WA see off gallant Redbacks

WA's bowlers took the ten wickets required on the final day of their Sheffield Shield match against South Australia at Karen Rolton Oval, claiming the final wicket inside the final hour of the match to win by 205 runs.

With a lead of 362 runs heading in to the final day captain Shaun Marsh opted to bat on, himself undefeated on a run a ball 102 with Cameron Green joining him at the crease after Cameron Bancroft's last ball dismissal on day 3.

WA would bat for just three overs before the declaration came at 2-215, Marsh on 110 and Green on 11, setting SA 382 runs for victory.

The innings got off to a horrid start, with opener Henry Hunt edging behind for a duck in the opening over, Joel Paris the successful bowler.

Some sensational fielding from Cameron Gannon at cover brought about the second wicket, Brad Davis run out after Gannon sprawled to his left to field and return with a back flick to keeper Inglis with Davis stranded.

First innings centurion Jake Weatherald was again looming large for the Redbacks along with skipper Travis Head, the pair guiding the home side to lunch without further loss.

Weatherland was on the attack after the break but Ashton Agar trapped him in front for 36, winning an LBW verdict to send the left hander on his way.

Tom Cooper became Lance Morris' maiden first class victim when he chopped on to the Scarborough speedster for 5, WA sensing a quick kill with South Australia 4-99 not even an hour after lunch.

Keeper Harry Nielsen dug in with his skipper who passed 50, but Matt Kelly claimed the big scalp of Head within sight of tea, Josh Inglis completing the catch behind the stumps.

With victory now off the table for the embattled Redbacks their only hope was to salvage a draw in the final session, with 37 overs to be bowled in the extended two and a half hour session.

Nielsen and young all-rounder Liam Scott stayed together for 16 overs before the left handed wicket keeper batsman clipped Cameron Gannon to leg gully, well caught by Bancroft.

The runs dried up as Nick Winter and Scott dug in to take the game in to the final hour, overs and time running out for WA to force a win.

It was the part time off-spin of Ashton Turner that broke the stand, Winter lured in to a false shot as he was sharply caught at silly point by Sam Whiteman.

The key wicket was that of Scott, who was trapped on the crease by one that kept low from Matt Kelly to be removed for a defiant 34, signalling the last rites for his side.

Wes Agar was castled by Gannon for a duck, while Paris returned to finish what he started by removing Chadd Sayers for naught, South Australia all out for 177 to lose by 205 runs with just over eight overs remaining.

It capped off a largely dominant four days of cricket for WA, who bossed the match from the moment Josh Inglis and Ashton Agar came together for an 266 run unbroken stand for the sixth wicket, both registering centuries.

Agar was player of the match for his 114* and six wickets for the match, including 5-103 in the first innings.

Queensland won their Shield match against Tasmania by an innings and 59 runs, the match decided with just six overs remaining as leg spinner bowled the Bulls to victory.

Western Australia's next match is against New South Wales, starting next Monday 19th October at Gladys Elphick Park in Adelaide.

IMAGE: Canberra Times.