Western Australia have clawed their way back into their Sheffield Shield clash against Victoria thanks to a superb five-wicket haul from veteran seamer Cameron Gannon, but the visitors know their real challenge begins with the bat on day three. Despite Gannon’s heroics rescuing WA from a dire position, the bottom-placed side remain under significant pressure and will be banking heavily on Mitch Marsh to anchor a resilient second-innings fight.
WA arrived at the MCG hoping to ignite their stuttering season, entering the contest with just one win from their opening five matches. Their first-innings total of 194 looked shaky at best, and when Victoria powered ahead to 3-166 midway through the second day, the ladder-leaders appeared poised to take full control.
But Gannon, supported by a spirited bowling outfit, flipped the narrative.
A Fightback Led by Experience
Victoria’s early dominance had threatened to push WA out of the contest entirely. Blake Macdonald, continuing his excellent season, provided a calm and authoritative presence at the top of the order. He guided Victoria to a strong start and appeared destined for a maiden first-class century. But on 79, he miscued a Brody Couch short ball, top-edging to Liam Haskett at fine leg and opening the door for WA to break into the innings.
Macdonald’s dismissal brought Australia white-ball star Matt Short to the crease, and the Victorian strokemaker wasted no time accelerating the scoring. Short’s brisk 62 injected urgency into the innings as he tried to lift Victoria beyond 300 while batting with the lower order. His attempt to clear long off ended in the hands of Sam Whiteman, gifting Gannon another breakthrough at a crucial moment.
From there, WA surged.
Gannon dismantled the Victorian tail with precision and control, capturing four of the final five wickets to finish with outstanding figures of 5-47 from 23 overs. His spell shifted the tone of the match entirely, pulling WA back into contention and injecting belief into a side that has battled inconsistency throughout the season.
Complementing Gannon’s brilliance, off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli chipped in with two wickets — including the important scalp of former Test opener Marcus Harris for just 11 — while Aaron Hardie, Brody Couch, and Liam Haskett each collected a wicket to round out a disciplined team performance.
Gannon was full of praise for the collective effort from his bowlers.
“We’ve given ourselves a chance, we’ve fought back and shown a bit of grit,” he said.
“I’m very proud of the bowling group. Rocc bowled really well, I think Hask deserved more than he got, I think he bowled the house down, and Brody Couch, good pace.
“Hopefully, tomorrow, we can bat all day and make this a really good contest.”
WA’s Shaky Start Leaves the Door Open
Despite pegging Victoria back and limiting them to 255 — a deficit of 61 — WA stumbled immediately in their second innings. Opener Cameron Bancroft, a key pillar in WA’s batting structure, fell early for just two, deepening the pressure on a side that has struggled for stability at the top.
Interestingly, Mitch Marsh did not walk out at his usual No.3 spot. Instead, Rocchiccioli was sent in as a nightwatchman, tasked with negotiating the final overs before stumps. He survived the challenge, finishing the day unbeaten on one alongside captain Sam Whiteman, who ended on two not out.
Their partnership, though small in numbers, was crucial in ensuring WA reached stumps at 1-5 without further damage. But with the visitors still 56 runs behind Victoria, the third day will demand resilience — and a sizeable contribution from Marsh.
Marsh Holds the Key to WA’s Survival
Marsh has become the centrepiece of WA’s hopes, both for stability and momentum. His ability to dictate innings tempo and absorb pressure has long been invaluable for the state team, and with WA positioned precariously, the responsibility he carries into day three is immense.
A strong, composed knock from Marsh could give WA not only a competitive total but also the time required to bowl Victoria out a second time. Anything short of that, and the hosts will be primed to take advantage of a fragile batting order.
If there is a silver lining for WA, it is that their bowlers have shown they can unsettle Victoria. The question now is whether their batters can match the intensity.
A Match Balanced on a Knife Edge
The MCG pitch has offered enough movement and unpredictable bounce to keep bowlers invested, and WA’s attack exploited it expertly on day two. But as the surface wears, batting discipline becomes even more critical, and any lapses in technique may prove costly.
For WA, the path forward is clear: bat deep, bat smart, and put enough runs on the board to give their bowlers real leverage. For Victoria, early wickets on the third morning could put them back in firm control of the fixture.
Either way, Gannon’s five-wicket haul has ensured the contest remains alive — and more than that, intriguing.
WA will step out on day three knowing they have kept themselves in the hunt. Whether they can transform that opportunity into their second win of the season rests heavily on the shoulders of Marsh and a batting group that must deliver when it matters most.
