Richardson's eight-for eclipses Patterson's ton on even day

A career-best eight-wicket haul from Western Australia quick Jhye Richardson overshadowed Kurtis Patterson's first Sheffield Shield century in two years on an even first day at Perth Stadium.

Richardson's figures of 8 for 47 is the joint-third best by a Western Australian bowler in Shield cricket, alongside Steve Magoffin, behind Ian Brayshaw's 10 for 44 and Jason Behrendorff's 9 for 37.

In the first-ever Sheffield Shield match played at the venue, just a couple of weeks out from the debut Test, Richardson showed the value of pace and swing on the drop-in surface while Patterson showed that runs were possible with patience and skill.

WA skipper Mitchell Marsh won the toss and elected to bowl on a surface with plenty of grass. Matt Kelly made the early breakthrough before Nick Larkin and Patterson put together a 57-run stand. Larkin enjoyed some fortune, dropped at second slip off Cameron Green, before Richardson wreaked havoc.

He took three wickets in a four-over burst claiming Larkin, Moises Henriques and Jason Sangha.

Patterson was then involved in another 57-run partnership with Peter Nevill, who contributed just 8, before Richardson returned again to change the game. He got Nevill and Jack Edwards in four balls to bag his second five-wicket haul in as many matches.

When Trent Copeland fell, the Blues were 7 for 140 but Patterson found an ally in Sean Abbott. The pair put on a century stand, with Abbott making 69. Patterson was 95 when Kelly removed Abbott.

He reached his sixth Shield century off Richardson before the tearaway claimed the last two. Nathan Lyon was out to a staggering one-handed catch from Hilton Cartwright at point.

WA had to face one over before stumps and their opening duo of the season, William Bosisto and Cartwright, survived.