Rain denies WA victory as Bancroft fights, SA's lower order stands firm

The match between Western Australia and South Australia ended in a draw, with both teams unable to secure a victory. In the first innings, Western Australia showed their dominance by scoring a strong total of 373 runs. Opener Cameron Goodwin was the standout performer, smashing a brilliant 139 runs. Ashton Turner also contributed significantly to the team's total with 79 runs. However, South Australian bowler Brendan Doggett managed to pick up five wickets, finishing with figures of 5-97. In response, South Australia struggled to match Western Australia's total and were bowled out for 253 runs. Youngster Liam Scott Hunt gave a commendable performance, scoring an impressive century with 106 runs. Nathan Manenti played a valuable unbeaten knock of 73 runs to provide some stability to the innings. Western Australia's Joel Paris was the pick of the bowlers, claiming a five-wicket haul with figures of 5-34. In the second innings, Western Australia declared their innings at 243 for 3, setting a target of 364 runs for South Australia to win. Opener Cameron Bancroft led the charge with a brilliant unbeaten century, scoring 105 runs. Goodwin also played a crucial knock, contributing 69 runs to the team's total. In their chase, South Australia started off decently but failed to maintain the required run rate. They finished the match at 208 for 6, falling short of the target. Jake Lehmann top-scored for the team with 53 runs, while Western Australia's Aaron Critchell claimed three wickets, finishing with figures of 3-33. Overall, both teams displayed commendable performances throughout the match, but ultimately failed to clinch a victory, resulting in a draw.

Cameron Bancroft produced a breakthrough Sheffield Shield century but rain and a stubborn knock from Liam Scott ended Western Australia's bid to secure victory against South Australia.

Bancroft struck an unbeaten 105 off 255 balls as WA set South Australia a victory target of 364 off 90 overs. They were precariously placed at 170 for 5 after 60.1 overs - with debutant Keaton Critchell taking three wickets - when a rain break wiped out 17 overs.

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The loss of Harry Nielsen in the first over after the rain break meant WA needed just four more wickets with 12.2 overs remaining. But Scott (33 not out off 106 balls) and Ben Manenti survived before the game was deemed a draw with three balls remaining.

There was unexpected drama late in the match when Hilton Cartwright was forced off the field after being accidentally struck in the head by the ball. Cartwright wasn't looking when Bancroft tossed the ball to him from five metres away, but luckily the impact was only minor.

Bancroft started the season as a genuine chance to win the vacant opener's spot in the Test side following two mammoth years with the bat. But his form turned to mush so quickly over the past two months that critics even started questioning whether he deserved to keep his spot in the WA side.

Bancroft opened the Shield campaign with scores of 0, 0, 8 and 2. In his two matches for Australia A, which effectively doubled as a bat-off for the vacant top-order spot in the Test team, Bancroft scored 0, 16, 3 and 0.

Nathan McSweeney ended up winning the Test call-up, and Bancroft went on to make 12 and 11 in his next Shield match against Victoria, before opening the current Shield clash with a first-ball duck, despite not appearing to have edged the ball.

It continued a rotten run of luck for Bancroft, with a number of his dismissals this season appearing to be umpiring errors. But his luck finally changed.

Bancroft made it to stumps on Monday unbeaten on 71, and he had one edge fall short and another edge fly too high for the fielder on Tuesday on the way to reaching his 30th first-class century.

The 32-year-old raised his bat and helmet to the sky upon reaching triple figures, with the knock an important step in his bid to get back in the conversation for a Test call-up.

WA young gun Jayden Goodwin was named player of the match for his scores of 139 and 69.