Sheffield Shield: Sam Konstas tumbles at end of first day to give Western Australia unlikely upper hand

Western Australia claimed three late scalps — including teen sensation Sam Konstas — to medicate a wobbly start to their must-win Sheffield Shield clash with New South Wales. Konstas — batting in his maiden first-class appearance at the WACA Ground — hit a Joel Paris delivery to mid-off for just six deep into the evening session on the first day. Speedster Lance Morris then took two wickets in a fearsome spell to leave the visitors 3-17. The three-time reigning champions were sent in to bat and stumbled their way to 196. Ashton Turner and Joel Curtis both scored 42 to claw WA back into the contest. Curtis said he felt their total was just under par on a wicket that has been treacherous since the new year. “We would have liked a little bit more, but having them three down overnight is pretty good and it’s definitely a defendable total,” he said. “It was a pretty usual day-one WACA wicket, bit tennis bally to start with, then flattened out a bit. There’s a few divots out there so it’s definitely going to be a challenging day tomorrow.” Curtis said their pace trio and particularly Morris, who has 2-2, will be “pivotal” on Friday. They were boosted by the return of prodigious opener Cam Bancroft, who played his first match after breaking his nose and shoulder in a horror outfield clash more than two months ago. In his 100th match for WA, Bancroft was out caught behind off Liam Hatcher for 22. Long-time opening partner Sam Whiteman chopped on for 25 just overs later and No.3 Jayden Goodwin was caught behind off a violent inswinger from Jack Edwards immediately after lunch. Turner’s dismissal — caught behind off former Test seamer Jackson Bird, who took 3-22 from 16 — triggered a mini collapse. Joel Paris fell for a duck from the very next delivery and Cam Gannon came close to carving the hat-trick ball back on to his stumps. Konstas played far more conservatively than he did in his stunning Boxing Day debut or is heavily-scrutinised assault on Scott Boland last month. He looked comfortable and played two nice drives before an out-of-the-blue dismissal. It continues a deflating run of shield form for the teenager, who took international cricket by storm this summer. Ryan Hadley was sent out on nightwatchman duties late in the day after Morris took the wicket of Nic Maddinson, only to be trapped lbw by Morris for one. That forced a second tailender, Liam Hatcher, to ride the final over. All six teams began the day with this month’s final in reach. WA must win this match with the Blues and next week’s clash with Victoria to play-off for a fourth straight title. Victoria made 285 against ladder-leaders South Australia and left the tournament favourites 2-40 at stumps at the Junction Oval. Usman Khawaja made a century in Queensland’s 6-309 against Tasmania.