Paul Barbieri at the WACA
Western Australia has joined Queensland at the top of the Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield table after completing an eight-wicket outright victory over New South Wales in its season-opening clash at the WACA ground.
The Warriors needed just 41 runs after lunch to secure the win and despite losing the aggressive Luke Pomersbach (78 off 74 balls) in the session's second over, unbeaten batsmen Shaun Marsh (74) and WA skipper Marcus North (16) took the hosts through to a comfortable victory.
At the main break, it appeared Marsh and Pomersbach would see the Warriors home without any trouble whatsoever, after the pair put on 103 runs from 130 deliveries during the morning session.
Pomersbach in particular was in explosive touch, coming in with the score at 1-79 after flashy opener Liam Davis was trapped in front by Grant Lambert for 41.
The left-hander belted Mark Cameron for 10 in one over to begin with and never let up from there, bashing 78 runs from 74 deliveries in an innings that wouldn't have been out of place had he been playing for Indian Premier League club, Punjab.
As his Punjab team-mate Marsh took a more cautious approach opening for his state, the pair put on their first 50 from 72 balls, before upping the ante, the century coming off 122 deliveries.
Pomersbach looked likely to continue the attack after lunch as he lofted his fourth six off the second ball of Cameron's first over in the middle session.
But, two balls later, Pomersbach hooked just one time too many and was caught by Lambert at deep mid-wicket.
However, Marsh and North comfortably took the Warriors past the 223 they needed for an outright win, Marsh driving through the covers for four as WA posted 2-224.
WA had started the day at 0-52, with New South Wales needing early wickets in order to place the Warriors batting line-up, which had been below its best making 265 in the first innings, under some pressure.
But, despite the slightly overcast conditions, the ball refused to swing for the Blues' pace attack and Australian ODI bowler Nathan Bracken could only manage 0-35 from his 15 overs as Lambert (1-41) and Cameron (1-65) claimed one wicket apiece.
Australian international prospect Beau Casson was barely given a chance in the second innings, however, the spinner only sending down one over after the luncheon break to go with six overs in the first innings as he struggled with a shoulder strain.
But Warriors quick Steve Magoffin may have put himself in line for a national berth as he claimed Man of the Match honours having taken 4-36 and 6-66 during New South Wales' first two innings.
Magoffin's efforts ensured the Blues were bowled out for 177 in their first innings on Friday, although New South Wales lifted the second time around, making 310 in reply to WA's 265 first innings score.
New South Wales first innings 177
Western Australia first innings 265
New South Wales second innings
Philip Hughes c Ronchi b Magoffin 0 (4)
Greg Mail c Dorey b North 77 (213)
Peter Forrest c Ronchi b North 35 (90)
Beau Casson c Voges b Magoffin 2 (27)
Moises Henriques lbw Kelly 13 (39)
Dominic Thornely c Voges b Crawford 97 (166)
Steven Smith b Magoffin 0 (11)
Grant Lambert c Ronchi b Magoffin 32 (86)
Daniel Smith c Doropoulos b Magoffin 30 (36)
Nathan Bracken c Davis b Magoffin 12 (14)
Mark Cameron not out 2 (12)
Extras: 10 (7 lb, 1b, 1nb, 1w)
Total: 310 (10 wickets, 116.1 overs)
FoW: 1-0 (Hughes), 2-59 (Forrest), 3-64 (Casson), 4-95 (Henriques), 5-173 (Mail), 6-175 (S Smith), 7-256 (Thornely), 8-276 (Lambert), 9-300 (Bracken), 10-310 (D Smith)
Bowling
Steve Magoffin 26.1 - 9 - 66 - 6
Brett Dorey 26 - 8 - 73 – 0 (1w)
Arron Crawford 20 - 8 - 59 – 1 (1nb)
Trent Kelly 18 - 6 - 46 – 1
Marcus North 23 – 6 – 48 – 2
Adam Voges 3 – 1 – 10 – 0
Western Australia second innings
Liam Davis lbw: Lambert 41 (67)
Shaun Marsh not out 74 (137)
Luke Pomersbach c:Lambert b:Cameron 78 (74)
Marcus North: not out 16 (25)
Extras: 15 (8 lb, 6 w, 1 nb)
Total: 224 (2 wickets, 54.5 overs)
FoW: 1-79 (Davis) 2-191 (Pomersbach)
Bowling
Nathan Bracken 15 – 5 – 35 - 0
Mark Cameron 16 – 4 – 65 - 1
Grant Lambert 9 – 0 – 41 - 1 (5w, 1nb)
Greg Mail 5 – 0 – 21 - 0
Dominic Thornely 4 - 1 - 22 - 0
Steven Smith 4.5 - 0 - 29 - 0
Beau Casson 1 - 0 - 3 - 0
Man of the Match: Steve Magoffin. (Took 10-102 across both innings)