West Australia’s Ashton Turner has brought up his first Sheffield Shield century since November 2017, putting the reigning champions in a commanding position on day three of the final against Victoria.
The 30-year-old, who was playing for the state’s second XI last month, needed 190 deliveries to reach his ton on Saturday, helping extend Western Australia’s first-innings lead at the WACA. Nobody else in the Sheffield Shield final has reached fifty.
Eventually dismissed for 128, he helped power Western Australia to 315 on day three, with the tail ensuring a strong first innings lead of 120 runs despite Victorian all-rounder Will Sutherland claiming a five-wicket haul in the final for a second year running.
But Victoria’s hopes of victory faded quickly as Joel Paris struck twice in back-to-back overs to leave the visitors 2/10, claiming Ashley Chandrasinghe (8) and Marcus Harris (1).
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The hosts were 5-175 overnight in Perth, still trailing by 20 runs, with Turner and wicketkeeper Josh Philippe (25 not out) unbeaten in the middle.
Victorian cult hero Scott Boland snared an early breakthrough on Saturday morning, with Philippe pulling a short delivery towards Will Sutherland at mid-wicket and departing for 28.
Turner, who was unbeaten on 49 overnight, brought up his fifty with an elegant cover drive, reaching the minor milestone in 111 deliveries. He and Paris combined for an unbeaten fifty-run partnership for the seventh wicket to frustrate Victoria’s bowlers.
Moments before the lunch break, Turner pushed a delivery from Test tweaker Todd Murphy into a gap at mid-wicket, scampering through for a quick single to secure his fourth first-class century.
Earlier, Victorian all-rounder Sutherland tore through Western Australia’s top-order at the WACA, taking 4-44 from 15 overs on day two. His dismissal of Turner on day three saw him finish with 5-75 for the innings.
The 23-year-old, who also claimed a five-wicket haul in last year’s Sheffield Shield final, removed rival captain Sam Whiteman in the morning session caught behind for 20 before dismissing Teague Wyllie and Hilton Cartwright in quick succession.
Wyllie was caught at leg slip for 3 before Cartwright slapped a cut stroke towards point where Mitchell Perry held onto a stunning catch, returning to the sheds for a 19-ball duck. The Western Australians were suddenly reeling at 4-53.
“He’s pretty happy with that one,” Sutherland laughed at stumps on day two.
“It was an unbelievable catch.”
After a dramatic collapse of 3-1, Turner and all-rounder Aaron Hardie combined for a crucial 86-run partnership for the fifth wicket to swing momentum back in Western Australia’s favour.
But Sutherland returned after a brief rain delay to break the stand, with Hardie miscuing a pull shot that sailed towards Marcus Harris at mid-off, who claimed a regulation catch.
“Hopefully we can chip away (on Saturday) and bowl them out,” Sutherland said on Friday.
“There‘s definitely still enough there (in the pitch), we just have to be a little bit more disciplined and consistent with our lengths
“They‘ve scored a little bit easier than the last game so hopefully we can correct that tomorrow.”
In the first innings, Victorian opener Ashley Chandrasinghe became the first cricketer to carry their bat in a Sheffield Shield final since 1998, finishing unbeaten on 46 as the visitors registered 195 in the first innings.
Because Western Australia finished top of the Sheffield Shield table, Victoria needs nothing less than an outright victory to win their 33rd title.