Warriors fight back from Victoria attack

Victoria 3 for 36 trail Western Australia 225 (Voges 57, Denton 3-65, Moss 3-50) by 189 runs
Scorecard
Pura Cup table

Jon Moss did the early damage for Victoria in a spell of 3 for 0 © Getty Images

Victoria bowled like the second-best team in the competition as they knocked over the third-placed Western Australia for 225 on an eventful first day at St Kilda's Junction Oval. However, the home side's bright mood quickly disappeared as they crashed to 3 for 36 with Brad Hodge, who was overlooked for the Test squad, falling caught behind to the final ball of the day.

Playing on a ground they haven't won on in 15 years, the Bushrangers can seal their spot in the Pura Cup final against Queensland with an outright victory, but they have work to do after Brett Dorey removed Lloyd Mash lbw with the first ball of the innings and returned for Jason Arnberger. Steve Magoffin chipped in with the big wicket of Hodge for 16 as Western Australia kick-started their charge towards a top-two finish.

Jon Moss helped reduce the visitors to 4 for 44 with a spell of 3 for 0, removing Shaun Marsh, Marcus North and Clint Heron after the Warriors were sent in by Cameron White. Marsh and North departed in Moss's fourth over and Heron left lbw in his sixth before Adam Voges and David Bandy steered away from severe trouble with a 91-run stand.

While Bandy survived two chances and finally fell for 40, Voges struck seven fours in his 105-ball 57, but both batsmen were picked up by Gerard Denton. Voges was caught behind by Nathan Pilon and Bandy edged to White at second slip (6 for 152). Shane Harwood, who was an outside chance for the national tour squad, then arrived with the valuable dismissal of the aggressive Luke Ronchi (37 off 35) and Dorey in the first over after tea, leaving Denton (3 for 65) and Nick Jewell to end Western Australia's resistance.