WA take control of Shield final after Bancroft century

A second century in three games by former Test opener Cameron Bancroft has put Western Australia in a commanding position against Victoria as they look to break a 23-year Marsh Sheffield Shield drought.

The 29-year-old looked in complete control from the outset on day one, going to stumps unbeaten on 135 (259) without offering a chance, with WA 3-290.

But perhaps the most decisive moment of the day came before that first ball was even bowled when Victorian captain Peter Handscomb won the toss and sent the hosts in at the WACA Ground.

Despite the inclusion of Ashes hero Scott Boland, the Victorian attack struggled to produce anything that troubled Bancroft and opening partner Sam Whiteman in the first session as they put on 99 runs without loss by lunch.

The visitors didn't bowl badly, but Bancroft and Whiteman batted with superb discipline and cashed in on anything short, wide and overpitched.

"We may have got the toss wrong, there was a bit of green in the wicket, we thought it might react a little bit like it did last week," Victoria bowling coach David Saker said after stumps.

"That was a tough day, we didn't get the ball to shift much at all and the wicket looked pretty good to bat on.

"We'll just keep going and persevering, there's still four days left and we're hoping to keep fighting."

Bancroft, who now has five centuries in the past two Shield seasons, was in fine touch as he raced out of the gates with three glorious cover drives off young seamers Mitch Perry and Will Sutherland.

The right-hander then got his straight drive going as he reached his half century in just 83 balls.

"It's pretty special, it's not every day you get play in a Shield final, and I just wanted to really get us off to a good start and have a good partnership with Whitey (Whiteman)," Bancroft said at the close of play.

"We're in a good position after being put in so (that's) very pleasing but still a lot of hard work to come."

Whiteman took a bit longer to get going but cashed in during allrounder Jono Merlo's first over just prior to lunch, punishing two short looseners to the square leg boundary.

Merlo, who finished the day as the visitors most expensive bowler with 0-31 from seven overs, was recalled to the side for his fourth match of the season in the absence of injured stars James Pattinson and Australian Test squad member Marcus Harris.

Victoria also tried spin in the 13th over when the recalled Jon Holland was introduced, but it wasn't until after lunch when they managed to produce something to get excited about when Boland found the edge of Whiteman's bat but if fell just short of wicketkeeper Sam Harper.

It was a positive start to the second session as Will Sutherland and Boland (1-59) tightened the screws with back-to-back maidens, with the Vics conceding only 14 runs in 10 overs after the break.

But they could take their first chance at a breakthrough, when Whiteman misjudged a quick single and would have been short of his ground at the bowler's end, but Merlo couldn't get his throw on target.

Whiteman then brought up his half century with back-to-back boundaries as he and Bancroft put on 188 for the first wicket.

It was the man of the summer in Boland who finally gave Victoria something to celebrate when he dismissed the left-hander on 85, with Whiteman edging to Sutherland in the gully on what turned out to be the final ball before tea.

WA captain Shaun Marsh, who is searching for his maiden Sheffield Shield title in a 21-year career, passed 12,000 first-class runs but fell cheaply for 12 when he ran past a delivery from off-spinner Matt Short (1-21) as Victoria enjoyed a period of control over the scoring rate.

Hilton Cartwright, however, seized back the ascendency when the visitors took the new ball after 80 overs, belting the first ball from Boland to the square leg fence, with two of the next three also going to the boundary as the 81st over went for 15 runs.

Cartwright, who is coming off a century last week against the same opposition in the final round of the season, was out on the second last ball of the day when he slashed a short and wide Sutherland (1-66) delivery to Merlo at gully.

Western Australia, who have won their past two Shield matches against Victoria, are searching for the first title since 1998-99, while Victoria is looking to win their fifth Shield title in the past eight seasons.

The Marsh Sheffield Shield final will be broadcast live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports, as well as streamed free on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app