Behrendorff destroys the Bushrangers

Western Australia paceman Jason Behrendorff has shredded Victoria’s batting line-up on his way to the fifth-best bowling figures in Sheffield Shield history.

The left-arm paceman returned a remarkable 9-37 from 13.2 overs on the opening day at the WACA after the visitors won the toss and elected to bat.

The Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers, who are chasing a third consecutive Shield title and sit in top spot on the table, were rolled for 117 in 34.2 overs.

Four of Behrendorff’s wickets were unassisted, with David Moody – who removed No.4 batsman Aaron Finch – denying him a perfect 10.

Behrendorff wasted no time making an impact, sending Bushrangers opener Marcus Harris back to the pavilion after trapping the left-hander in front with just the third ball of the innings.

He then removed Travis Dean (1) and Marcus Stoinis (13) to leave the defending champions wobbling at 3-36.

While Dan Christian (39) and Finch (34) offered some resistance, Victoria failed to recover, handing their lower-ranked opponents the upper hand.

Only three bowlers have claimed 10 wickets in an innings since the inception of the Australia’s domestic first-class competition in 1892-93 – South Australia’s Tim Wall (10-36), Western Australia’s Ian Brayshaw (10-44) and Queensland’s Peter Allan (10-61).

Making Behrendorff’s efforts all the more meritorious is the fact this fixture marked his return to first-class cricket after he suffered a stress fracture in his left fibula in late November.

He sent down just 12 overs in a Shield fixture against Queensland last year before being forced from the field.

Behrendorff was in line for a shock recall to the Perth Scorchers’ line-up for the KFC Big Bash League final last month but was ultimately overlooked.

The towering 26-year-old claimed four wickets from two matches for WA’s Second XI earlier this month, paving the way for his return.

Behrendorff’s figures are the second best by a Western Australia bowler behind Brayshaw and topped his previous best of 7-70.

Making his 27th Shield appearance, Behrendorff has 109 wickets to his name and has collected five wickets or more on five occasions since his debut in November 2011.

The Warriors sit in fifth spot on the Shield ladder.

Best bowling in a Shield innings:

10-36 - Tim Wall (SA), 1933

10-44 - Ian Brayshaw (WA), 1967

10-61 - Peter Allan (QLD), 1966

9-30 - Ike Travers (SA), 1900

9-37 - Jason Behrendorff (WA), 2017