Western Australia quicks combined to bundle out Redbacks for 128
South Australia managed to strike back with a couple of late wickets
AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff
27-Oct-2021
There was a strong all-round effort from the Western Australia attack • Getty Images
Western Australia 2 for 42 trail South Australia 128 (Richardson 3-22, Morris 3-25)
Jhye Richardson snared three wickets as South Australia were skittled for 128 before Cameron Green helped Western Australia overcome some early batting wobbles in the rain-affected Sheffield Shield clash.
The entire morning session on Wednesday was washed out by rain, but WA made up for lost time when play finally began by producing a devastating bowling performance on a juicy wicket.
Richardson, who suffered a back spasm during the previous Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania, finished with 3 for 22 from 11.3 overs while Lance Morris took 3 for 25 from eight overs to put WA in the box seat. Jake Carder top scored for SA with 37, but no other batter was able to pass 20.
In reply to SA's paltry total, WA were in strife at 2 for 17 after opener Sam Whiteman fell for a duck and Shaun Marsh was dismissed for 11.
But Green and Cameron Bancroft safely guided the Warriors to 2-42 before bad light stopped play late in the day. Green is vying for a spot in the Ashes and is keen for a big knock after returning scores of 9, 7, 13 and 5 in his four most recent knocks. Those low scores came after he scored 106 against South Australia in the Shield opener last month. Richardson could also be in the frame for a reserve fast-bowling slot.
"We're definitely still in the game," Carder said. "It was nice to get some time out in the middle. I was disappointed that I didn't go on with it. When I got out I was the only recognised batsmen left, so it was disappointing."
SA openers Jake Weatherald and Henry Hunt both fell cheaply to leave the Redbacks at 2 for 23. But the biggest collapse came after the Redbacks had moved to 2 for 41, with the visitors losing 3 for 0 in a catastrophic period, which included the loss of dangerman Travis Head for 9 who gloved a pull down the leg side against Cameron Gannon.
Alex Carey was then run out by a direct hit from D'Arcy Short before Jake Lehmann fended a short delivery first ball to the keeper
"We won a good toss today," Gannon said. "There can be pressure on a bowling group to take wickets when you see a green surface like that. When you've got people like Jhye Richardson and Lance Morris bowling rockets, and some control with myself, Joel [Paris] and Greeny at the other end, it's a pretty well balanced attack."