South Australia's big guns fail to fire

Western Australia 4 for 274 (Langer 82, North 62*, Marsh 57) v South Australia Scorecard

A solid allround batting performance by Western Australia put them in a strong position after being put in by South Australia on the first day of their Pura Cup match at Perth. Both sides need a win to give them any chance of making the end-of-season final.

Darren Lehmann's decision to field might have been more successful had wicketkeeper Graham Manou not spilled a simple chance off Chris Rogers before he had scored. But Justin Langer, making his 100th first-class appearance for his state, laid the foundations with 82, and Rogers went on to make 41 in an opening stand of 91 before becoming the first of Dan Cullen's three wickets.

The game had been billed as a battle between Jason Gillespie and Shaun Tait to find a possible replacement for Glenn McGrath in South Africa, but both were unimpressive. Gillespie finished with 1 for 64, while Tait took 0 for 62 and was expensive in his first two spells.

It was offspinner Cullen, who finished with 3 for 69 off 31 overs - and who was brought into the attack as early as the 11th over - who kept Western Australia in check. He removed Langer, leg-before sweeping, and Shaun Marsh shortly after tea.

But that aside, South Australia offered little. Gillespie got a late reward when he removed Adam Voges for 16 with the new ball, but Marcus North remained unbeaten on 62.

"This year, and over many years, the team that bats first [at the WACA] usually has a tough time of it," said Langer at the close. "So for us to be four down at stumps is a very good day."