Fawad Ahmed took 6-68 to collapse Western Australia’s innings in their Sheffield Shield match against Victoria, giving the Test selectors a timely reminder of their spinning options for the Ashes series.
The Warriors were cruising at 3-218 when John Rogers fell five short of a maiden first-class century and sparked a momentous collapse to be 9-240 and all out for 270, 42 short of Victoria’s opening tally of 312.
The legspinner looked lively but expensive at 1-51 before dispensing with the WA tail in ruthless fashion.
Ahmed had four wickets in as many overs and had Michael Hogan caught behind, before umpire Geoff Joshua had appeared to change his mind on advice from square leg umpire Gerard Abood.
The Victorians, already half-way to the dressing rooms, had to be called back after the umpire’s finger that had pointed to the sky beckoned them back to play on.
The Warriors put on an extra 22 runs before Ahmed got his man, Hogan skying one to John Hastings and departing to cries of “22 stolen runs” from the small but gobsmacked crowd.
Rogers’ 95 was the highlight of a decent top-order showing from the Warriors, with supporting stands of 45 from Marcus North and 42 from Test hopeful Shaun Marsh.
Rogers fell for his highest first-class score after poking at a good length delivery from Hastings to point where Peter Handscomb dived neatly to take the catch.
Marsh looked in sharp form, knocking eight boundaries before edging Scott Boland to Rob Quiney at first slip.
The catch was sweet relief to Quiney who had dropped chances of varying difficulty either side of lunch, putting down Rogers at first slip and then a tough chance to claim Marsh at bat pad.
Victoria’s frontline pacemen all took one wicket, with Test bowler Peter Siddle completing just 11 overs.
He looked lively and confrontational in an early six over spell which yielded the scalp of Cameron Bancroft and landed blows on the pads of both North and Rogers.
Returned to the crease, Victoria wasted no time extending their lead, finishing at 0-33.
Test opener Chris Rogers added to his first innings 36 to be 19 not out at stumps.
