Sheffield Shield: South Australia and Western Australia’s stunning result

South Australia coach Ryan Harris said the WACA pitch had the “thickest grass I have ever seen”. But it was his side who emerged victorious in just 127 overs against WA. Here’s how it played out.

Nathan McAndrew finished with a stunning 7-11 for South Australia. Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

The WACA ground in Perth is not known as the wild west for nothing.

But even by its whacky standards this was something else.

A Sheffield Shield match played at the famous ground now eclipsed by Optus Oval ended in 127 overs – about a day and a half of cricket - as table-toppers South Australia (124 and 4-66) beat Western Australia (120 and 66) by six wickets.

South Australia have not won the Shield for 29 years but now shoot eight points clear with three games to play, a triumph for new coach Ryan Harris.

Yes, the pitch had a thick grass coverage and favored seam bowlers who pitched it up but even still this was carnage.

South Australian quick Nathan McAndrew, arguably the competition’s most underrated bowler, read the conditions best and went on a second innings rampage to take 7-11 off 9.3 overs.

His wickets included four outside edges including two from defensive strokes, one smart one-handed caught and bowled, and another full pitch delivery rattled the stumps.

It’s the second best figures in Sheffield Shield history for a bowler who took seven wickets.

South Australia are chasing a first Shield title in almost three decades. Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

“It was an amazing game,’’ coach Harris told this masthead from Perth.

“The wicket had the thickest grass I have ever seen on it over here which helped the bounce but it also created divots and when the ball hit the divots it did something.

“It was a challenging wicket but both sides bowled well.

“They (WA) had a young side and I challenged the boys last night to put it in the right spot and they did. Nathan McAndrew just didn’t miss. He doesn’t have many bad days. If the Australian selectors are still looking for someone they could look at him. He is a great professional.

Harris paid tribute to former coach Jason Gillespie and Tim Nielsen for assembling the squad and said his main priority was to try and give his players self-belief.

McAndrew, 31, whose 28 wickets this season are four more than any rival, raised his 200th Shield wicket with his second last dismissal.

With a Shield bowling average of 26 and a batting average of 27 he is assembling an excellent first class record.

Originally published as Sheffield Shield: South Australia and Western Australia’s stunning result