Paris injury scare as WA put the squeeze on Redbacks

South Australia have suffered a second top-order collapse in the space of two days to put Western Australia in control of the Marsh Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA Ground.

The Redbacks went to stumps on day two at 6-119 in their second innings, holding a lead of 107 with two days left to play.

Harry Nielsen (42no off 67 balls) and Ben Manenti (7no) will be aiming to continue their team's fightback when play resumes on Friday.

But WA could be without Joel Paris for the rest of the game after the star pace bowler went off with a tight groin on Thursday.

Paris, who has a history of soft tissue injuries, went off midway through his eighth over after feeling tightness in his groin.

He will be further assessed by medical staff on Friday morning before a call is made on whether he can return. 

At one stage the Redbacks were 5-45 following a top-order collapse on the green wicket.

It was a similar story in South Australia's first innings, when they crashed to 5-75 and 9-148 before tail-ender Nathan McAndrew (50no) got them to 192.

WA crashed to 8-146 in reply on Thursday before Corey Rocchiccioli (36 off 33 balls) and Charlie Stobo (18no) lifted the home side to 204 and a first-innings lead of 12.

Hilton Cartwright top-scored with 40, with in-form opener Cameron Bancroft (20 off 60) left to rue a loose cut shot that went straight to point.

Paceman Jordan Buckingham (3-46) and Nathan McAndrew (3-39) were the pick of the bowlers for South Australia, with Brendan Doggett chipping in with 2-51.

The Redbacks' second innings started in disastrous fashion after Paris found the edge of Jake Carder (0) to give Bancroft his sixth catch of the match at slip.

The scoreboard read 2-5 when Daniel Drew was trapped LBW by Aaron Hardie.

Alarm bells were ringing when Henry Hunt (16), Jake Lehmann (4) and Jake Fraser-McGurk (8) were sent packing, leaving the Redbacks reeling at 5-45.

Nielsen and Nathan McSweeney (36) combined for a 54-run stand to settle the ship.

But that defiant stand was ended when Bancroft took a brilliant low catch at second slip off the bowling of Lance Morris (2-24).

"Bangers (Bancroft) is just eating them at the moment," WA paceman Charlie Stobo told cricket.com.au's live coverage after play. 

"He's got massive hands. It's awesome. You're running in and thinking 'Great, if they nick it you know the guys are going to catch it'."

Sheffield Shield 2023-24 standings

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Drawn D	No results N/R	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Bowling Bonus Bowl	Total points PTS
1 Western Australia Men WA	10	5	2	3	0	0	5.53	9.4	47.93
2 Tasmanian Tigers Men TAS	10	5	2	3	0	0	6.06	8.3	47.36
3 NSW Men NSW	10	4	3	3	0	0	6.31	9	42.31
4 Victoria Men VIC	10	4	4	2	0	0	4.74	8.2	38.94
5 South Australia Men SA	10	3	6	1	0	0	5.19	9.3	33.49
6 Queensland Bulls QLD	10	2	6	2	0	0	3.54	8.3	25.84

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

D: Drawn

N/R: No results

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

Bowl: Bowling Bonus

PTS: Total points