WA hit 2nd spot in Sheffield Shield

Western Australia moved to 14 points in second spot on the Sheffield Shield table following their stunning five-wicket win over Victoria.

Set 362 to win, the Warriors reached 5-363 with 11.1 overs to spare as they completed the fifth-highest successful run chase at the MCG in Shield history.

Liam Davis (108) and Wes Robinson (83) added 166 for the second wicket while Adam Voges (76) and Travis Birt put on 119 for the fifth wicket.

Birt was unbeaten on 60 while Mitch Marsh – carrying a groin strain – was 21 not out when the Warriors brought up the winning runs.

Western Australia resumed on Monday on 1-22 and crawled to 100 without further loss at lunch after just 78 runs came from 39 overs in the session.

Spinner Jon Holland finally made the breakthrough for Victoria when Robinson pushed forward and was caught behind at 2-174 in the 64th over of the day.

Western Australia stumbled when they lost two wickets in three deliveries with the score on 199.

Skipper Marcus North (eight) was caught behind off the bowling of Scott Boland and next over Davis fell caught at slip to spinner Glenn Maxwell.

Davis hit 11 fours and batted for 10 minutes short of five hours in scoring his second century of the Shield season. The 27-year-old has made 451 runs at 56.38 in four games.

Voges and Birt steered the Warriors to tea at 4-229 from 85 overs and Victoria didn’t take the second new ball until the 98th over.

Scott Boland conceded 11 runs two overs later as the Warriors stepped up their scoring rate.

The following two overs from James Pattinson (10 runs) and Jayde Herrick (11) were also expensive, leaving the Warriors with just 50 more runs required from 16 overs.

Pattinson removed Voges caught behind at 5-318 but Birt soon advanced to his second half-century of the match to steer the Warriors towards a memorable victory.

Queensland lead the Shield table on 18 points while Victoria are third with 10 points.

Victoria host Western Australia for a Ryobi Cup game at the MCG on Wednesday.

by Buford Balony

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