Elliott leads Victorian assault

Close Victoria 1 for 168 (Elliott 102*, Mott 54*) lead Western Australia 151 by 17 runs
Scorecard

A majestic century by Matthew Elliott led Victoria to an opening-day slaughter of Western Australia in their Pura Cup cricket match at the WACA. Victoria collected all first-innings points and raced clear at the top of the table.

In reply to WA's 151, Victoria were 1 for 168 with Elliott and Matthew Mott at the crease at stumps. Elliott's innings topped off a dominant display from Victoria, who illustrated why the two teams are at opposite ends of the table.

Elliott pushed his side beyond WA's first-innings total with a glorious pull shot for four before bringing up his 38th first-class hundred. He celebrated his ton off only 125 balls by turning a ball to square leg in the last over of the day. The Victorian batsmen should sleep well tonight in the knowledge that the pitch should flatten and that WA have failed to take 20 wickets this summer.

Ben Edmondson made the only breakthrough for WA by yorking Jason Arnberger before Elliott and Mott combined for an unbeaten stand of 138. Michael Thistle, on his debut, had a costly miss when he dropped a return catch off Elliott, who was on 43 at the time.

A disciplined Victorian bowling attack earlier exploited favourable conditions to bundle WA out for 151. Despite missing their spearhead Mathew Inness, Victoria backed up stand-in captain Jon Moss's decision to bowl first against a weakened batting line-up.

Ian Harvey and Shane Harwood made the early incisions, but it was Andrew McDonald and Allan Wise who ripped WA's middle order apart. After being 2-80 at lunch, the home side lost 8 for 71 in the middle session as they struggled to cope with the swing on a pitch with a strong green tinge.

Western Australia were missing openers Michael Hussey and Chris Rogers, on duty for Australia A at Hobart, as Simmons and Murray Goodwin fell in the opening half hour. WA were teetering at 2 for 19, but had a let off when Andrew McDonald put down a sharp chance at point off Harwood with Marcus North on 3.

But Victoria seized control of the match after the lunch break as McDonald more than made up for his earlier mistake by dismissing North and Scott Meuleman. Wise then crashed through the middle order by dismissing an out-of-form Shaun Marsh and Brad Hogg in the one over.

WA's innings stagnated and turned into a comedy of errors with Ryan Campbell left desperately crawling for his crease without his bat after colliding mid-pitch with Peter Worthington. The joke was on Worthington soon after, though, as he hooked a Harvey bouncer down Wise's throat at fine-leg.

The rot continued when Callum Thorp was run out attempting a single which was not there before Lewis finished off the tail with Campbell left unbeaten on 28.