but I thought you Melburnians were as rich as Croesus and didn’t care about wealth.