Marnus Labuschagne cut a dejected figure after Queensland lost to Western Australia by one wicket in a Sheffield Shield cricket thriller at the WACA on Friday. Corey Rocchiccioli was the hero, guiding Western Australia home in the final hour of play after they still needed 23 runs with just one wicket in hand.
WA were set 272 for victory from 90 overs on Friday, and they looked fairly comfortable at 2-155. But they were left on 9-249 as Queensland’s bowling attack put the squeeze on, with No.11 batter Cameron Gannon joining No.9 Rocchiccioli at the crease.
Marnus Labuschagne (L) and Queensland were shattered after Corey Rocchiccioli (R) got Western Australia home. Image: Getty/cricket.com.au
With a bowling attack that includes Australia players Michael Neser, Xavier Bartlett, Gurinder Sandhu and Mitchell Swepson, Queensland would have backed themselves to snare the final wicket with 23 still to get. But Rocchiccioli (24 off 37 balls) and Gannon (10 off 13 balls) showed nerves of steel to guide WA to their first win of the season with 7.3 overs remaining on the final day.
Rocchiccioli took down Test player Neser with a number of lusty blows, and almost slipped over as he was completing the final run. WA players streamed onto the field to celebrate with Rocchiccioli and Gannon, while Labuschagne and the Queensland captain’s teammates looked shattered.
It left Queensland on one win through four games this season – the same number as WA, NSW, South Australia and Tasmania. Victoria have four wins from four games, with every other team on one.
The remarkable victory for WA came after they actually declared their first innings while trailing. With first innings bonus points a thing of the past, WA captain Sam Whiteman declared while nine down in the first innings to try and speed the game along.
They then bowled out Queensland for 203 in the second dig, setting up the thrilling final-day run chase. Playing in his 100th Shield match, Whiteman was the rock at the top of the order, with his knock of 81 off 170 balls helping set up victory.
Corey Rocchiccioli (L) and Cameron Gannon (R) celebrate with WA teammates. Image: Getty
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Cameron Bancroft (36), Josh Inglis (28) and Hilton Cartwright (25) made key contributions, while Test hopeful Cameron Green made 17 in the second dig after 94 in the first. Labuschagne made 50 and 11, and also took a wicket with the ball ahead of a likely return to the Test team for Friday’s first Ashes Test against England. Fans were blown away by Western Australia’s remarkable victory on Friday.
Cameron Green heaps praise on Marnus Labuschagne
With Labuschagne likely to be recalled at No.3, Green will almost certainly revert to the middle order and bat at No.6 now that he’s back bowling after last year’s back surgery. Green’s inclusion as the all-rounder will likely see Beau Webster make way, after Green got through 16 overs with the ball against Queensland.
“We will have to wait and see what happens this summer and if it is a long-term option, but I can always look back on my career and say at one point I was batting No.3 for Australia,” Green told AAP. “The guys we have had at No.3 for Australia have been really adaptable to conditions and Marnus is the one I have seen do it so well.
“He has faced the challenges of being on a flat wicket in Pakistan for example, where you come in 1-150 and have to be more aggressive and put the foot down, or it might be coming in during the first over in England and getting the side through. Certainly, I have learned from him. Marnus has done a great job previously and there is no doubt in my mind that he will again. He was at the top of his game when I started and it was always a pleasure watching him go about it.”