Western Australia defeated Queensland by an innings and 12 runs, moving from last to third place in the Sheffield Shield standings. WA scored 312 with Sam Fanning contributing 95, while Queensland managed 147 and 153 in response. Corey Rocchiccioli excelled for Queensland with a career-best 7 for 52 in the first innings. WA’s Lance Morris took three wickets for 35 runs in the second innings, nearly achieving a hat-trick. Rocchiccioli finished with match figures of 9 for 79. Both teams have two games remaining before the finals, with WA hosting NSW and Victoria, while Queensland travels to face Tasmania and South Australia.
Western Australia 312 (Fanning 95, Whiteman 67, Neser 4-34) defeated Queensland 147 (Rocchiccioli 7-52) and 153 (Morris 3-35) by an innings and 12 runs
Defending champions Western Australia dominated Queensland by an innings and 12 runs, boosting their position from last to third on the Sheffield Shield standings.
Morris wreaked havoc on Queensland’s lower order and almost achieved a hat-trick after getting rid of Xavier Bartlett and clean bowling Mark Steketee for a golden duck. His attempt for the hat-trick overshot, with a delivery directed wildly down the legside against Mitch Swepson.
Once again, Queensland’s batting faltered in their second innings, with Ben McDermott and Lachlan Hearne top-scoring, both contributing 33 runs. Angus Lovell, along with his opening partner Matt Renshaw and Michael Neser, were the only other players to hit double figures.
Morris ended with figures of 3 for 35 from 13 overs, notably dismissing McDermott with a fierce short ball that edged to wicketkeeper Joel Curtis.
Rocchiccioli secured his best-ever first-class match statistics with 9 for 79, while pacemen Joel Paris and Cameron Gannon also contributed multiple wickets in the second innings.
Having won the last three Sheffield Shield titles, WA started this match at the bottom of the table. However, they climbed to third position, with NSW (32.87) securing the second spot after beating Victoria, while Queensland (28.45) dropped from third to fifth.
Following this round, all teams have two matches left before the finale. WA will host NSW from March 6 and Victoria from March 15 at the WACA Ground in Perth.
On the other hand, Queensland will travel for their remaining games against Tasmania at Bellerive Oval and South Australia at Karen Rolton Oval on the same dates.