Warriors claim day one honours against Redbacks

Western Australia has taken the honours on the opening day of the crucial Pura Cup match against South Australia at the WACA Ground in Perth.

Led by opener, captain Justin Langer and top-order batsmen Shaun Marsh, the home side are in a strong position to force an outright victory at the close with 4-274 on the board.

The Southern Redbacks, led by Darren Lehmann, won the toss and sent the Warriors in to bat on a green top pitch that after an hour saw off-spinner Daniel Cullen turn the ball dramatically.

Rogers survived an early chance he offered the keeper Graham Manou, a catch in the fourth over, off the bowling of Test hopeful Jason Gillespie, while Langer dug in for a long stay.

Western Australia reached their first 50 at a run-a-minute pace, and in the second hour cut the bowlers, especially Shaun Tait, to the boundary at regular intervals.

Rogers (41) fell with an attempt to loft Cullen over the fence, however he only managed to find Tait at mid-off. Langer passed fifty with lunch on the horizon, while Shaun Marsh pushed the total over 100.

After the lunch break, the Redbacks rallied and denied the Warriors the quick runs they had scored in the opening session. A fired-up Tait, who sent down a bouncer, struck Marsh on the head. Langer and Marsh brought up their 50-run partnership in the 45th over.

The Western Warriors passed 150 at the start of the next over as Langer edged closer to his 25th Pura Cup century, only to fall short on 82 when given out lbw after attempting to sweep Cullen.

Marcus North joined Marsh at the crease, and the pair took the home side to tea without any further loss. From 2-199 at tea, Marsh notched another half-century with a cut shot to the third man boundary.

However, Marsh could only manage a further five runs as Cullen snared his third wicket of the day with a neat catch offered to Gillespie fielding at backward point.

The home side lost a fourth wicket with stumps nearby. With the new ball in hand, Gillespie pressed for a Test recall when he captured Voges (16) with an edge through to keeper Manou.

An unbeaten innings by Marcus North (62), and middle-order batsman David Bandy (2), ensured the home team completed the day only four wickets down.

Play resumes tomorrow at 10:30am local time.

Full scorecard available here.

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