Marsh ton helps WA dominate Vics
An unbeaten ton from Shaun Marsh has helped put WA in control of their Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria at the WACA Ground.
After resuming on 2no on Saturday morning, Marsh reminded Australian selectors of his potency on day two, blasting 127 off 143 balls to help WA to a massive first innings of 8(dec)-581.
At stumps, Victoria were in desperate trouble at 7-158, with David Hussey on 76no and Clint McKay on 13no.
The Bushrangers batsmen were reeling immediately, losing four wickets before tea for 19 with Rob Quiney (6), Aaron Finch (5), Cameron White (0) and Peter Handscomb (7) falling quickly.
Nathan Coulter-Nile (3-46) was responsible most of the early damage while his fellow paceman, left-armer Jason Behrendorff, was just as impressive, snaring 3-44.
Hussey, returning to the Victorian team after being dropped for last week’s win over Tasmania, looked scratchy when he came to the wicket with the Bushrangers 4-25.
But the 36-year-old battled through to still be there at stumps.
Meanwhile, fiery NSW paceman Doug Bollinger is doing everything possible to revive his Test career.
He produced a devastating five-over spell of pace bowling to rip apart Queensland’s top order late on day two at the SCG to ram home the advantage created by young opener Ryan Carters.
Bollinger (3-26) knocked over Queensland’s top order of Greg Moller (0, lbw), Nathan Reardon (3, bowled) and Usman Khawaja (10, caught behind) as Queensland finished at 3-53 in reply to NSW’s 9(dec)-397.
Carters made sure his maiden first-class century was a big one – finishing on 154.
The Blues were in trouble at times during the rain-affected clash, but were pulled from the mire by Carters.
The 23-year-old showed maturity beyond his years to steady the home side after the loss of early wickets on Friday, and cashed in on day two.
Along with skipper Peter Nevill (70) he turned the momentum of the match with a 144-run sixth-wicket partnership which gave the Blues the upper hand.
And South Australia teenage sensation Travis Head fell heartbreakingly short of a maiden Shield century against Tasmania as the Redbacks pushed towards a first innings lead in their clash at Adelaide Oval.
Head stumbled for the third time in the 90s this month after blasting a ferocious 98, taking the Redbacks to 4-191 at stumps on day two of the encounter.
The visitors had been bowled out for 291 on the final ball before lunch.
Head’s impressive knock and valuable 75-run partnership with Tom Cooper (26) gave the home side momentum before Callum Ferguson (24no) and skipper Johan Botha (10no) steadied the ship before close.