Teenage Wyllie puts WA on top with maiden ton

Teenager Teague Wyllie has struck his maiden first-class century to put Western Australia in the box seat in their Marsh Sheffield Shield clash with NSW at the WACA Ground. 

WA were bowled out for 258 in the final act of day two, giving them a lead of 78 after NSW were rolled for 180 on day one.

On a tricky pitch where only one other batter has reached 50 thus far, Wyllie was a class above, cracking 15 boundaries on the way to 104 off 204 balls.

The 18-year-old was playing just his third first-class match and showed maturity beyond his years to guide WA out of early trouble.

At 18 years and 163 days, Wyllie has become the youngest batter to score a Sheffield Shield century since Australia great Ricky Ponting hit three in the 1992-93 season.

It comes just six months after the right-hander became the youngest Shield champion when he helped WA break a 23-year title drought in just his second match in April.

And it appears Western Australia may have found another diamond in the rough with the form of debutant Sam Fanning.

The 21-year-old scored 32 runs off 161 balls at a pain-staking strike rate of 19.88 to help quell the NSW attack on a bowler-friendly wicket.

Tailender Matt Kelly then posted an unbeaten 47 off 86 balls to ram home WA's advantage.

NSW's own debutant Ben Dwarshuis (4-48 off 20 overs) was the pick of the bowlers, with his early onslaught leaving WA in trouble at 3-39.

The hosts were still in strife at 6-100 before Wyllie, Joel Paris (25) and Kelly buckled down. 

WA started the day at 2-18 and Hilton Cartwright (16 off 56 balls) was the first to fall on Tuesday after he was adjudged lbw to Jack Edwards (2-44).

But WA received a couple of lucky breaks just before lunch.

Wyllie survived a confident leg-before shout from paceman Liam Hatcher and next over Fanning was lucky to be given not out after being struck on the pads by Australian Test spinner Nathan Lyon (1-42 off 17 overs).

Fanning's strike rate of 19.55 at the lunch break didn't make for pretty reading but his grit on a tough batting surface proved crucial in steadying the ship.

Wyllie's determination also proved vital, especially once Fanning departed.

Dwarshuis left WA reeling with two quick wickets late on Monday, and he returned to take the key scalps of Josh Philippe and Aaron Hardie shortly before tea on Tuesday. 

But Wyllie refused to give in and he gained in confidence the longer his innings went, striking several fierce hook shots to the fence as NSW tried a short-ball barrage to in an attempt to get a breakthrough.

The right-hander departed late in the day when he edged Chris Tremain (2-25) to slip. 

By then, WA already had a handy first-innings lead that could prove crucial in the final result. 

NSW's meagre first innings score of 180 would have been far less had it not been for captain Kurtis Patterson, who defied a five-wicket haul from speedster Lance Morris to finish unbeaten on 72.

Youngest to hit maiden Sheffield Shield century

Archie Jackson, 17 years 97 days, 100 runs, NSW v Queensland, SCG, December 1926

Doug Walters, 18 years 9 days, 109no, NSW v Victoria, MCG, December 1963

Ricky Ponting, 18 years 40 days, 125, Tasmania v NSW, SCG, January 1993

Tony Handrickan, 18 years 43 days, 113, South Australia v NSW, Adelaide Oval, February 1977

Colin Alexander, 18 years 112 days, 133 South Australia v Victoria, MCG, January 1926

Greg Chappell, 18 years 159 days, 104 South Australia v Queensland, Gabba, January 1967

Teague Wyllie, 18 years 163 days, 104 Western Australia v NSW, WACA, October 2022

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