It was a chaotic and captivating 14-wicket day in Perth, and when the dust settled at the WACA, New South Wales were firmly on top in their Sheffield Shield clash against Western Australia. On a classic fast bowler’s pitch that roared to life, wickets tumbled at an alarming rate, providing a brutal and beautiful reminder of red-ball cricket at its most thrilling.
For fans accustomed to flat tracks, this was a throwback. It was a day of relentless pressure where every run was earned and every wicket felt inevitable, leaving the Blues in a commanding position.
WA Tumble on a Spicy WACA Pitch
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Western Australia’s hopes of building a foundation were quickly dashed. The WACA pitch had other ideas, offering significant bounce and seam movement from the very first over.
The NSW pace battery, led by the evergreen Chris Tremain, was relentless. The breakthrough came via Jack Edwards, who found Sam Whiteman’s edge with a perfect outswinger. From there, it was a steady procession. Tremain was the chief destroyer, bowling a masterful spell of line-and-length bowling to tear the heart out of the WA middle order.
He finished with fiery figures of 4/35, as the hosts were bundled out for a paltry 148 shortly after lunch.
Blues Stumble Before Captain’s Stand
If NSW thought the job was done, they were in for a rude awakening. The WACA is an impartial beast, and WA’s pacers, led by the fiery Lance Morris, were determined to fight back.
The NSW reply started disastrously as they slumped to 34/3. The ball was still zipping off the surface, and for a moment, it seemed an equally dramatic collapse was on the cards.
Henriques and Davies Seize Control
Cometh the hour, cometh the captain. Moises Henriques, a veteran of countless domestic battles, joined talented youngster Ollie Davies at the crease to forge the match-defining partnership.
Their stand wasn’t always pretty, but it was incredibly effective. Henriques was a rock of defiance, while Davies provided the counter-punch with some glorious drives. Their 92-run partnership for the fourth wicket didn’t just stabilise the innings; it wrestled complete control of the match into NSW’s hands.
Though Davies fell late in the day for a well-made 58, the damage was done. At the close of play, New South Wales were 165/4, already holding a first-innings lead of 17 runs with six wickets in hand. On a day where 14 wickets fell, that lead is like gold dust, leaving the Blues in a prime position to dictate terms on day two.
