Win puts Warriors back on top

WA have moved to the top of the Sheffield Shield ladder after hurrying to the target of 122 set by South Australia at the WACA Ground today.

It was fitting that both first innings centurions were unbeaten given their contributions in the match and over the season.

SEASON-ENDING INJURY FOR DUFFIELD

Michael Klinger completed his first shield outing against his old State by hammering 51 not out, including the winning run, to go with the first innings 190 that set up WA’s eight-wicket win.

Klinger thrashed three fours and a six in Travis Head’s second over to help Adam Voges complete a clinical run chase.

The WA captain was 22 not out to complete a game in which he equalled John Inverarity’s record of 138 catches for the State.

The Warriors were set the small target after dismissing SA for 260 and apart from the loss of openers Marcus Harris (28) and Cam Bancroft (21), who were undone by Kane Richardson during a lively but belated spell, had few troubles cruising to the target.

The victory maintained WA’s lustrous summer but it came at a significant cost with paceman Ryan Duffield out of action for the rest of the season after requiring a pin in the thumb that Richardson broke on the third day.

WA’s pace bowling depth will be sorely tested over the next two months after Duffield joined Jason Behrendorff (back) and his cousin Joel Paris (quad) on the long-term casualty list.

Nathan Coulter-Nile is also returning from hamstring surgery and his pace will be crucial on the flat Glenelg Oval pitch where the return encounter against the Redbacks will be played next week.

Harris and Bancroft started well and were rarely troubled by the SA attack.

Harris faced just 21 balls for his 28 and was ferocious against Gary Putland and Richardson before giving the latter his first wicket with a skied pull shot.

Bancroft was more circumspect but struck several crisp boundaries before Tim Ludeman completed a spectacular catch off a Richardson lifter.