Western Australia 26 for 0 (Bancroft 15*, Whiteman 9*). South Australia 192 (McAndrew 50*, Hardy 3-11, Paris 3-32) a difference of 166 points.
After South Australia were bowled out for 192, Cameron Bancroft and Sam Whiteman survived a tough spell in the final hour. Bancroft, the league’s top run-scorer this season, was dropped by Ben Manenty at second slip on nine off seamer Brendan Doggett to cap a bleak day for the Redbacks.
He has taken 16 wickets at an average of 12.31 since returning from a hamstring injury sustained during Australia A’s match with New Zealand A in August.
The 30-year-old Parris, who played two ODIs against India in 2016, has a history of injury problems and is often overlooked amid West Australia’s star-studded moves, but looms as an interesting prospect for the national selectors.
“My main focus is to play consistent cricket. I feel that players who play good, consistent domestic cricket for a number of years always have a chance.” [of higher honours]“Paris said.
WA’s opening Shield matches at home this season against Victoria and Tasmania were played on slow surfaces with the famous bowling green feeling the effects of Australian rules football being played on it during the off-season.
Amid the warm, sunny conditions, it almost looked like the famous game of bowling at the WACA, where Paris bowled with a long back and the ball moved dangerously off the surface.
Paris threatened on almost every delivery and was adamant that he got opener Henry Hunt at short leg in the third over. He was frustrated when his vociferous appeal was rejected, but Paris’s disappointment was short-lived when he trapped Hunt lbw on the next ball.
Hunt, who last summer was viewed as a Test prospect, was hoping to build on his century against Queensland after a slow start to the season.
The Redbacks slid further when Daniel Drew took a quick delivery from seamer Aaron Hardy to Bancroft for the first of his five catches at second slip.
South Australia were in danger of succumbing to Paris, whose first spell yielded 1 for 8 from six overs. But openers Jake Carder and Nathan McSweeney withstood the attack as the Redbacks crawled to lunch at 56 for 2.
Speedster Lance Morris, who unleashed 145km/h deliveries before lunch, was rewarded for a brilliant spell after the break with a stunning delivery that hit the top of McSweeney’s stump.
Paris dismissed Jake Lehmann with Bancroft again having a big chance at second slip before Hardie and seamer Charles Stubo took over.
Only a quick, unbeaten half-century from Nathan McAndrew challenged the West Australian attack as they completely dominated a 44-run last-wicket partnership with Jordan Buckingham, but South Australia have plenty of work to do on day two.
The teams are playing for the Rod Marsh Trophy, which was revealed before today’s match. Western Australian cricket legend Marsh, a combative wicket-keeper who played 96 Tests for Australia from 1970 to 1984, was director and coach of the Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide after his playing career. He died at the age of 74 in March 2022.
Tristan Lavallette is a journalist based in Perth
