Morris & Kelly rout Redbacks

Western Australian pacemen Lance Morris and Matt Kelly shared seven second innings wickets between them, as the home side thrashed South Australia an innings and 28 runs at the WACA on Monday.

It took the reigning Shield champs less than an hour to clean up the remainder of the South Australian batting line up, recording a third straight home win to start their Shield defence.

Resuming at 6/66 needing 79 more to make the home side bat again the Redbacks lost Wes Agar in the opening over of the day, caught behind off Matt Kelly for 7.

Ben Manenti threw the bat in the company of his captain Henry Hunt, the end a mere formality with so much time remaining in the match.

Hunt made 32 having opened the innings, looking rock solid before spooning Kelly to rival skipper Sam Whiteman at cover.

Manenti went down swinging, clearing the boundary off Corey Rocchiccioli on his way to a breezy 39 off just 25 balls, last out as South Australia succumbed in just 35.3 overs for 117.

Jordan Buckingham was unable to bat after suffering a hand injury in the field, the young quick set for a stint on the sidelines in a further blow to the struggling state.

Kelly finished with 4/23 from 12 overs to claim match figures of 9/57, a superlative return after being left out of the previous two matches.

He and Morris shared 16 of the 19 SA wickets to fall in the match, the paceman continuing his superb start to the season as he passed 50 career first class wickets in the process.

Captain Whiteman was named player of the match for his 193, part of an opening stand of 308 with Cameron Bancroft that set up the victory for his side.

The win cements Western Australia’s spot on top of the table, with road trips to Sydney and Brisbane to come before the Big Bash.

The two teams return to the WACA for a Marsh One Day Cup match on Wednesday.

IMAGE: Perth Now.