On day 3, Western Australia started from 175/5, with Josh Philippe and Ashton Turner onn the crease. Phillipe was dismissed by Boland just after 4 runs were added to the board.
Batting with tail enders, Ashton Turner made a settling 105 runs partnership with Joel Paris (31 off 126 balls). Turner scored majority of runs in this partnership while Paris kept his wicket enact.
Batting on his homeground, Turner received full support from fans who were excited to see Turner in action. Turner completed his 100 in 190 balls just before lunch. But coming to bat after lunch, Matthew Short dismissed Joel Paris.
And two overs later, Victorian captain Will Sutherland got the much needed wicket of Turner. But by that time, Western Australia was in stable position, having 120 runs lead over Victoria who could only post 195 on board in the first innings.
Ashton Turner is playing a Sheffield Shield game after two long years. He performed brilliantly in latest addition Big Bash League and Marsh Cup, because of that performance he received a call back to play in the Sheffield Shield finals.
It paid off absolutely as Turner notched a ton after long 5 years, his previous ton which was 101* came against Queensland back in November 2017.
Coming to bat in an struggling position, first he built a counterattacking partnership with Aaron Hardie on day 2. Victoria’s Ashley Chandrasinghe went to play a classic test like innings of 46 runs in 280 balls.
As Victoria finished with 195 in the first innings, their bowlers did a wonderful job with the ball, pulling Western Australia for 4 for 53. Sutherland being most impressive of the lot picking up a fifer in the final.
From 4 for 53 to 315, a tremendous rebuilding and most importantly, 120 runs lead has put West Australia in the driving seat. In the second innings, Victoria is already 2 wickets down for 19 still trailing by 101 runs by the time of lunch day 4.
Campbell Kellaway and experienced Peter Handscomb are on the crease as Western Australia is all over them at the time. It will require a gritty and determined knock for one of these batters to give Victoria edge over Western Australia who are nearing to win another Sheffield Shield finals.