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Sheffield Shield: Blues fight back with ball after collapse

Perth: The swinging Dukes ball has worked in the bowler's favour on the opening day of the Sheffield Shield match between Western Australia and NSW at the WACA Ground.

NSW won the toss with Peter Nevill deciding to bat first and it was a good call at 1-89 just after lunch.

Western Australia's Cameron Bancroft catches Ed Cowan of NSW. Photo: AAP

But from there it was all downhill for the Blues as they lost 9-115 to be all out for 204.

Mitch Marsh took 4-50 for WA.

Mitch Marsh bowls for the Warriors.
Mitch Marsh bowls for the Warriors. Photo: AAP

WA then had a tricky period to navigate with the bat before stumps and were unable to go through unscathed, with Will Bosisto (0) and nightwatchman Matt Kelly (1) out to good swing bowling by Trent Copeland.

The Warriors finished at 2-17 with Cameron Bancroft (7) and Hilton Cartwright (10) at the crease.

The Blues are minus their Test stars except for off-spinner Nathan Lyon and started well with the bat despite losing Nick Larkins for 13 in the opening session.

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Daniel Hughes (49) and Kurtis Patterson (24) looked in control against the swinging English-made ball, until Marsh got on a roll for the Warriors.

Fresh off his Ashes exploits, he was instrumental getting rid of Hughes, Moises Henriques (5) and Patterson in quick time for 16 runs.

Ed Cowan was the best of the rest for NSW making 46 but WA had the answers with the ball to dismiss them for 204.

Kelly also took 2-34 with a wicket each to Jhye Richardson, Simon Mackin, Alex Bevilaqua and Bosisto.

Marsh was the star but delighted to bowl NSW out for 204 and happy with the day overall despite losing two late wickets.

"After losing the toss and them batting first, to bowl them out for 200 was a great effort," he said.

"We really stuck to our plans and were patient for the first couple of sessions and got the rewards late … I'm very happy with the way we bowled.

"Obviously in those scenarios you can lose a couple at the end but we bat really deep and we back ourselves to try and get a lead."

AAP

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SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

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