North gives Westerns edge over South
Marcus North scored a unbeaten 130 to carry Western Australia to a handy first-innings total on a scorching opening day of their Pura Cup match against South Australia at Adelaide
AAP
04-Mar-2004
South Australia 0 for 13 trail Western Australia 335 (North 130*) by 322 runs
Scorecard
Scorecard
Marcus North scored a unbeaten 130 to carry Western Australia to a handy first-innings total on a scorching opening day of their Pura Cup match against South Australia at Adelaide. After winning the toss, WA racked up 335 in its first innings, with SA closing on 0 for 13 in reply.
It was an important toss to win as Mike Hussey sent South Australia out to bat in near-40 degree heat, with strong winds, dust storms and a cruelly flat batting track to contend with. But WA failed to capitalise early on, with Scott Meuleman suicidally run out for 5, before Mark Cleary picked up the wickets of Hussey (28) and Chris Rogers (17). At 3 for 75, SA had taken the early honours.
But that brought North to the crease, and with Murray Goodwin continuing his superb form, the pair added 81 for the fourth wicket, before Goodwin was caught behind, slashing at a short wide ball off Shaun Tait, for 55. It prompted a mid-innings slump from WA that was only halted by a defiant 76-run stand for the ninth wicket with Aaron Heal (33).
"Up until tea we were a little bit disappointed with the way we've played," admitted North. "We obviously won the toss and batted first on a pretty good batting wicket, so it was important that we got a score over 300. From the position we were in we'll be happy to take 330 and we've just got to bowl well tomorrow."
North brought up his century with an edge past the slips off Paul Rofe, as SA took the new ball to bring about a swift end to the innings. But the move backfired as North embarked on a scoring spree. His last 30 runs came off 24 balls, including four fours, as well as a six over midwicket off the allrounder Mick Miller.
The pick of SA's bowlers was Cleary who took 3 for 43, and afterwards he was content with his side's efforts. "We could have closed them down 70 or 80 runs short of what they got," he admitted, "but then again 335 wasn't too bad a day for us, it was a good batting wicket, so we'll take that."