Western Warriors have edged closer to their first outright win of the Bupa Sheffield Shield season, putting Victoria Bushrangers to the sword on Day 2 at the WACA Ground.
Shaun Marsh (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
WA entered the day on 3-315 and extended that to 8-581 by the time the side declared prior to tea.
Any concerns the total could be matched on a batting-friendly wicket disappeared as quickly as the Victoria batsmen themselves, with the Bushrangers having lost four wickets before tea and ending the day 7-158.
It was a superb attack from the Warriors bowlers that continued the work of the batsmen, with Shaun Marsh brilliantly composed in his 127 not out.
WA declared on the wicket of Nathan Coulter-Nile, who holed out at long on after a quickfire 19 from 15 balls, and opened with pace as young quick Jason Behrendorff took just five balls to strike, trapping Victoria skipper Rob Quiney for six.
The Warriors continued to assert their dominance and a double-wicket maiden three overs later from Coulter-Nile had the Bushrangers reeling at 3-14.
Aaron Finch was the first to fall, sending an edge to Shaun Marsh at second slip for five, before Cameron White had his off-stump dislodged first ball.
It was a contrast to WA’s three-down mark, which came at 302, and when Peter Handscomb was caught in the gully by John Rogers for just seven, Victoria found itself in a deeper hole at 4-25.
The Bushrangers found some stable ground in the David Hussey and Glenn Maxwell partnership, but even that was not able to see out the day as the latter was dismissed by Behrendorff for 38 to end the 48-run pairing.
The wicket was a deserved reward for Behrendorff, who had looked dangerous in his attack and often had the Victoria batsmen rattled, but was struggling to turn intent into success after taking the first wicket.
The breakthrough came from no small part by Michael Hogan, who had to dash around the boundary from deep fine leg to take the catch and have Victoria 5-73.
Shortly after, Behrendorff got his third, with Dan Christian caught behind by Sam Whiteman for one and Victoria was facing the prospect of being all-out for less than 100 at 6-77.
Hussey was the shining light for the visitors, bringing up his half-ton in 68 balls and 109 minutes, ending the day 76.
His issue was finding lasting partners and the final loss of the day was John Hastings for six about 20 minutes from stumps, leaving Clint McKay the other not out batsman on 13.
WA’s dominant form with the ball continued the performance of the batsmen and a Day 1 ton from Marcus North (145 runs) was followed by a not-out Day 2 ton by Shaun Marsh, who finished unbeaten on 127.
Shaun Marsh took some time to settle at the crease and received a wake-up call as a Jake Haberfield delivery careered into his helmet, but once he was in, the 30-year-old did not appear to be going anywhere.
The older of the two Marsh brothers took to his innings with intent; he was patient when he needed to be and aggressive when the ball was there to be hit, ending his knock with 16 fours and two sixes.
Victoria was further tormented by the 177-run partnership Shaun Marsh built alongside young wicketkeeper batsman Sam Whiteman, who came tantalisingly close to his maiden First Class ton before falling for 87 with a loose reverse-sweep attempt that went to first slip.
The loss had WA at 6-518 after what was another impressive knock from the 21-year-old, whose season has also included totals of 30, 47 not out and 65.
The Warriors picked up the pace after Whiteman’s dismissal and wickets fell more freely, with Ashton Agar holing out at long on for 13 and Coulter-Nile exiting shortly after.
James Buttler
As the editor of World Cricket Badger he is intent on building the website to give quality coverage of the domestic game around the world.
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