Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Sport
Justin Chadwick

WA crush SA to reclaim Shield top spot

Matt Kelly took career-best match figures of 9-57 to help Western Australia thrash South Australia. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Western Australia's stunning start to their Sheffield Shield title defence has continued as they thrashed South Australia by an innings and 27 runs at the WACA Ground.

The Redbacks resumed on the final day in trouble at 6-66 in their second innings, still needing a further 79 runs to make WA bat again.

Further hampering their cause, tail-ender Jordan Buckingham was ruled out of batting duties after injuring his right hand while sliding to save a boundary on Sunday.

There would be no final-day heroics from South Australia, with WA paceman Matt Kelly continuing his hot form as the visitors finished at 9-117.

Kelly, who snared 5-34 in the first innings, finished with 4-23 in the second to claim career-best match figures of 9-57.

Lance Morris followed up his 4-93 with 3-52.

The result lifted WA (24.52 points) back to the top of the ladder with three wins and a draw from four rounds.

Queensland (18.18 points after posting two wins, one draw, and one loss) dropped to second, while the Redbacks (6.98 points) remain fifth.

WA's results have been all the more impressive considering veteran opener Shaun Marsh is yet to play after injuring his calf while recovering from a knee injury.

Star paceman Jhye Richardson was rested from the win over South Australia with a sore heel.

The Redbacks needed a heroic display to survive the final day but had added just two runs to their overnight score when Wes Agar (7) was caught behind off Kelly.

Any further hope for the visitors evaporated six overs later when Kelly snared the key wicket of opener Henry Hunt (32 off 89 balls)

Ben Manenti (39 off 25 balls) refused to go down without a fight, cracking six fours and a six in his T20-style knock.

His straight six off WA spinner Corey Rocchiccioli was so huge that it landed on one of the WACA's roofs.

Rocchiccioli eventually took his revenge, with the Redbacks' innings brought to a close when Manenti holed out in the deep midway through the morning session.

The Redbacks were left to rue their horror display on day two when WA turned the contest on its head.

After resuming on 5-267, South Australia were dismissed for 299, with WA finishing the day at 0-256 as Cameron Bancroft and Sam Whiteman scored centuries.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.