WA run through Victoria as Richardson returns to action

Jhye Richardson has made a successful return from injury as Western Australia crushed Victoria by six wickets in their Marsh Cup match at the WACA Ground.

Player of the match Jason Behrendorff snared 3-14 off five overs on Monday and Richardson chipped in with 2-36 as Victoria were skittled for 107 in 21.1 overs.

In reply, WA raced to victory with a whopping 158 balls to spare, giving them a bonus point and a perfect 3-0 start to their title defence.

The ladder-leading Warriors have now won 12 straight matches in the 50-over competition and again loom as the team to beat.

Sam Whiteman (38no off 51 balls) and D'Arcy Short (39 off 39) made light work of the run chase in an easy win for the hosts.

WA captain Ashton Turner's decision to bowl first proved a masterstroke as Victoria crashed to 3-22.

Richardson, playing for the first time since  hamstring surgery last summer, got the ball rolling with the early scalps of Sam Harper (8) and Campbell Kellaway (0).

But it was Behrendorff's spell that truly ripped the heart out of Victoria's batting line-up.

He trapped opener Tom Rogers (11) lbw before having Jonathan Merlo (11) caught at gully, as the 33-year-old then produced the ball of the innings to knock over Peter Handscomb for seven.

Handscomb had no answer as Behrendorff's delivery swung wildly to crash into the top of leg stump, leaving Victoria reeling at 5-45.

AJ Tye (3-14) and Lance Morris (2-40) joined in on the fun to leave Victoria at 8-62 and in danger of not passing their lowest score in the competition, the 65 made against Queensland in 2003.

Tail-enders Fergus O'Neil (22 off 13) and Todd Murphy (20 off 17) ensured Victoria avoided a new nadir, but the total was never going to be enough against a stacked WA line-up.

Victoria's lacklustre display came a day after Jake Fraser-McGurk, who moved from Victoria to South Australia for greater opportunities, scored a 29-ball century for the Redbacks in their loss to Tasmania.

Fraser-McGurk's final score of 125 off 38 balls comfortably eclipsed Victoria's team total on Monday.

The heavy defeat capped a bad few days for the Vics, who lost to WA by an innings and 53 runs in the Sheffield Shield.

Richardson, who has been plagued by shoulder and soft tissue injuries in recent years, is aiming to produce a strong summer in order to work his way back into the international arena.

His performance on Monday was an important first step, though it remains to be seen when WA will unleash him in red-ball cricket.