Green, Cartwright fifties punish under-strength SA

28 Oct 2021 AAP

Match Report

28 Oct 2021 AAP

Cameron Green continued his warm-up for the Ashes with another half-century while Hilton Cartwright top-scored against a South Australia attack that lost Brendan Doggett to a side strain

Star allrounder Cameron Green has struck a timely half-century to put Western Australia in the box seat of their Marsh Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia at the WACA Ground.

In reply to SA's paltry first-innings total of 128, WA were dismissed for 299 late on day two, giving them a sizeable first-innings lead of 171.

Green (61 off 94 balls) and Cameron Bancroft (46 off 134 balls) combined for a 101-run stand on a green deck to guide WA out of early trouble, before Hilton Cartwright (73) and Josh Philippe (32) powered home the advantage.

The Redbacks lost pace bowler Brendan Doggett to a suspected side strain early in the day, and will have scans in Perth overnight, but Nathan McAndrew picked up the slack to finish with 5-84, ripping through WA's tail.

Tireless McAndrew rewarded with maiden five-wicket haul

David Grant was the pick of the bowlers with 4-76.

South Australia made a strong start to their second innings by reaching 0-68 at stumps on day two, reducing WA's lead to 103.

Jake Weatherald (38no) and Henry Hunt (2 8no) will resume at the crease on Friday.

Bancroft was the first wicket to fall on Thursday when he edged Grant behind.

Green looked ominous during a knock that featured seven fours and a six.

But he fell shortly after Bancroft's dismissal when he skied an attempted pull shot off Grant.

Image Id: 1DA0A51EC3F84E3E8BBF50F3BFC121A9 Image Caption: Brendan Doggett left the field two balls into his 10th over // Getty

Green started the domestic season with a classy 106 against South Australia.

But his next five knocks in Shield and one-day cricket returned scores of two, five, seven, 13 and nine in what marked a rare form slump for the 22-year-old.

His half-century on Thursday was welcome news for both WA and Australia's national selectors, who view Green as a vital part of the Ashes puzzle.

At 5-250, WA looked set to tear the game wide open.

But Cartwright's dismissal LBW to Grant sparked a collapse of 5-49 to give the Redbacks some hope.

Vodafone Men's Ashes v England

First Test: December 8-12, The Gabba

Second Test: December 16-20, Adelaide Oval

Third Test: December 26-30, MCG

Fourth Test: January 5-9, SCG

Fifth Test: January 14-18, Perth Stadium