Recent Match Report – West Aust vs Victoria 3rd Match 2023/24
[ad_1]
Western Australia 481 (Bancroft 122, Wyllie 94, Goodwin 63, Turner 57, Sutherland 3-66, Boland 3-101) beat Victoria 256 and 172 (Perry 43, Rocchiccioli 3-14. Gannon 3-54) by an innings and 53 runs
Western Australia’s second-string attack overwhelmed Victoria on a sluggish WACA pitch in an ominous start to their bid for a hat-trick of Sheffield Shield titles.
In a re-match of the last two Shield finals, WA once again had Victoria’s number as they showed off their enviable depth of talent. Without frontline quicks Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Matt Kelly and Joel Paris, WA’s new-look pace attack produced a disciplined performance on the final day to bowl Victoria for a second time out shortly after tea.
“He’s going to keep getting better,” WA captain Sam Whiteman said of Rocchiccioli. “The impressive thing is he’s taking wickets at the WACA which is notorious for [a lack of] spin.
“I’m particularly proud of the bowling group, which is a completely different attack than what we finished with last season.”
With national selector Tony Dodemaide in the terraces, Bancroft made an early season statement to replace David Warner who is set to retire from Test cricket during the summer.
“Getting sick of losing to them [WA], so was enough motivation to stay out there as long as I could,” said Perry, who made 43 from 173 balls.
Hardie, who had opened the bowling, was in a fiery mood with a searing bouncer smashing into Perry’s body and leaving him shaken. But Perry, something of a nightwatchman specialist, gamely fought on and found a willing partner in Jonathan Merlo, who was intent solely on defence.
Pinned back to the crease, Merlo excruciatingly faced 36 balls without a run. He finally opened his account with a push through covers for two runs before being clean bowled next ball by a cracking Gannon delivery.
Victoria shut up shop after lunch with captain Will Sutherland, normally such a belligerent batter, continuously blocking alongside Perry. They weren’t particularly looking for runs, essentially taking turns holding up an end. Sutherland’s 75-ball grind of 6 ended when Bancroft snared a sensational catch at short-leg off Haskett. Perry’s rearguard finally ended shortly before tea as Victoria inevitably slumped to a hefty first-up defeat.
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth
[ad_2]
Source link