WA make strong start against Tas in Shield

Western Australia are 7-334 at stumps on day one of their Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania, with Josh Philippe top scoring with 76.

cricket

Josh Philippe top scored with 76 for WA in their Shield match against Tasmania. (AAP)

Youngster Josh Philippe has struck a valuable half century to give Western Australia the upper hand in their crucial Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania.

The Warriors are 7-334 at stumps on day one after being sent in to bat on a green-tinged Bellerive Oval pitch in Hobart.

Philippe top scored with 76 and struck 12 fours in his second half century in as many innings.

"We're pretty happy with how it went. The wicket went better than we were expecting. It's a nice position to be in," Philippe said.

The 21-year-old was bowled by former Test quick Jackson Bird late in the day with the second new ball.

Bird was the pick of the Tigers' four-man pace attack with 3-56, while Riley Meredith and Gabe Bell chipped in with two wickets each.

Big Bash League blaster D'Arcy Short smacked 49 from 52 balls on his home turf for the Hobart Hurricanes but slashed at one too many in the third session, edging Bell to gully.

"I love batting with D'Arcy. He takes a lot of pressure off you," Philippe said.

The Tigers and WA, placed third and fourth respectively with two rounds to play, are chasing a win to keep their chances of a Shield final berth alive.

Both teams must also rely on results falling their way to jag a top-two spot.

The Warriors lost big guns Cameron Bancroft (27) and former Test all-rounder Mitch Marsh for six as they reached 3-91 at lunch.

Hilton Cartwright (66) and opener Sam Whiteman (55) then steadied the ship before Philippe took over.

Tigers' debutant Sean Willis was in the game in the first session, pulling off a diving catch at third slip to remove Josh Inglis for a duck.

Joel Paris and Matthew Kelly survived until the close of play.


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Published 12 March 2019 7:06pm
Source: AAP


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