Stumps Victoria 2 for 71 (Harris 48*, Stobo 1-22) path Western Australia 122 (Cartwright 27, Turner 27, Boland 4-29, Holland 3-15, Sutherland 3-33) by 51 runs
Check fast Scott Boland tore by league leaders Western Australia with 4 wickets on his Sheffield Protect return as a determined Victoria dominated the opening day of their must-win match on the WACA.
With their closing’s hopes on the road, Victoria routed WA for 122 earlier than reaching stumps at 2 for 71.
Former Check opener Marcus Harris was in glowing contact to thwart a weakened WA assault lacking quicks Joel Paris and Matt Kelly. He hit a number of candy drives and counterattacked quick bowling with cavalier minimize pictures over the slips.
Veteran Travis Dean and rising batter Ashley Chandrasinghe fell cheaply, however Harris was unperturbed to complete unbeaten on 48 and consolidate Victoria’s early grip on the competition.
Launched from his touring duties in India, having solely performed within the first Check, Boland made an on the spot affect with 4 for 29 from 15 overs in a sometimes miserly efficiency.
Having already secured a house closing beginning on March 23, and simply six days after their triumph within the 50-over Marsh Cup, WA have been comparatively subdued in what’s successfully a useless rubber for them.
However third-placed Victoria are locked in a fierce battle with Queensland, who they narrowly path on the ladder, because the Bushrangers eye redemption having fallen quick towards WA in final season’s closing.
In sunny circumstances, Sutherland elected to bowl and it proved a masterstroke with Boland exhibiting no indicators of fatigue having scrambled again from India with Victoria’s season within the stability.
He conceded simply 9 runs in his first six-over spell to tie down WA’s prolific openers Cameron Bancroft and Sam Whiteman.
It was a stalemate of a begin amid a smattering of followers in a distinction to the festive ambiance of final week’s Marsh Cup closing.
However Sutherland sparked the competition together with his towering body conjuring awkward bounce to take away Whiteman for a painstaking 9 off 63 deliveries.
Victoria’s terrific first session was capped by Boland having Bancroft, the Protect’s main run scorer, caught behind for twenty-four on the stroke of lunch.
WA staggered into the lengthy break at 3 for 45 from 28 overs and spiralled additional after the resumption when allrounder Aaron Hardie was brilliantly caught by a diving Mitchell Perry at ahead square-leg.
Enjoying his first Protect match since October 2020, Ashton Turner tried to carry out a rescue job like he has executed numerous instances as skipper for BBL champions Perth Scorchers.
Turner blended agency defence with the occasional flourish to mix with Hilton Cartwright in a steadying 41-run partnership.
However they each fell for 27 as WA fell away and have been bowled out in 61 overs to report their second lowest complete of the season.
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist primarily based in Perth
