Hilton Cartwright has struck a dazzling ton and fit-again opener Cameron Bancroft has the chance to join him in the century club after Western Australia took control of their Sheffield Shield clash with NSW.
WA went to stumps on day two at 2-209 in their second innings, an overall lead of 144 with one day remaining in the crunch clash at the WACA Ground.
Cartwright is unbeaten on 108 off 199 balls, while Bancroft is 85 not out off 260 balls, with the pair’s partnership now 181.
It marked a successful return for Bancroft, who fractured his shoulder and broke his nose during a sickening outfield collision with his Sydney Thunder teammate Daniel Sams on January 3.
Cartwright’s century came at a perfect time, given how crucial the match is to Western Australia’s title hopes.
WA (32.63) sit third on the Shield table, just behind NSW (32.87) with only one more round to play after this one.
If WA lose to NSW, their hopes of a four-peat are over, but a win or a draw will keep them alive heading into next week’s clash with fourth-placed Victoria (30.64 points).
NSW started play on Saturday nicely placed at 8-258 in their second innings – an overall lead of 62.
But they were only able to add three more runs to their tally before their innings was brought to a close.
Bancroft juggled a catch at slip to send Chris Green packing for 25.
And Jack Edwards (48) was out four balls later when Sam Fanning held on to a spectacular one-handed catch at short leg.
Fanning’s heroics meant star WA paceman Lance Morris ended the innings with impressive figures of 5-26 from 20.3 overs.
Under strict Cricket Australia management plans, the injury-prone Morris will be limited to about 30 overs for the match.
Hilton Cartwright (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)
It means Morris will need to cause mass destruction from limited opportunities when NSW bat again on Sunday.
WA were in deep trouble at 2-28 in their second innings following the quick departures of Sam Whiteman (9) and Jayden Goodwin (0) at the hands of Liam Hatcher (2-26).
But Bancroft and Cartwright dug in, the pair’s patient stand lifting WA out of trouble and into a position of strength.
Bulls get on top against Tassie
Queensland are on the verge of a crucial Sheffield Shield win after their bowlers quelled Tasmania’s fightback on day three at Bellerive.
All seven batsmen at the top of the Tasmanian order made starts in their second innings, but no one could replicate the day-one century from Queensland and Test opener Usman Khawaja that set the tone for the game.
Instead, Queensland reached 1-26 at stumps in their second innings on Saturday, needing another 56 to win.
Barring a miracle Tasmanian bowling performance, the visitors will wrap up the match before lunch on Sunday.
Queensland started the second-last Shield round in second-last place, but their likely win will keep them in contention for the final.
Michael Neser put Queensland in the box seat on day two with his six wickets in 39 balls, then took another two on Saturday, giving him eight for the game.
But after being made to follow-on 264 runs behind, Tasmania put up a fight in their second innings.
They resumed on Saturday at 1-70 and opener Jake Weatherald top-scored with 71 as Tim Ward (52), Jordan Silk (50) and Test allrounder Beau Webster (64no) also scored half-centuries.
Neser made the first breakthrough, trapping Weatherald lbw after he had hit nine fours and a six in his 81-ball innings.
After Ben McDermott’s great catch off the legspin of Mitch Swepson dismissed Ward, Doran and Silk put on 74 for the fourth wicket to give Tasmania some hope that they could put themselves back in the game.
Jack Wildermuth then had Doran caught behind and, crucially, Mark Steketee trapped Silk lbw in the next over to put the brakes on the Tasmanian fightback.
Webster rallied the tailenders to ensure Queensland would bat again, but the wickets fell steadily – including a brutal yorker from Neser that bowled Kieran Elliott.
Steketee was the pick of the attack, taking 3-87 from 23 overs as Xavier Bartlett and Swepson claimed two wickets apiece.
Riley Meredith had Matt Renshaw caught behind for 11 to start Queensland’s second innings.
Khawaja (12no) and Jack Clayton (3no) will aim to wrap up the match on Sunday.
SA face tough mission to topple Vics
Nathan McSweeney and Henry Hunt have started brightly as South Australia attempt to pull off a formidable fourth-innings chase to secure a home Sheffield Shield final.
Victoria remain in a strong position to win the crucial match at the Junction Oval in Melbourne.
But in pursuit of 300, SA headed to stumps on day three at 1-47 on a pitch that appears to be growing better for batters the longer the match continues.
After top-scoring with 60 in the first innings, McSweeney (13*) looked comfortable at the crease with opener Hunt (31*).
Test quick Scott Boland, who took 4-53 in the first innings, dismissed struggling opener Conor McInerney (1) for the second time in the match when he had him caught behind.
It looms as a big Sunday for McSweeney, who is trying to lead SA to their first Shield title in 29 years.
But a match-winning innings would also put him firmly in the frame to add to his three Tests ahead of the World Test Championship final and the tour of the West Indies later this year.
After being dropped prior to the Boxing Day Test, McSweeney was included in Australia’s squad for the tour of Sri Lanka but didn’t play a game.
Having a first-innings lead of two, Victoria posted 297 in their second dig, led by youngsters Campbell Kellaway (77) and Harry Dixon (76).
Kellaway had opportunities in this match to make his second first-class century, having also top-scored in Victoria’s first innings with 79.
Liam Scott was the pick of SA’s bowlers, finishing with 4-49 after going wicketless in the first innings.
Victoria sit fourth on the table with two games to play, but are close enough to leapfrog NSW and WA into second.
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