WA has suffered its first defeat at the National Under 19 Championships in Canberra after going down to Victoria in the first of their two-day fixtures at the ANU North Oval.
After winning the toss and batting, WA was dismissed for just 191 – a total that the Vics had no problem chasing down, surpassing the target with just one wicket down. They established a lead before declaring at 3-253. WA was 4-105 in its second innings when play ended for the match.
WA's powerful and in-form batting line-up struggled against a disciplined Victorian attack, slumping to 7-91 before a terrific 85-run stand between Sam Whiteman (62) and Chris Chellew (47) helped to steer their team to a respectable total.
But after the early loss of Ayrton Dehmel for four, Jake Hancock (135 not out) and Travis Dean (97) took the game away from WA with a brilliant partnership of 247 for the second wicket.
The loss of Dean and Jackson Coleman in successive balls, both dismissed by Phil Adams, brought about the declaration from Victorian skipper Alex Keath.
WA was soon in trouble in the second dig, slumping to 2-20 after the loss of Andrew Cameron for no score and Marcus Harris for six.
But Aaron Todd (40) and skipper Tom Beaton (33) help steady the ship for WA, putting on a 51-run third wicket partnership that got WA on track. Adams was unbeaten on 20 at the close of play.
The WA boys enjoy a day off tomorrow before embarking on another two-day fixture on Sunday and Monday against Queensland at Marist College Oval.