Magoffin puts Western Australia on top

Western Australia 3 for 106 trail New South Wales 177 (Bracken 63, Magoffin 4-36, Crawford 3-36) by 71 runs
Scorecard

Much like the proceedings at the Gabba, the opening day of the Sheffield Shield season witnessed another top-order collapse and tail-end fightback, this time at the WACA as New South Wales were bundled out for a disappointing 177. The story could have been worse had it not been for Nathan Bracken's counter-attacking 63, which rescued the Blues from a precarious 8 for 97.

In reply, Western Australia lost three wickets but held the upper hand at the end of the day, trailing by only 71 runs. Marcus North was at the crease on 24 while the nightwatchman Trent Kelly was yet to get off the mark.

The Warriors fast bowlers responded well after their captain, North, asked the Blues to bat. Steve Magoffin, Brett Dorey and the debutant Arron Crawford shared the spoils to leave the Blues struggling at 5 for 36 in the 21st over. Crawford, the left-armer, opened his account in his first over, sending back Moises Henriques for 1.

Dominic Thornely, the captain, failed to add any stability and became Crawford's second victim four overs later. Magoffin and the medium-pacer Theo Doropoulos sunk the Blues further to reduce them to 6 for 65 at lunch. Grant Lambert managed to hang around but failed to get any support from the middle order. His only help came when Bracken, walking in at the fall of the eighth wicket, took firm control of the proceedings with seven fours and three sixes.

It was Bracken's first half-century in a long first-class career and his 45-ball effort ended when he was bowled by Dorey to finish the innings. Magoffin was the leading wicket-taker with 4 for 36 while Crawford ended his opening day of state cricket with 3 for 36.