South Australia loses 10 for 99 in another shocking batting collapse
Jake Lehmann's elevation to No. 3 in the batting order has proved a failure as the winless Redbacks’ season went from bad to worse at the WACA on Sunday.
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Jake Lehmann's elevation to No. 3 in the batting order has proved a failure as the winless Redbacks’ suffered another batting collapse yesterday.
Following a sound start after being sent in to bat by Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield clash in Perth, South Australia slumped from 0/60 just before lunch to be bowled out for 159 in 62.3 overs, losing 10/99.
The collapse followed the 6/3 the Redbacks lost at the end of their second innings in the six-wicket loss to Tasmania at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.
SA hit back hard with the ball in the final session, having the Warriors 4/75 after two late wickets to Joe Mennie (who dismissed Josh Inglis for 23) and debutant Luke Robins (captain Mitch Marsh for 17), but they need early wickets on day two to stay in the game.
Four Redbacks made ducks for the second consecutive innings as they struggle to cope with the swinging Dukes ball, which is being used in the second half of the Shield season.
Ranked rock bottom and the only team not to win a match after seven rounds, SA failed to capitalise on the good early work of openers Conor McInerney (43 from 144 balls) and last-game century-maker Jake Weatherald (25 off 69).
Two wickets in one over to Hilton Cartwright (2/3) just before lunch triggered the collapse with the medium-pacer claiming the wickets of Weatherald – caught at point by D’Arcy Short – and Lehmann (0).
Lehmann, who made just 3 and 11 when promoted from the middle order to No. 3 against Tasmania, lasted two balls before edging to Inglis. Two-Test all-rounder Cartwright had not taken a wicket all season and had only sent down 17 overs in seven matches for 78 runs before he struck against the Redbacks. Lehmann has now made just 14 runs in three innings since being elevated – with veteran Callum Ferguson dropping to No. 5 – in an experiment which hasn’t worked.
Young quick Liam Guthrie then picked up the crucial scalp of captain Travis Head, bowling him for 29, and followed that up by rattling McInerney’s off stump.
An out-of-touch Tom Cooper (0) fell to a brilliant catch at gully by Josh Philippe off the bowling of David Moody and, when keeper Harry Nielsen was caught off Joel Parris for one, SA had crashed to 6/128.
Just when it looked like things couldn’t get any worse, left-arm swing king Nick Winter – who is more than handy with the bat – was run out third ball without scoring.
Ferguson fought hard for 16 from 51 deliveries before Guthrie trapped him lbw, and Daniel Worrall also failed to trouble the scorers.
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