WA complete a nine-wicket win after Glenn Maxwell throws away wicket at pivotal point to expose Victorian tail and leave meagre run-chase
Match Report:
ScorecardWestern Australia march on after thumping Victoria
A defiant knock from Glenn Maxwell wasn't nearly enough for Victoria to avoid an embarrassing nine-wicket Marsh Sheffield Shield defeat to Western Australia at the WACA Ground.
Victoria were skittled for 186 in their second innings, with Maxwell (57) their only batsman to put up any real resistance.
Maxwell looked well set in making a half-century but a 70-run stand for the fifth wicket with Sam Harper came to an end when the Australian limited-overs star hoiked a ball high into the leg side where it was well caught.
It left Victoria's tail exposed and they were all out 38 runs later for 186. That left WA needing just nine runs off 32 overs to secure victory, and they achieved it with ease despite the loss of Sam Whiteman for three.
The result leaves Victoria winless after two rounds, following on from their run-fest draw with South Australia earlier this month that left the home side frustrated.
Victoria are winners of four of the past five Shield titles, and Maxwell wasn't too concerned about their slow start to the season.
"I'm sure the results are going to turn for us," Maxwell said.
"There's a reason why we've had so much success in this tournament over the past decade.
"It's disappointing to lose, but the way we played this game – it could have so easily gone the other way."
The defending Shield champions were in all sorts of trouble early on Monday after slumping to 5-78; still needing a further 100 runs just to make WA bat again.
Stumps cartwheeling. You love to see it. #SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/3GgWK4vfmZ— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 21, 2019
Maxwell's fighting knock that featured seven fours and a six helped stem the tide, with the blaster combining with Sam Harper (31) for an important 70-run stand.
But their departures sparked the end of Victoria's resistance.
Test opener Marcus Harris (8) fell late on Sunday to start the early rot, while Will Pucovski (2), Peter Handscomb (19), Matt Short (0), and Nic Maddinson (37) were all dismissed during a disastrous morning session for Victoria on Monday.
WA allrounder Marcus Stoinis (3-33) trapped both Handscomb and Short lbw - but both decisions were borderline.
Test aspirant Jhye Richardson (3-40) bowled with menace, while David Moody (3-57) snared the scalps of Harper and James Pattinson during the middle session.
Stand-in WA skipper Shaun Marsh was the hero for WA over the weekend, compiling a classy 214 off 436 balls to lift the Warriors to 9(dec)-519 in their first innings.
Marsh's previous highest first-class score was the 182 he posted for Australia in a Test win against the West Indies in Hobart in 2015.
But the game would have been vastly different had Chris Tremain held onto a catch at gully when Marsh was still in single figures.
"We thought we were in the game, but if you drop a guy on one and he makes 200, it can change a game," Maxwell said.
"We had our opportunities, but ultimately a couple of 50-50 things went against us."