Cartwright’s ton, late wickets set up Western Australia victory push

November 3, 2024
3:57 pm

Tasmania 317 and 10 for 2 trail Western Australia 460 for 9 dec (Cartwright 153, Goodwin 94, Agar 74, Fanning 68, Kuhnemann 5-100) lead by 133 runs

A superb century from Hilton Cartwright helped lift Sheffield Shield champions Western Australia to a near-unbeatable position against Tasmania at Bellerive Oval.

Cartwright, who survived a highly contentious caught-behind decision the previous evening on 38, struck 153 to lift WA to 460 for 9 dec for a first-innings lead of 143 on day three.

Tasmania were unable to survive six testing overs late on to be 10 for 2 at stumps on Sunday. Openers Jake Weatherald, sharply caught at mid-on from a pull, and Caleb Jewell, cleaned up by an excellent delivery from Joel Paris, both failed to survive after over five sessions in the field.

It was Cartwright’s ninth first-class century, with his 278-ball knock containing 18 fours. The right-hander enjoyed century partnerships with Jayden Goodwin and then Ashton Agar to take the game away from the home side.

It was another grinding day for Tasmania’s bowlers with WA failing to rise above three runs an over in an innings of 161 overs.

Goodwin, who resumed on 73, fell six runs short of a second first-class century as he and Cartwright put on 148 for the third wicket. The partnership had lifted WA to within 51 runs of Tasmania’s first innings 317 for the loss of only two wickets when Matthew Kuhnemann made the crucial breakthrough.

Kuhnemann slipped a looping delivery past Goodwin’s hitherto impeccable defences to bowl the No. 3 and end a 202-ball stay at the crease.

Opening bowler Gabe Bell then briefly threatened to change the momentum of the contest with wickets in successive overs. Captain Ashton Turner was bowled for 1 before wicketkeeper Joel Curtis was trapped lbw for the same score as WA went to lunch at 293 for 5.

But Cartwright and Agar halted Tasmania’s mini revival with a 158-run sixth wicket stand. Cartwright eventually edged to wicketkeeper Jake Doran off Kuhnemann, and the left-arm spinner then trapped Agar lbw for 74. Kuhnemann was eventually rewarded for his 43 overs of toil with 5 for 100.

WA went into the match on the back of a six-wicket win against Tasmania a fortnight ago and boasting a slim advantage at the top of the table after two rounds.