WA close in after Redbacks batting collapse

South Australia opener Henry Hunt struck a hard-fought century but a five-wicket haul from Joel Paris has put Western Australia within striking distance of victory in the Marsh Sheffield Shield match in Perth.

Paris snared 5-63 to dismiss SA for 291 in their second innings at the WACA Ground on Friday, leaving WA with a victory target of just 121.

But there could still be a final twist to the match, with WA reduced to 3-55 by stumps on day three in a nervous start to the run chase.

Openers Cameron Bancroft (eight) and Sam Whiteman (six) both fell cheaply, but the biggest setback came when star veteran Shaun Marsh was run out for 16 in disastrous fashion to leave WA in trouble at 3-39.

Cameron Green set off for a quick single after hitting the ball to point, but a direct hit from Hunt with only one stump to aim at caught Marsh several metres short of the crease.

Green (nine off 38 balls) and Hilton Cartwright (nine off 24 balls) made it safely to stumps, with WA requiring a further 66 runs to win on a tricky deck.

Hunt top-scored for SA with 108 off 245 balls, while Jake Carder (68) and opener Jake Weatherald (44) also posted handy totals.

The Redbacks had been in huge trouble after WA posted 299 in reply to SA's meagre first-innings total of 128.

But SA hit back on Friday, with Hunt's heroics helping the visitors reach 1-212 at one stage.

However, just as the Redbacks looked set to build a respectable lead, the wheels fell off completely as they lost 9-79.

Paris was the chief destroyer, with the 28-year-old snaring the scalps of Hunt, Weatherald, and Jake Lehmann among his haul.

Cartwright (2-16) took the key wickets of Travis Head (21) and Carder, while pace ace Jhye Richardson toiled hard for a return of 2-75 from his 21.3 overs.