South Australia 124 (Sangha 45, Couch 4-33, Rocchiccioli 3-10) lead Western Australia 120 (Fanning 49, Scott 3-10, Buckingham 3-35) by four runs
Bowlers feasted as a whopping 20 wickets fell on the opening day of the Sheffield Shield clash between Western Australia and South Australia at the WACA Ground.
Defending champions WA lost 8 for 48 as they crashed from 72 for 2 to be rolled for 120 on a testing wicket on Saturday. In reply, South Australia were bowled out for 124, with WA paceman Brody Couch the chief destroyer.
Joel Curtis and Ashton Turner were the only other WA players apart from Fanning to make it into double figures.
But Any thoughts of South Australia being able to build a big first-innings lead quickly evaporated, despite the best efforts of Jason Sangha.
Openers Conor McInerney and Henry Hunt weren’t able to stick around for an extended period.
Sangha was a steadying force for the Redbacks, but they crashed from 43 for 2 to 124 all out as WA’s attack wreaked havoc. Couch led the destruction, while spinner Corey Rocchiccioli and Joel Paris were also among the wickets.
Cameron Gannon only took the one scalp, but it was a ripper of a delivery that kicked up and caught the glove of a surprised Sangha.
The match shapes as crucial in the race to reach the March 26-29 final.
South Australia (29.93 points) sit on top of the ladder with three wins and two draws from six games, while WA (23.91 points) sit fourth with two wins and two draws from six outings.
