Redbacks gain edge after Rofe, Fleming peg back Warriors

Western Australia conceded first innings points to opponents South Australia just nine overs short of the scheduled close of play on the second day of this four-day Pura Cup match at the WACA ground in Perth on Saturday.

The Redbacks bowlers maintained their discipline, bowling in the corridor and more or less frustrated the Warriors batsmen into coughing up their wickets.

Five of six catches were taken behind the wicket when the batsmen went fishing or chasing at balls outside the off stump. Four leg-before-wicket decisions were given against batsmen not really playing a stroke. This inevitably came after batsmen had watched ball after ball sail outside the off stump. Lulled into a false sense of security, batsmen failed to deal with the odd straight one that posed a serious lbw threat.

Against this backdrop Chris Rogers played a patient knock of 64 and shared in four partnerships in the middle of the innings.

Scott Meuleman 7 (17 balls) started the rot when he skied a catch back to Damien Fleming in just the fifth over of the innings. Interestingly, coming as early as it did, with thirteen runs on the board, this was the only catch in front of the wicket.

Out strode former Zimbabwe Test cricketer Murray Goodwin. However, he too returned as quickly as he came out - leg before wicket to Paul Rofe for a third-ball duck. Western Australia were reduced to 13 for two.

Goodwin must be under a lot of pressure to perform in a side that is not having the best time of it and has been struggling in recent times. There was an air of disappointment that 12th man Shaun Marsh had not taken Goodwin's place after the 19-year-old scored so well in the ING Cup one-day fixture against the same opponents earlier in the week.

Marcus North survived past the luncheon interval when he and Michael Hussey added 65 for the third wicket, taking the Warriors' score to 78 before the pair were separated. North made a solid-looking 25 (85 balls) before he feathered an edge to the 'keeper Shane Deitz off the bowling of Rofe to give the lean bowler his second wicket of the innings.

Hussey neared fifty but could not quite reach the half-century mark. His 48 included a slow 52-minute period with Chris Rogers immediately after the wicket of North. Of the 14 overs sent down in that near hour span, 10 were maidens and just 18 runs were added to the total. Hussey added just three runs to his score in that entire period. His innings abruptly ended in a moment of frustration when he took a swipe at a Ryan Harris delivery outside off and was caught by David Fitzgerald at first slip. Western Australia slumped to 96 for four.

Ryan Campbell (4 runs, 19 balls) padded up once too often to Mick Miller and was given out leg before wicket. His only scoring shot came when he lifted Harris over the slips. At this stage Western Australia were in trouble, staring down the barrel, 111 for five. They were still well shy of the follow-on mark.

Coming in at this stage Brad Hogg played with typical aggression. Especially effective when cutting behind point Hogg was at the crease till he too chased a wide delivery from Ben Johnson and was caught behind for 25 (50 balls). With Rogers he added 45 for the sixth wicket which fell at 156.

Top scorer for Western Australia with 64 (130 balls, 12 fours), Rogers finally fell to a ball from Fleming which straightened off the seam and then cannoned into his pad, trapping him plumb in front of the stumps. North's 47-run association with Matthew Nicholson saw that Western Australia reached 203 before the seventh wicket fell.

Before the scorers needed to mark another run, the wicket of Matthew Nicholson fell in just the next over. He hung the bat out at a ball from Rofe and was caught at second slip by Mick Miller for an entertaining 28 (54 balls) which included just ten scoring shots, six of which were fours.

Jo Angel joined Brad Williams in the middle and defiantly helped the Warriors limp past the follow-on target of 209. But Angel was trapped in front by Fleming after scoring just one and it took the umpire some time before he was eventually given out as the scoreboard read 212 for nine.

Michael Clark (5 runs, 7 balls) was last to go with the score on 217, getting himself caught at deep backward point by Harris when he cut at a Rofe delivery and only managed a top edge.

Brad Williams was unbeaten on 8 (6 balls) when the innings came to a close. The three partnerships he was involved in, all ended in a three-over burst against a resurgent attack soon after the new ball was taken.

Rofe with four for 55 was the pick of the bowlers. He and Fleming (3-52) used the new ball well and reaped the rewards of disciplined bowling. Miller (1-32), Harris (1-42) and Johnson (1-26) played a supporting role. John Davison was the only bowler used who ended wicket-less.

Redbacks sent out openers Johnson and David Fitzgerald to see off seven overs at the end of the day. Johnson was unlucky when he played on to Brad Williams whilst defending. The ball came off the inside edge and took the back pad before falling onto the off stump. Johnson made five from 11 balls and was replaced by night watchman John Davison.

Fitzgerald and Davison batted safely to stumps when the South Australians had 14 runs on the board for the loss of a solitary wicket.

Warm humid conditions are forecast for tomorrow with a fine day to follow. In these conditions, one can only surmise than an outright result is entirely probable.