Redbacks bite back against the Warriors

South Australia has bitten back on the second day of the crucial Pura Cup match against Western Australia at the WACA Ground in Perth.

The Warriors resumed on 4-274, and were immediately placed on the back foot with the fourth ball dismissal of David Bandy (6).

Luke Ronchi, playing his third match for the season, came out swinging. However, his cameo knock ended abruptly on 18, after smashing Paul Rofe over cover for six, the bowler gained revenge two overs later with the keeper-batsman top edging through to his Redbacks counterpart Graham Manou.

Darren Lehmann turned to spinner Daniel Cullen in an attempt to end the innings swiftly. The off-spinner caused some headaches for the home team yesterday from the northern (Prindiville Stand) end, and today came on from the southern (Lillee-Marsh Stand) end.

Success for Cullen, who snared his fourth wicket of the innings, with Beau Casson (10) sweeping to Shane Deitz, who dived and claimed the catch behind the keeper.

It was a patient knock by Brett Dorey, who took 20 balls to notch his first run. The Warriors all-rounder then smashed Cullen over deep mid-wicket for six, and in the next over hit Shaun Tait to the boundary.

Marcus North moved into the 'nervous nineties' just before lunch, he was however stranded at the break on 98. The Warriors had a rather modest total of 7-366 after the first session on day two.

North brought up his 100 in the first over after lunch, however he followed several team-mates with a sweep shot, though reverse, only to edge to Deitz, who dived to his right at first slip. North (110) stood his ground before the umpire raised his finger.

The Warriors declared at 9-408 after Droey's ill-fated hook shot found Shaun Tait on the fine leg boundary. Two balls before hand Dorey had registered his maiden Pura Cup fifty.

Cullen finished best of the bowlers with 4-111, Gillespie kept his name in front of the selectors with 2-84, though looked sluggish in the morning session today.

South Australia passed 50 in the 15th over courtesy of the blazing bat of Deitz, who three overs later passed his own fifty (off 66 balls). At the tea interval, the Redbacks were 0-73, Deitz (51) and Daniel Harris unbeaten on 21.

Deitz resumed in the final session with his 12th boundary shot, doubling Steve Magoffin's figures with the stroke. The desire for wickets intensified with the part-time spin from North on at the southern end.

The desire for wickets intensified with the part-time spin from North on at the southern end.

With Deitz gone, Harris took up the challenge of smashing the Warriors pace attack. Ben Edmondson was taken for 50 runs in his first six overs.

The final hour of the day was a dour struggle as the Redbacks played for survival rather than attack, though Harris and Lehmann both notched fifties and shared a 133-run second wicket stand.

Three overs before stumps were drawn Harris (77) spooned the ball back to the bowler North.

South Australia ended the day trailing by 194 runs after the top order trio all recorded half-centuries.

Lehmann and, nightwatchman Gillespie were unbeaten with the match evenly poised for a result at the close.

Play resumes tomorrow at 10:30am local time.

Full scorecard available here.

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