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WA crush Victoria in Shield clash

Western Australia secured their first outright win of the Sheffield Shield, crushing Victoria by an innings and 38 runs before lunch on day four at the WACA Ground.

WA dominated the game from the moment stand-in Victorian skipper Rob Quiney won the toss and elected to bowl.

The Warriors went on to amass 8(dec)-581 in their first innings with Marcus North (145) and Shaun Marsh (127 not out) making centuries before the Bushrangers made a disastrous start to the run chase late on the second day.

Victoria fell to 4-25 and were bowled out for 198 with only 85 from David Hussey providing any real resistance.

WA enforced the follow-on midway through the third day and even though Victoria showed more fight, they were still 5-272 by stumps heading into the final day.

Cameron White brought up his century late on the third day, but he was first man out on Monday when he attempted a lap shot from the off-spin bowling of North.

That ended White’s knock on 131 that came from just 155 deliveries and included 17 boundaries and a six.

From 6-310 Dan Christian and John Hastings stuck around for 31 runs for the seventh wicket until Christian fell to the second new ball when he was caught behind off Sam Whiteman for a fighting 40.

That started a procession that saw the match end quickly with Clint McKay surviving just two balls before also out caught behind off Whiteman off Coulter-Nile for a duck.

Jake Haberfield added just one with Hastings last man out lbw to seemed a dubious decision for 19 – Victoria all out for 345 losing their last four wickets four runs.

Coulter-Nile took 4-53 for the Warriors to go with his 4-57 in the first innings while man of the match North claimed 2-38 to go with his 145 with the bat.

Meanwhile, Rain killed off NSW’s chances of back-to-back Sheffield Shield victories over Queensland, as Usman Khawaja again failed to enhance his Test prospects.

After losing half of the opening day on Friday to bad weather, and being forced from the field on several occasions on Saturday, intermittent rain on the fourth and final day ended any hope of either side grabbing six points.

NSW will take first innings points on the back of Ryan Carters’ superb 154 in their score of 9(dec)-397, which earned them a 91-run first innings lead.

But they will rue the poor weather which cost them a chance at securing rare consecutive outright victories over Queensland, following last week’s 150-run victory.

Play was called off following a heavy downpour one over after tea which surprised ground staff, with water getting onto the pitch before they were able to cover it.

Queensland were 3-123 chasing 313 for victory, with Chris Lynn (40no) and Peter Forrest (29no) thwarting the Blues’ best efforts.

Doug Bollinger (1-20) continued his bright form to remove opener Greg Moller for one before Steve O’Keefe had Nathan Reardon (22) caught off a mistimed slog sweep.

Khawaja looked to be a major roadblock for the Blues before he threw away his wicket.

The 26-year-old’s form in the domestic one-day tournament shot him into contention for an Ashes spot.

But selectors have no desire to change their top six after the monster 381-run win in the opening Test at the Gabba and Khawaja is hardly forcing their hand either.

The left-hander, who has played nine Tests, again compiled a good start before carelessly slashing at a wider delivery from Sean Abbott (1-27) to be caught behind for 25.

Earlier, NSW suffered a mini-collapse in line with England’s effort at the Gabba when they lost four wickets while adding just two runs to go from 1-170 to 5-172 in the space of four overs.

The carnage was inspired by former Test offspinner Nathan Hauritz (4-93) and the desire to add quick runs.

The Blues’ first innings centurion Ryan Carters again top-scored with 67 to go with his earlier 154.

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