Stumps Western Australia 167 and 34 for 1 (Fanning 13*, Goodwin 10*, O’Neill 1-12) path Victoria 373 (Rogers 76, Crone 62*, Handscomb 56, Paris 3-44, Gannon 3-59, Rocchiccioli 3-115) by 172 runs
Decrease-order resistance helped Victoria declare a 206-run first-innings lead of their Sheffield Defend conflict with three-time reigning champions Western Australia.
After being skittled for 167, WA gave the impression to be containing Victoria on the Junction Oval when the hosts have been 207 for six on Saturday. However No. 9 Xavier Crone hit an unbeaten 62 from 65 balls, smashing three sixes to assist Victoria attain 373.
Fellow lower-order batters Fergus O’Neill (44) and Sam Elliott (26) additionally chipped in to make WA’s bowlers toil in scorching circumstances for many of the day.
WA needed to bat for the final hour earlier than stumps on Saturday, reaching 33 for 1 with Sam Fanning and Jayden Goodwin on the crease. Opener Cameron Bancroft, who has endured an unlucky kind hunch after dominating the Defend for the previous two seasons, struggled once more. After lately being missed for a call-up to the Take a look at group for the primary time because the 2019 Ashes, Bancroft fell to O’Neill for 11. Within the first innings on Friday, Bancroft may solely handle 12, additionally shedding his wicket to O’Neill.
Victoria have set themselves up properly to turn out to be the primary group to beat WA within the Defend this season. WA are aiming to assert a fourth straight title, and have been undefeated after three matches earlier than they headed to Melbourne.
