Western Australia are confident of securing a berth in the Sheffield Shield final after jumping into top spot following a crucial seven-wicket win over leaders NSW in Newcastle.
WA pair Adam Voges (54 not out) and Michael Klinger (46) – the Shield’s top two run-getters this season – dug in to defy the Blues with a crucial 98-run partnership on a slow fourth-day cricket pitch, as the visitors reached the winning target of 143 just after tea.
NSW resumed at 5-65 on Saturday but the lower order were unable to stop the rot and were all out for just 97, setting WA a modest challenge.
With two rounds remaining, WA can still be tipped out of the final by second-placed Victoria, NSW or even fourth-placed Queensland.
However, WA captain Voges, who became the first player to pass 1000 Shield runs for the summer from his match-winning knock, says his side are in a positive frame of mind.
“Every game from now on will be pretty crucial as it has been all season,” he said.
“NSW are a very very good team so to win this game, we will take a great deal of confidence.”
The Blues started the final day in a perilous position and desperately needed their tail to wag, but the last five wickets fell for just 20 runs.
Spinner Ashton Agar did the bulk of the damage, claiming two wickets to return the impressive figures of 4-22 off 20 overs, following a 10-wicket haul last week.
Teenage debutant David Moody took 3-24 to finish with seven wickets for the match.
Voges said the debut of the 19-year-old paceman and the form of Agar provide WA with a significant boost as they seek to end their 16-year Shield drought.
NSW captain Moises Henriques lamented a costly final session with the bat on the penultimate day but remains confident in his side’s abilities.
“We slugged it out really well with some disciplined bowling and fielding in their first innings, but unfortunately we lost the game in that hour-and-a-half on day three,” Henriques said.
“We can’t forget we have won three in a row before this game so we are playing pretty good cricket across the board.”
