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Hogan puts WA on top against Tassie

Hogan puts WA on top against Tassie

Michael Hogan’s fresh legs after missing the Big Bash helped him to four early wickets.

Nathan Coulter-Nile’s adjustment to the different tempo of Sheffield Shield cricket took longer but his quality was evident from three late scalps.

Wayward and unsettled initially as they came to terms with the different nuances of red ball cricket and a WACA Ground devoid of atmosphere, Western Australia had reasons to be happy with their return to the traditional competition.

The two pacemen cracked open Tasmania’s batting line-up while openers Cameron Bancroft (17) and Marcus North (39 not out) enjoyed a frolic against the new ball at the end of the day.

The pair whittled 59 from the deficit last night after Tasmania were dismissed for 248, only for Bancroft to fall within sight of stumps.

The Tasmania total was probably 100 under par on a surface that should be at its best for batting today but had few demons in the opening three sessions.

North was trying to beat the Scorchers only a week ago in his role as Sydney Sixers captain but quickly displayed the sublime form that made him this summer’s leading shield runscorer when the competition went into mothballs two months ago.

He became the sixth WA batsman to reach 7000 shield runs and later passed current assistant Geoff Marsh on the way to 7023 runs for the State.

Hogan got his wickets by maintaining a length that canny quicks have used with great success at the WACA for many decades.

Landing full enough to entice a drive, he nonetheless gained sufficient bounce to undo batsmen unused to the nature of the ground.

The only Tigers batsmen to thrive were opener Mark Cosgrove, who still fell in classic fashion to Hogan in the over after lunch after thrashing 71 in the first session, and combative all-rounder Luke Butterworth.

Wicket-keeper Sam Whiteman and first slip Adam Voges were the main beneficiaries of Hogan’s work as the first four wickets all succumbed to straightforward edges.

Coulter-Nile completed the job in similar fashion with wickets in each of his final three overs.

WA shield runscoring record

Runs Name Matches Ave HS 100s

9406 Justin Langer 108 52.26 274* 29

8853 Tom Moody 132 42.98 272 20

8007 Mike Hussey 112 41.06 223* 16

7306 Mike Veletta 114 41.04 262 18

7023 Marcus North 107 40.13 239* 21

7009 Geoff Marsh 100 43.00 355 21

6910 Damien martyn 97 44.58 203* 20

6904 Graeme Wood 109 46.34 186* 20