Tigers fight but WA lead nudges 300

The Western Australia Ashes candidates have failed to push their respective Test cases in the second innings in Perth, with all failing to pass 40 on day three as Tasmania reduced the hosts to 7-202 in their JLT Sheffield Shield day-night clash.  

Shaun Marsh's push for a Test recall was the first to receive a blow, dismissed for 11 thanks to a juggling catch in the slips off a sharp Sam Rainbird delivery. 

But the WA veteran soon had company, with brother Mitchell Marsh (6) and Cameron Bancroft (17) falling shortly after to the same bowler, to have the Warriors in trouble at 3-39.  

Allrounders Marcus Stoinis (32) and Hilton Cartwright (38), seen as two of the leading contenders for the vacant No.6 berth, steadied the ship momentarily with a partnership of 60, but neither could convert their starts into a big score as the Tasmanian bowlers wrestled the home side to 6-142.

A rearguard stand from Nathan Coulter-Nile (21) and Jhye Richardson (19) helped push their side's lead close to 300 before they too departed, with rain seeing play called off shortly after. 

Tasmania were bowled out for 231 midway through the first session on day three having gone in overnight 6-134, with Ben McDermott top-scoring with an unbeaten 45 and Jackson Bird making 19, Tasmania avoided a triple-figure first-innings deficit.

Bird's showing combined with 4-61 with the ball should mean he's not forgotten when the Australian squad is picked for the upcoming Ashes later next month.

Debutant Matt Kelly started with the ball for WA with the 22-year-old taking 4-58. Jhye Richardson looked good claiming 3-64 before leaving with a knee injury.

The returning Nathan Coulter-Nile bowled just nine overs on day two. He didn't bowl at all after that indicating an injury potentially leaving WA two bowlers short.

Western Australia will resume tomorrow at 1.00pm with a lead of 294 runs. 

Day Two report

Rain has again marred the second day of the Alcohol. Think Again Western Warriors and Tasmanian Tigers' season-opener, with late wickets handing control to the hosts despite only sixty overs being bowled. 

Young Tasmanian batsman Jake Doran made a dogged half-century to anchor much of Tasmania's first innings, but the loss of his wicket just prior to a downpour saw the visitors slump to 6-134, trailing by 189 runs. 

Image Id: D1BBCEEA11904E4CACA9CA76236FC086 Image Caption: Young Tigers batsman Jake Doran makes a fighting fifty // Getty

 

WA resumed play at 7-285, adding a further 38 runs thanks to an unbeaten 15 from uncapped bowler Matthew Kelly, before being dismissed for 323. 

Tasmanian bowler and Magellan Ashes hopeful Jackson Bird was outstanding for the Tigers, taking 2-15 from his 6.3 overs in Friday's first session, leaving him with innings figures of 4-61. In that short spell, he also had two catches dropped and took one himself.

But Kelly continued  his ideal start to first-class cricket by striking early with the new ball for Western Australia, removing Jordan Silk for three. 

The visitors were 1-16 when an early tea break was called on Friday's second day due to rain.

Captain George Bailey added a valuable 37 runs, before having his stumps destroyed by young quick Jhye Richardson who led the way for the Warriors with figures of 2-31. 

His demise brought under-pressure Australia wicketkeeper Matthew Wade to the crease, but the former Victorian Bushranger could only add a solitary run before edging a Simon Mackin delivery to Inglis behind the stumps. 

Webster and Doran then combined for the beginnings of what looked like a promising partnership, only for Webster to be caught at mid-wicket for 19. 

Doran continued on to bring up his fourth first-class half-century, but was undone shortly after by a brilliant piece of fielding from Hilton Cartwright at extra cover that caught him short of his ground. 

The advent of rain then proceeded to bring play to a halt for the remainder of the day, with Tasmania set to resume tomorrow at 1.00pm. 

DAY ONE REPORT

Tasmania fought back in the evening session on first day of their JLT Sheffield Shield day-night match against Western Australia in Perth.

The Warriors finished the first day 7-285 after rain delayed the start, with Magellan Ashes hopefuls Shaun Marsh (63) and Hilton Cartwright (61) each notching half-centuries at the WACA.

Nathan Coulter-Nile (36 not out) and Jhye Richardson (nine not out) banded together to keep the Tigers at bay in the last half hour before stumps.

While Marsh, Cartwright and Mitch Marsh (36) were all amongst the runs, Marcus Stoinis however only managed to score nine before being caught by Alex Doolan at mid-wicket.

One of Tasmania's Test hopefuls, Jackson Bird (2-46) bowled well in his return game from a hamstring strain and picked up both of his two wickets in the night session.

With only two wickets falling in the first two sessions it looked like the Warriors would dominate late into the night, however the ball moved enough under the lights to cause some chaos for the middle-order batsmen.

Sam Rainbird (2-73) captured the wickets of Cartwright and Ashton Turner (32) leg before wicket.

Mitch Marsh capitalised on overpitched bowling from Rainbird with two dashing fours' though was caught behind off Bird when he edged to keeper Matthew Wade.

Gabe Bell (2-68) chimed in and claimed his second wicket when he had Josh Inglis clean bowled for a sixth-ball duck.

Coulter-Nile and Turner led a Warriors' late night revival with a handy 41-run seventh wicket partnership.

Image Id: AA9AFE160B52416881BB0DDB7D81B221 Image Caption: Marcus Stoinis receiving his new Baggy Black // Getty

Bell had made the perfect start to his maiden WACA Ground game, bowling Cameron Bancroft (18) with his second delivery.

The partnership between Cartwright and Shaun Marsh blossomed in the twilight session, sharing a valuable 111-run second wicket stand.

Bird went close three times to snaring Shaun Marsh lbw during his innings, twice in the shortened first session.

Marsh raised his bat for his 30th first-class fifty for Western Australia, from 110 balls with eight fours. Cartwright followed in the next over with his eighth first-class fifty for the Warriors.

Marsh was caught at fine leg by Rainbird whilst hooking a Fekete (1-79) short ball 10 minutes before the dinner break.

Earlier, the Warriors confirmed a controversial selection decision to drop veteran batsman Michael Klinger, who had not missed a match in the past four Sheffield Shield seasons since migrating West from South Australia.

Tasmania left out recently-returned Australian T20 wicketkeeper Tim Paine in favour of former Victorian and Australia Test gloveman Matthew Wade, who is making his first-class debut for the Tigers. 

Fast bowler Matthew Kelly is making his first-class debut for WA while Stoinis is playing his first match for WA since 2009 after his decision to leave the Bushrangers at the end of last season.