Ahmed leads Vic attack in Shield final

Spinner Fawad Ahmed has proven to be Victoria’s most damaging force against Western Australia’s resilient batsmen on day one of the Sheffield Shield final.

After spending Saturday batting at Bellerive Oval, the Warriors were 4-310 at stumps with Ahmed (3-65) claiming three scalps.

Newly named Shield player of the year and WA skipper Adam Voges notched up a century in the final session and ended the day unbeaten on 100.

It is his sixth ton for the 2014-15 season for which he is the competition’s top run-scorer.

It was not such a happy tale for Test hopeful Shaun Marsh (6) who was out cheaply, caught behind when a Ahmed wrong’un caught an edge and carried.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, WA started strongly with a 130-run partnership from openers Cameron Bancroft (55) and Marcus Harris (81).

Bancroft was the first to go, caught behind from a delivery from the economical Peter Siddle (1-42), who recorded 10 maidens among his 21 overs.

The departure of Bancroft was the first of three wickets lost in the space of 33 runs.

Harris made his greatest contribution for the Shield season before he was bowled by an Ahmed ball that spun around his legs to rattle the stumps.

Michael Klinger added 18 before being caught behind, leaving WA at 3-163.

The introduction of Voges added a steadying influence and, in partnership with Sam Whiteman, added 105 runs.

Victoria’s bowling attack stretched to seven names on Saturday, including James Pattinson (0-84) who returned to the team after a hamstring strain.

Ahmed’s success inspired a short spell by spinner David Hussey (0-15).

Voges and Whiteman will resume for WA on Sunday.

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