Western Australia 122 for 3 for 88 path Victoria 298 (Harris 84, Brief 82, Kellaway 64, Gannon 4-93) by 88 runs
Having fun with a primary innings lead of 176, Victoria’s sturdy assault frequently threatened late on day two with WA reaching stumps at 3 for 88.
After taking 4 for 29 in WA’s first innings, having rushed again from Australia’s Check tour of India, Boland dismissed opener Sam Whiteman lbw for a duck.
WA’s woes deepened when teenager Teague Wyllie fell for 16 to go away the hosts in tatters at 2 for 25.
Routed for 122 on the opening day, notably slowed down by Victoria’s disciplined bowling, WA determined to play extra aggressively as Hilton Cartwright led the way in which with a slew of fluent strokes.
He mixed with opener Cameron Bancroft, the main run-scorer this season, in a steadying half-century partnership to offer hope for WA
However Boland summoned one final burst earlier than stumps and bowled Bancroft, who inside-edged onto his stumps making an attempt a drive.
Having already secured a house remaining beginning on March 23, WA have to date been unable to match the depth of a determined Victoria who’re locked in a fierce battle with second-placed Queensland for a spot within the decider.
After a dreary opening day, the place simply 192 runs had been scored in 91 overs, left-handed Harris supplied a spark as he sped previous his half-century.
He was in imperious contact with candy drives down the bottom to dominate a weakened WA assault with out common quicks Joel Paris and Matt Kelly. Harris scored at a run-a-ball tempo earlier than out of nowhere being caught behind down the leg-side off seamer David Moody.
It was basically Harris’ first mistake in his 140-ball knock and the previous Check participant, who final performed for Australia in the course of the 2021-22 Ashes, knew he left a giant rating on the desk.
He drove superbly down the bottom to pounce on wayward bowling from WA’s quicks, who had been unable to conjure menacing motion like their counterparts from the day past.
Cartwright was chosen as an allrounder for 2 Check matches in 2017, however hardly ever bowls lately. He had solely bowled 4.4 overs within the Defend season earlier than his six-over burst accounted for 3 wickets, together with Kellaway for 64 off 167 balls. Cartwright triggered a slide for Victoria as Brief’s sensible 95-ball innings ended when he mistimed to mid-off.
Victoria had been left barely dissatisfied at their vice-like grip on the competition being loosened, however they continue to be firmly within the field seat after Boland’s late heroics.
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist primarily based in Perth
