Western Australia and South Australia have played out the most action-packed day of the Sheffield Shield season so far, with 18 wickets falling across three innings in chaotic scenes at the Adelaide Oval.

After Cameron Bancroft’s Day 1 century saw the Warriors reach stumps at 3/304, they finished the second day 6/79 in their second innings, after Jhye Richardson led the way with the ball to set up a 352-run first innings lead.

WA declared at 5/406 just five balls after Bancroft fell to a superb catch from Brendan Doggett on the deep mid-wicket boundary, with the seamer flicking the ball back to himself to end the former Test opener’s knock on 186.

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Second-gamer Corey Wasley provided the early fireworks with a 57-ball 60 featuring three sixes as the visitors hunted quick runs.

The declaration call bore immediate fruit, with Richardson taking three wickets in his first 21 balls on either side of lunch to leave the Redbacks reeling at 3/24.

It could have been worse, with Richardson following nicking off Nathan McSweeney and Jason Sangha with an enormous LBW shout against Jake Lehmann, looking to become just the third Warrior to take a Shield hat-trick.

However, the umpire was unmoved despite an enormous appeal from the bowler and the WA slips cordon – though former Redback Tom Cooper believed the star quick had been unfairly denied.

“It pitches in line, and I think that could be hitting off stump! It only has to touch it,” Cooper said.

“I think that’s out.”

“I think he’s robbed of a hat-trick,” commentator Lawrie Colliver added.

Jake Weatherald briefly counterattacked as he raced to a 30-ball 40 featuring eight boundaries, but he was bowled by Ashton Agar after skipping down the track and missing the ball to continue the rout.

The reigning Sheffield Shield champions were 8/90 before a late flurry from Ben Manenti (38 not out) and Wes Agar (25) took the total to 154, but still with a hefty deficit.

But Sam Whiteman followed his first innings 1 with a duck when he was bowled second ball by Doggett to begin another flurry of wickets.

The former Aussie seamer took 3/19 in eight overs to lead the charge as WA scrambled to stumps at 6/79 after 29 dramatic overs.

Bancroft suffered the ignominy of being dismissed twice on the same day when he edged behind off Liam Scott, while Wasley was bowled for 10 by the same bowler not long after.

Nevertheless, the opener’s first innings heroics leave the Warriors well in front of the game, with a 331-run lead and four second innings wickets remaining when play resumes on Day 3.



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