Pomersbach fights on tough day for Warriors

Western Australia 9 for 272 (Pomersbach 89) v Victoria
Scorecard

Luke Pomersbach dragged Western Australia into respectable territory after his more fancied team-mates faltered, as the Warriors reached 9 for 272 against Victoria. Pomersbach looked set for his second consecutive century when he fell for 89, leaving Darren Wates to see out the day on 31 with Mathew Inness on 9.

On a pitch that offered generous seam movement Pomersbach was the only batsman to look really comfortable as Shane Harwood, Gerard Denton and Dirk Nannes each grabbed two wickets. Rob Quiney, who had never bowled in a first-class match, also chipped in with 2 for 22 and extracted impressive outswing with his medium-pace offerings.

The tale could have been worse for the visitors if Victoria had held their catches. Brad Hodge dropped a sitter at mid off when Pomersbach was 78, Nannes spilled an even easier chance at mid on with Wates on 2, and Bryce McGain and Harwood each missed gettable chances.

Pomersbach was less aggressive than usual, compiling watchfully and clearing the boundary once, with a flick over midwicket off Quiney. His most ambitious stroke brought his downfall as he backed away and swiped wildly, edging Denton behind in the first over of the second new ball.

Several of his colleagues made promising starts including Adam Gilchrist, who showed his class with two sweetly-timed drives for four before popping a simple return catch to McGain on 29. Adam Voges (33) and Shaun Marsh (29) failed to convert and Justin Langer also fell after a brisk 27, edging behind off Nannes.

The ball swung significantly in Melbourne's overcast conditions as Victoria's attack backed up the captain Cameron White's decision to send Western Australia in. The day began with Michael Hussey's brief comeback from a hamstring injury - he opened with Langer and was trapped lbw to a Denton inswinger from the third ball of the match.