By Justin Chadwick
Queensland paceman Mark Steketee snared 6-38 as Western Australia were skittled for 115 in the Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA Ground.
Steketee ripped the heart out of WA’s top and middle order as the home side crashed to 3-3 and 6-29 in a disastrous reply to Queensland’s 211.
Aaron Hardie bats during the Sheffield Shield match between Western Australia and Queensland at the WACA.Credit:Paul Kane/Getty Images
Allrounder Aaron Hardie (44) and tail-ender Joel Paris (26) ensured WA avoided complete embarrassment, but Queensland still came away with a handy 96-run first-innings lead.
Queensland moved to 0-27 in their second innings by tea on day two, giving them an overall lead of 123.
Steketee had figures of 5-9 off 7.5 overs early in WA’s innings before Hardie and Paris steadied the ship.
The green WACA deck had looked tricky to bat on during day one, but it was near unplayable early on Tuesday as Steketee weaved his magic.
Cameron Bancroft (2) and Teague Wyllie (duck) fell to the 28-year-old during his first over on day two and alarm bells were ringing as more wickets tumbled.
WA’s lowest-ever Shield total of 41 – set against South Australia in 1990 – was in danger of being broken when Steketee snared the key scalps of Hilton Cartwright (10) and Josh Philippe (1) to leave the Warriors at 6-29.
Youngster Sam Fanning attempted to stop the rot through sheer grit, scoring three runs off 38 balls at a strike rate of 7.89.
But when he became Xavier Bartlett’s first victim, WA’s tail was left exposed.
Hardie launched a much-needed rescue mission to keep the home side in the match with the 23-year-old cracking seven boundaries during his 74-ball knock.
Paris and Jhye Richardson (11no) also proved important in chipping away at Queensland’s lead.
Most of Steketee’s wickets came through edges with the right-arm paceman making the most of the bowler-friendly conditions.
He wrapped up the innings with the scalp of No.11 Lance Morris, but it wasn’t enough to better his career-best Shield figures of 7-44 against South Australia last year.
Michael Neser (2-32 off 18 overs) was also superb with the ball on Tuesday.
AAP
