BBL 12 final hero Cooper Connolly has made another stunning cameo in Perth, firing a not-out 73 to help Western Australia take a strong step towards the Sheffield Shield title.
The 20-year-old, who blasted a match-winning 11-ball 25 for the Scorchers at Optus Stadium in early 2023, was making his first class debut for the hosts.
But along with captain Sam Whiteman, who fired 104 off 154 balls for his third century of the season, the WA stars showed minimal nerves at the WACA Ground despite the absence of Cameron Bancroft to sit 8-325 at stumps.
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After one day WA holds the first-innings bonus-point metric lead (1.25 to 0.8) which will decide the winner if there is a draw.
Bancroft’s replacement D’Arcy Short (50 off 127) and Hilton Cartwright (55 off 63) also contributed surrounding a 4-60 collapse, sparked by Tassie spinner Jarrod Freeman (3-103) and fifth-gamer Iain Carlisle (2-64).
Connolly and Cameron Gannon (10) were at the crease at stumps.