Rocchiccioli takes 4 as Western Australia dominate

Western Australia 1 for 67 (Whiteman 37*, Freeman 1-10) path Tasmania 179 (Ward 44, Rocchiccioli 4-31, Stobo 3-28) by 112 runs

Rocchiccioli equalled his greatest first-class figures of 4 for 31 to tear by means of Tasmania, who have been bowled out for 179 after successful the toss.

In reply, WA have been 1 for 67 at stumps as they eye victory to safe a house closing for the second straight yr.

Opener Cameron Bancroft, the main Shield run-scorer this season, regarded in very good contact earlier than prodding offspinner Jarrod Freeman to short-leg on 28.

With their hopes of qualifying for the ultimate within the steadiness, Tasmania have been determined to make amends after copping a 383-run thrashing to WA at house final week.

Skipper Jordan Silk elected to bowl in humid and overcast circumstances. It appeared a threat on a green-tinged floor and with seam bowling dominating the bat within the matches on the floor earlier within the season.

But within the first Shield match on the WACA in nearly three months, the floor appeared benign with Tasmania openers Tim Ward and Caleb Jewell comparatively untroubled in a 72-run partnership.

They nearly batted by means of the opening session till Jewell fell simply earlier than lunch for 40 after being brilliantly caught by Mitchell Marsh at slip off the bowling of Rocchiccioli.

No.3 Jake Doran had a reprieve moments later when he was dropped by Bancroft at slip as Tasmania reached lunch at 1 for 80.

Having bowled inside themselves within the first session, WA’s assault was ignited by a shocking one-handed return catch low to the bottom from fast Charlie Stobo to take away Ward for 44.

It triggered a collapse for Tasmania, who misplaced 3 for 11 with Doran and Mac Wright falling to good line and size bowling from Stobo and Matt Kelly.

But Silk and Tim Paine steadied the ship with a combating partnership to thwart a WA assault intent on opening up the decrease order.

Marsh, who impressed along with his rotation of bowlers, pulled a masterstroke by reverting again to under-used Rocchiccioli simply earlier than tea. Once once more, the offspinner snared a wicket earlier than a break when he eliminated Silk for 18.

As the specter of a thunderstorm loomed, Tasmania’s decrease order have been blown away after Paine holed out for 17. They misplaced their final six wickets for 30 to make sure Tasmania failed to achieve 200 runs for the third straight innings in opposition to WA.

Rocchiccioli completed with the spoils having retained his spot within the facet as spinning allrounder Ashton Agar, who was despatched house from Australia’s tour of India after being neglected for choice, focuses on white-ball cricket.

Agar is about to play within the 50-over Marsh Cup closing between WA and South Australia on March 8 earlier than returning to India for the ODI leg of the tour.

Marsh, in the meantime, stepped up his preparation for the ODI collection having lately returned from a three-month harm layoff. The allrounder will play as a specialist batter in his first Shield match in two years.

Tasmania dropped wicketkeeper-batter Ben McDermott, a former Australia ODI and T20I participant who has struggled this home season, whereas veteran seamer Peter Siddle was rested.