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South Australia bowled out for 128 after being sent in by WA on WACA Ground green top

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Braden QuartermaineThe West Australian
WA fast bowler Lance Morris celebrates the wicket of South Australia’s Daniel Worrall with teammates.
Camera IconWA fast bowler Lance Morris celebrates the wicket of South Australia’s Daniel Worrall with teammates. Credit: Will Russell/Getty Images

Western Australia will aim to set up a match-defining lead on Thursday after skittling South Australia for 128 on a green top on a shortened opening day of their Sheffield Shield meeting at the WACA Ground.

WA were 2-42 in response when bad light forced stumps, with Cameron Bancroft (13 not out) and Cam Green (17 not out) at the crease.

Test all-rounder Green was the beneficiary of two dropped catches in two balls late in the day, first put down by Jake Lehmann at second slip off Nathan McAndrew before the bowler spilt a sharp return catch.

The home side lost opener Sam Whiteman and linchpin Shaun Marsh (11) after Marsh won the toss and sent the Redbacks in.

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Former WA batsman Jake Carder top scored for South Australia with 37.
Camera IconFormer WA batsman Jake Carder top scored for South Australia with 37. Credit: Will Russell/Getty Images

WA’s decision to bowl on a pitch of similar colour to the outfield was vindicated when the visitors were reduced to 5-41 after a horror collapse of 3-0.

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Former WA batsman Jake Carder top-scored with a diligent 37 from 96 balls at No.3, before being claimed lbw by Lance Morris from around the wicket. No other batsman made it to 20 as Morris (3-25) and Jhye Richardson (3-22) headlined a disciplined bowling effort.

“I think we probably would have bowled,” Carder said.

“In saying that, when we batted we thought it wasn’t actually as bad as we thought it was going to be.

“It was nice to get some time out in the middle, obviously disappointed that I didn’t go on with it.”

All five WA seamers got in on the action in an extended first session, with one wicket apiece as wicketkeeper Josh Philippe took five catches before finishing with six.

Cam Green celebrates a wicket.
Camera IconCam Green celebrates a wicket. Credit: Will Russell/Getty Images

Philippe wasn’t required when D’Arcy Short pounced at cover with a brilliant direct hit to run out Alex Carey for a duck.

WA paceman Cameron Gannon, who replaced Matt Kelly, needed just one ball to strike as he dismissed Redbacks captain Travis Head caught behind.

“I’d love to be able to say that was pure planning and skill, but I think I kind of got lucky,” Gannon said.

“I think it was a better surface than we thought having been under cover for nearly two days. You could be forgiven for thinking that was going to be a real green monster.

“It’s tough when guys bowl in the right areas and the ball will move. But I think we showed that if we stick to our plans and we play the right way, then we can still score runs on it.”

Joel Paris got the opening breakthrough when he enticed opener Jake Weatherald to drive at a swinging ball he could have left alone, while both Henry Hunt and Harry Nielsen looked disappointed with their dismissal decisions.

Lehmann could have no argument with his dismissal after Morris found a top edge that ballooned straight up in the air to claim him for a golden duck as the Redbacks lost a third wicket without scoring.

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