WA inching towards third straight Shield title

WA batters D’Arcy Short (left) and Jayden Goodwin take a run in the Shield final against Tasmania.

The going might be slow, but Western Australia are methodically going about setting Tasmania a monumental run chase in the Sheffield Shield final at the WACA Ground.

With WA taking a 161-run lead on the first innings on Saturday, Tasmania’s only hope of stopping the home team from setting them a mammoth total to chase was quick wickets on the afternoon of the third day.

It wasn’t to be, and at tea WA were in complete control at 2-112 in their second innings with a lead of 273 runs.

Jayden Goodwin (37) and Hilton Cartwright (18) are the unbeaten batsmen, with WA in no rush and under no time pressure with seven sessions still remaining in the game.

WA are chasing a third consecutive Shield title and remain right in the box seat of the five-day final, having dismissed Tasmania in the morning session on Saturday for 186.

In reply to WA’s first innings of 347, the Tigers  never built momentum with the bat, going to stumps on day two at 6-152 and scoring at just two runs an over.

Jarrod Freeman was run out to open Saturday’s third day without scoring, meaning Tasmania had lost 5-21, but Iain Carlisle (16) made some crucial runs to get the visitors to 186.

Offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli was the pick of WA’s bowlers with 4-48 in 28 overs, while Cameron Gannon took 3-38 in 20.

Just before lunch on Saturday Tasmania had a brief glimmer of hope, with Gabe Bell having first-innings centurion Sam Whiteman caught behind for eight.

However, WA’s batsmen steadied throughout the middle session, only losing D’Arcy Short for 38 when Beau Webster had him caught by Jordan Silk for his 28th scalp of the Shield season.