Casson dents Queensland with five-wicket haul

Western Australia 331 (North 79, Martyn 71, Kasprowicz 7-103) and 1 for 8 need 212 runs to beat Queensland 308 and 242 (Perren 70, Hopes 50, Casson 5-88)
Scorecard

Beau Casson added to Queensland's disappointment at losing first-inning points by taking 5 for 88 to give Western Australia a strong chance of their first outright victory of the summer. Casson, the left-arm wrist spinner, was responsible for the Bulls dropping 6 for 39 as they were dismissed for 242. The Warriors, who need 220 to win, were 1 for 8 at the end of day three.

Clinton Perren's 70 from 120 balls pushed Queensland to a reasonable advantage at 4 for 203, but his departure edging Ben Edmondson to second slip sparked the dreadful collapse and only James Hopes, who struck six fours in his 50, managed any significant resistance. Chris Hartley and Ashley Noffke departed to consecutive Casson deliveries and while the hat-trick was missed he quickly picked up Chris Simpson for his fifth wicket.

Western Australia began the morning needing 16 for first-innings points and Brett Dorey (23) and Mathew Inness achieved the goal with a 31-run stand to frustrate the Bulls, who missed two run-out chances. Inness became Michael Kasprowicz's seventh wicket of the innings and Andy Bichel closed the damage at 331 when Dorey was caught behind.

The new Queensland opening pair of Lachlan Stevens and Ryan Broad started with a partnership of 65 before Casson intervened. Stevens was lbw for 31 and Broad was carelessly stumped for 39. Martin Love, who has only 134 runs this season, missed the big score he has been searching for and departed for 21 to Damien Martyn's occasional medium pace, and when Craig Philipson was run out the Bulls were 4 for 154. Casson made sure the slight trouble turned into major damage.