Conditions conspire against Warriors
Bad light and rain conspired to prevented WA whittling away NSW’s first innings lead in the final qualifying round of the Sheffield Shield season.
Only four overs were possible after tea at the WACA Ground as steady rain forced the players from the ground.
And when they returned to the field after a 90-minute delay, poor light intervened almost immediately with the players leaving the ground again.
The Warriors added just three runs in the short period of play after tea with opener Cam Bancroft remaining 29 not out while No.3 Michael Klinger continued his superb debut season with the Warriors to be 19 not out in WA’s 1-55.
Marcus Harris fell cheaply but was the only casualty when Western Australia replied to NSW’s first innings 407.
NSW wickets tumbled after lunch as the WA attack scythed through the lower order to claim 4-2 in a handful of overs.
Peter Nevill was dismissed shortly after the break for 48 and Sean Abbott thumped a quick 33 before falling to Nathan Coulter-Nile but the tail added little against the pace of the WA attack.
Doug Bollinger then bowled with significant fire for the Blues but apart from drawing an edge from Harris as the left-hander was forced to defend a lifter, the WA batsmen saw off the danger.
Opener Cam Bancroft remained 28 not out while No.3 Michael Klinger continued his superb debut season with the Warriors to be 17 not out in WA’s 1-52.
NSW used five bowlers, including Test spin duo Nathan Lyon and Stephen O’Keefe, but barely threatened the batsmen on the placid pitch.
NSW have to win the match to qualify for the shield final while WA can qualify with a draw.
Given that top team Victoria are racing towards an outright victory and the chance to host the final, it is likely that WA’s prime objective in the next day will be to ensure that NSW can not build a powerful position in this match.
Coulter-Nile and Rimmington both used bouncers to great effect to claim three wickets apiece in the NSW innings while Ashton Agar had a lone success when he trapped Nevill in front just short of his half-century.
Moises Henriques’ second century against WA had put NSW in a strong position though it may not be enough to get the Blues into next week’s final.
Henriques was dismissed for 145 by teenager David Moody on the last delivery before lunch when he sliced a firm cut to Nathan Coulter-Nile in the gully.
Peter Nevill reached 48 before he was trapped lbw to give Ashton Agar his sole wicket.
The pair put on 142 for the fifth wicket after Henriques and Nic Maddinson had put on 137 together for the fourth wicket on the first day.
It was just the second time in six years that the WA attack had given up consecutive century stands.
The Blues had to reach 417 within the first 100 overs of the innings to have any chance of scoring enough bonus points to pass WA if the game ended in a draw.
No play was lost to rain in the first session but heavy clouds were circling the WACA and it appeared only a matter of time before play was forced to stop.
NSW were 4-344 at the end of the bonus point period to gain 1.44 batting points.
NSW started the game 3.66 points behind WA and while the home team failed to claim any bowling points, they will retain a small buffer even if NSW gain full bowling points and the Warriors didn’t pick up any batting points.
Nevill was patient before accelerating in the hour before lunch but Henriques, who scored a brilliant century to deny the Warriors in the shield final last year, was far more aggressive.
He added 86 in the extended session and was savage on seamers Nathan Rimmington and Andrew Tye with several massive blows for six.
