Belting adds to SA’s run of outs
SOUTH Australia’s worrying Sheffield Shield record across recent seasons now includes a loss by an innings and 28 runs after the Redbacks were demolished by Western Australia at the WACA ground.
Three second-innings ducks amid an onslaught from the home side’s bowlers were part of the carnage as SA was dismissed for 117 runs, after injured Jordan Buckingham was unable to bat, still 28 behind WA’s huge first innings total of 444.
The result was SA’s ninth loss in its past 21 games dating back to the 2019/20 season, a stretch of matches that includes just a single win. That lone victory, which came in the final game of last season, came after a winless 2020/21 season.
The Redbacks have finished last on the table in four of five seasons since making the Shield final in 2016/17, a period during which they have won just five of 46 red-ball matches.
Only opener Henry Hunt, who remains on the national selection radar and will play for the Prime Minster’s XI against the West Indies in Canberra, and new recruit Ben Manenti fired in WA.
Hunt has 273 runs across the opening four games, while offspinner Manenti snared 11 wickets, including a five-for in WA, as well as averaging 50 with the bat.
Wes Agar, last year’s winner of the Sir Donald Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year award, has also stood up, taking 15 wickets.
The Redbacks were on the back foot after WA openers Cameron Bancroft and Sam Whiteman put on a 308-run partnership, both making centuries, to zoom past SA’s opening effort of 299.
Then fast bowler Matt Kelly, who took five first innings wickets, added another four in the second to give him match figures of 9-57.