Sheffield Shield Final Day 1: Western Australia Dominated Tasmania
Sheffield Shield final: Western Australia showcased their prowess with an impressive total of 325 for 8 against Tasmania.
Throughout the afternoon, Tasmania regularly claimed wickets, but the hosts were buoyed by Connolly’s performance in his first-class debut.
Late in the first day of the Sheffield Shield final, in the absence of opening partner Cameron Bancroft, captain Sam Whiteman stepped up to lead the team until a fearless rookie, Cooper Connolly, ended Tasmania’s fightback.
Western Australia was sent in on a green-tinged WACA pitch, and they reached stumps at 325 for 8. After Bancroft had not opened at the first-class level since late 2019, Whiteman scored a smooth 104 and partnered with D’Arcy Short for a first-wicket century.
Whiteman and Short’s efforts lessened the significant loss of Bancroft, who was forced to withdraw from the competition due to a concussion sustained in a cycling accident.
Connolly, the other addition for Western Australia, scored his first fifty in professional cricket, helping his side to what looks to be a strong first innings. With his gutsy attitude demonstrating why WA has been so eager to have Connolly in the lineup, he finished with 73 from 79 balls and will look to make a century on day two. He was scheduled to play Victoria in the season opener, but a freak boat accident left him with a toe injury.
“If we got asked before the day that [at stumps] we’re still batting and over 300, you would take that nine times out of 10,” Whiteman stated.
Tasmania struggled, was erratic, and depended heavily on offspinner Jarrod Freeman, who finished with a swift turn of 3 for 103 from 24 overs.
Freeman stated, “I think we really clawed our way back in the game.” “If we can go bang, bang tomorrow then I think we are on top.”
Tasmania attempted to upset Western Australia’s rearranged top order without Bancroft’s intimidating presence, but quicks Riley Meredith and Gabe Bell struggled with the new ball.
The roles of the openers were swapped, and Whiteman cut a carefree figure ahead of the match, highlighting his familiarity on this stage. At the crease, he maintained composure and struck wonderfully, making 21 from 14 balls.
The naturally aggressive Short, who batted at No. 5 in his only Shield game of the season, was a bit of a scratcher, making just 4 off his opening 24 balls.
Due to his aggressiveness and experience, Short was unexpectedly chosen ahead of Teague Wyllie, a teenager, and rode his luck after Gloving down the leg side on 13 only for Beau Webster to overstep. Short’s luck continued in the following over when, following a reckless play at a wide delivery from Iain Carlisle, he was caught at first slip by Caleb Jewell.
For Tasmania, which seemed anxious to break an 11-year Shield drought, it proved costly. After lunch, Whiteman and Short achieved a unique opening stand in the Shield this season, having batted through the first session.
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After reaching his fifty with a streaky boundary edge, Short collapsed on the following delivery, stealing a good line and length delivery from Bell, who had now registered on his radar.
Jayden Goodwin, a potential replacement for Bancroft after moving up the order, was dismissed cheaply by a delivery from Freeman that straightened and caught the edge for first slip.
This season, Hilton Cartwright has had trouble in the Shield. However, he made the decision to play shots and showed a lot of aggression, especially against Freeman. He got on well with Whiteman, who delighted his colleagues on the terraces by scoring his second century in a Shield final.
Tasmania finished a respectable session when Freeman sent Aaron Hardie through the gate for a duck with a brilliant delivery. Whiteman looked unbeatable until he was leg before wicket by the industrious Carlisle.
After tea, Cartwright reached his half-century, but Connolly’s valiant batting in the last session stole the show. Unfazed by the big occasion, Connolly drove at his opening ball and edged between second slip and gully for a boundary, echoing his heroics as the Perth Scorchers won the BBL championship the previous year.
He did not hold back, hitting two sixes, one of which went high over the field and into the Lillee-Marsh Stand’s bottom tier. When Webster bowled Joel Paris, Tasmania needed some motivation and they looked to his flexibility. He unfurled his offspin, and it worked.
However, Connolly quickly reached his fifty runs in just forty-eight balls, justifying his selection. Liam Haskett, a left-arm fast, unfortunately did not make the cut after taking six wickets against Victoria in the previous round.
Prior to play, Bancroft was on the ground, his right side of his face clearly damaged. After suffering a concussion, he is recuperating nicely and went for a short run yesterday.
