Western Australia’s trophy surge continues with back-to-back Sheffield Shield titles

Western Australia 315 (Turner 128, Sutherland 5-75) and 1 for 93 beat Victoria 195 (Chandrasinghe 46*, Morris 3-53) and 210 (Sutherland 83, Handscomb 52, Kelly 4-41, Paris 3-55) by 9 wickets

Western Australia cemented their standing as home cricket’s undisputed powerhouse with a crushing nine-wicket victory over Victoria to emphatically full a back-to-back Sheffield Shield triumph.

Having bowled out Victoria for 210 of their second innings, WA chased down the 91-run goal within the second session on day 4. Their seventeenth Shield title was secured when opener Cameron Bancroft, the main run-scorer within the competitors, hit the successful runs to set off scenes of jubilation across the WACA.

As anticipated in opposition to a powerful Victoria assault, WA had been made to work and misplaced skipper Sam Whiteman for his seventh duck of the Shield season when he was trapped lbw to unrelenting seamer Scott Boland.

It was Boland’s three hundredth Shield wicket and he virtually added one other when he caught an edge from teenager Teague Wyllie just for skipper Peter Handscomb to drop a tricky probability at second slip.

But WA had been to not be denied as they accomplished a historic treble of home titles for the second straight season. They thrashed South Australia within the 50-over Marsh Cup ultimate and Perth Scorchers overcame Brisbane Heat in an epic BBL decider.

WA’s revelry was held up by spectacular allrounder Will Sutherland, who superly backed his attacking instincts with 83 off 84 balls however Victoria’s lead simply wasn’t sufficient.

Victoria began day 4 at 6 for 122 with their slim hopes resting on Sutherland and Mitchell Perry, who had each defied WA late on day three.

Sutherland was virtually caught at lengthy on within the first over however settled in after that in a gutsy efficiency having been moved right down to No.8 as a result of a again harm.

The batters regarded snug till Perry was caught behind off fast Matthew Kelly, who was on a hat-trick after a cracker of a supply knocked over Fergus O’Neill.

The finish was nigh however Sutherland obtained help from Todd Murphy, who provided resistance having had little influence with the ball in his return from a breakout Test tour of India.

As Victoria’s lead approached triple figures, Murphy’s defiance ended on 26 when he was caught at level off allrounder Aaron Hardie.

Sutherland, who claimed 5 wickets in WA’s first innings, holed out simply shy of a deserved century however capped a powerful allround season and looms as a participant of curiosity for the nationwide selectors.

After being despatched in on a green-tinged floor, Victoria managed simply 195 of their first innings with 21-year-old opener Ashley Chandrasinghe mustering the one substantial struggle.

In a rearguard that polarised public opinion, Chandrasinghe carried his bat to complete unbeaten on 46 from 280 balls however Victoria failed to gather any bonus factors.

WA struggled in response at 4 for 53 earlier than veteran Ashton Turner scored a drought-breaking century to energy his workforce to 315 and a lead of 120 runs.

Having solely lately returned to WA’s Shield facet after a close to three-year exile, Turner counterpunched to notch his first Shield ton since November 2017.

Turner’s heroics dented Victoria’s hopes of avenging final season’s ultimate the place they fell brief to WA in a drawn match determined by bonus factors.

Victoria can take coronary heart out of a spectacular turnaround after they had been staring down the barrel mid-season earlier than storming into the ultimate with 5 straight wins.

An rising Victoria, marked by an thrilling tempo assault, are on the cusp of a formidable run however might be left pondering how they will knock off all-conquering WA, who’re firmly amid a golden period.

Source web site: www.espncricinfo.com

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