The Western Warriors youngster Cameron Bancroft has narrowly missed out on his maiden Bupa Sheffield Shield century on an even opening day against Tasmania at Blundstone Arena on Sunday. Having been sent in to bat on an overcast morning, WA were bowled out for 258 late in the day, with Tasmania 0-7 at stumps in reply.
Adam Voges (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Opener Bancroft, 21, notched up his third half-century of the Shield season but was dismissed for 93 shortly after tea. Bancroft, who made his Shield debut in the opening round of the season, combined for an important 113-run third-wicket partnership with Adam Voges (59).
However, the Warriors lost seven wickets after the tea break, having been well positioned at 2-172 prior to Voges’ dismissal, with Evan Gulbis (3-44) and Luke Butterworth (3-46) leading the way for the Tigers.
Earlier, Tigers captain Tim Paine won the toss and elected to bowl but Bancroft and Luke Towers navigated an early barrage from Butterworth and Sam Rainbird to put together a 50-run partnership. Towers was the first to fall, trapped LBW by Rainbird for 28 and Shaun Marsh followed him back to the pavilion in the next over caught at first slip off Gulbis.
Voges, coming off an unbeaten 235 against Queensland last week, signaled his intent with a boundary off the first ball he faced. Alongside Bancroft, the WA skipper helped the Warriors take control of the contest through the middle part of the day.
Heavy winds lashed Blundstone Arena, but Bancroft and Voges continued on, with the pair both bringing up their half-centuries after lunch.
Voges departed shortly prior to the tea break, with the WA skipper getting a fine edge off Andrew Fekete to be caught behind by Paine.
WA were 3-176 at tea, but lost Mitch Marsh shortly after the break. Bancroft looked set to bring up his maiden Shield century, when he was dropped by Alex Doolan in the nineties. However, Bancroft missed out, caught by Ben Dunk off spinner Xavier Doherty for 93. The Willetton youngster’s fine knock included eight fours and one six.
From there, WA lost their way with Gulbis claiming the wickets of debutant Ashton Turner and Ashton Agar, before Butterworth went through the lower order, including the in-form Sam Whiteman – who had made half-centuries in his past four innings - for 24.
The Warriors had four overs late in the day to try make inroads into the Tasmanian top order, but Ryan Duffield and Michael Hogan couldn’t make the breakthrough.
Western Warriors 258 (Bancroft 93, Voges 59; Gulbis 3-46, Butterworth 3-46) v Tasmania 0-7 (Silk 4no, Cosgrove 2no), Blundstone Arena
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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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