Tough work for Tigers in rainy start

ASHES Test hopefuls Shaun Marsh and Hilton Cartwright helped to dominate Tasmania on the first day of the Sheffield Shield day-night match in Perth yesterday.

Western Australia reached 2-157 at the dinner break after rain delayed the start by almost two hours. Marsh and Cartwright’s partnership blossomed in the twilight session as they shared a valuable 111run second wicket stand.

Marsh (63) was caught at fine leg by Sam Rainbird while hooking an Andrew Fekete (1-51) short ball 10 minutes before the dinner break.

Rainbird and Jackson Bird bowled in tandem after the tea break and had the WA pair nervous for several overs as the sun started to set.

Bird mixed it up and came around the wicket, going close to snaring Marsh lbw after he narrowly missed twice in the shortened first session. The Tigers may rue their decision to bowl first as Cartwright survived two chances off consecutive deliveries.

Cartwright pulled a short ball from Gabe Bell that was dropped by Fekete at fine leg before a leg side glance on the next delivery eluded the grasp of keeper Matthew Wade.

Marsh raised his bat for his 30th first-class fifty for Western Australia, from 110 balls with eight fours. Cartwright followed in the next over with his eighth first-class 50 for the Warriors. Earlier, Bell (1-48) made the perfect start to his maiden WACA Ground game, bowling Cameron Bancroft for 18 with his second delivery.