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Western Australia 258 (Wyllie 104, Dwarshuis 4-48) lead New South Wales 180 by 78 runs
WA were bowled out for 258 in the final act of day two, giving them a lead of 78 after NSW were rolled for 180 on day one.
Wyllie was the hero of the day, cracking 15 boundaries on the way to posting 104 off 204 balls. The 18-year-old was playing just his third first-class match and showed maturity beyond his years to guide WA out of early trouble.
At 18 years and 163 days, Wyllie was the youngest player to reach triple figures in Shield cricket since Ponting, who was 18 years and 40 days when he notched his maiden ton in the competition.
Fanning scored 32 runs off 161 balls at a pain-staking strike rate of 19.88 to help quell the NSW attack on a bowler-friendly wicket. Tailender Matt Kelly then posted an unbeaten 47 off 86 balls to ram home WA’s advantage.
WA started the day at 2 for 18 and Hilton Cartwright was the first to fall after being given out lbw to Jack Edwards. Although the ball struck Cartwright on the back leg it looked as though it was going to sail over the stumps.
But WA received a couple of lucky breaks just before lunch. Wyllie survived a confident lbw shout from quick bowler Liam Hatcher. And next over Fanning was lucky to be given not out after being struck on the pads by spinner Nathan Lyon.
Fanning’s strike rate of 19.55 at the lunch break didn’t make for pretty reading. But his grit on a tricky wicket proved crucial in steadying the ship. Wyllie’s determination also proved vital, especially once Fanning departed.
Dwarshuis left WA reeling with two quick wickets late on Monday, and he returned to take the key scalps of Josh Philippe and Aaron Hardie shortly before tea on Tuesday.
But Wyllie refused to give in and he gained in confidence the longer his innings went. He departed late in the day when he edged Chris Tremain to slip. By then, WA already had a handy first-innings lead that could prove crucial in the final result.
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