Bancroft, Goodwin post twin tons to pile on the pain for SA

Cameron Bancroft walked off Adelaide Oval to the applause of his WA teammates, just over an hour before Australia's openers walked out to begin their first innings at Newlands.

More than eight years after he scored 77 and 26 opening for Australia in their last Test at the Cape Town venue, Bancroft was 156 not out after day one of Western Australia's round three Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old right-hander led WA to a commanding position of 3-304 at stumps after captain Hilton Cartwright won the toss.

The Test series decider against South Africa, which started on Tuesday, is the first time Australia have played a Test at Cape Town's Newlands ground since 2018 where Bancroft was subsequently banned for nine months his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal.

With Australia about to find out how their top order fares without Smith, who has a neck injury, Bancroft roared back to form in Adelaide.

It's his first Shield ton of the season, after a top score of 16 in WA's previous two games.

Bancroft had hit 17 fours and a six in his 289-ball knock, which is his 21st Sheffield Shield century.

First-drop Jayden Goodwin also made 108 in a 244-run stand with Bancroft that took the game away from the home side.

It was the fifth-highest second-wicket partnership in WA's Shield history, with Goodwin's dad Murray involved in the next best when he put on 247 with Justin Langer against SA in 2002.

"Adelaide Oval is one of the best places to bat for sure," Goodwin said at stumps.

"We've got some different strengths which I think helped each of us, especially being left- and right-handed, so it might have been a bit tougher for the bowlers.

"(Bancroft) played amazing and hopefully he keeps going."

SA had started brightly, with Nathan McAndrew having Sam Whiteman caught by Mackenzie Harvey at first slip for one.

But Bancroft and Goodwin steadily took the game away from them. Goodwin was dropped on 76, eventually hitting 13 boundaries in his 222-ball innings before Brendan Doggett bowled him.

Cartwright made 27 but was caught behind off Wes Agar in the final over the day. Nightwatcher Corey Rocchiccioli saw off Agar's last five deliveries.

2026-27 Sheffield Shield standings

Round 1

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Ties T	Drawn D	No results N/R	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Bowling Bonus Bowl	Total points PTS
1 Western Australia Men WA	2	1	0	0	1	0	0	1.27	1.5	9.77
2 Tasmanian Tigers Men TAS	2	1	0	0	1	0	0	0.86	1.9	9.76
3 South Australia Men SA	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	1.42	2	9.42
4 NSW Men NSW	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	4.75	1.9	8.65
5 Queensland Bulls QLD	2	1	1	0	0	0	-1	1.45	2	8.45
6 Victoria Men VIC	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0.51	1.6	2.11

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

T: Ties

D: Drawn

N/R: No results

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

Bowl: Bowling Bonus

PTS: Total points