ING Cup: Western Australia v South Australia at Perth, 12 Oct 2001 CricInfo Live Report

ING Cup: Western Australia v South Australia at Perth, 12 Oct 2001
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Western Australia innings: 25 overs, 50 overs,
South Australia innings: WA won by 56 runs,

GILCHRIST LEADS WARRIORS TO CONVINCING VICTORY

In recording a convincing 56-run success over a disappointing South Australia, home team Western Australia has won - and secured a bonus point from - its opening match of the 2001-02 domestic season in Perth today.

The Warriors' win was set up primarily by Man of the Match Adam Gilchrist (84). His powerful exhibition at the start of the day set the tone for consistently aggressive batting throughout his team's innings of 5/269.

Chasing that score, the South Australians never kept up with the required run rate. Opener Greg Blewett (80) constructed a lovely innings but, once Darren Lehmann (1) had fallen cheaply to leave his team 3/82 after 20 overs, the Redbacks' cause always looked shaky.

Brad Williams, injury-plagued for much of last summer, snared four wickets with the ball and Brad Hogg claimed three.

A full report will follow.

WARRIORS ASCEND TO IMPRESSIVE TOTAL

A consistently impressive batting performance has led Western Australia to a score of 5/269 following the opening 50 overs of today's ING Cup clash against South Australia in Perth.

Jason Gillespie opened the match with a maiden but it was about the only time in the innings during which the Redbacks exerted any real sense of control over the run rate.

Opening batsmen Adam Gilchrist (84) and Damien Martyn (34) set the tone for the home team, producing a dazzling stand of 107 for the first wicket that spanned less than 19 overs. Gilchrist, in particular, was in commanding form and continued to strike the ball with characteristic authority straight down the ground throughout his innings.

And, even after left arm paceman Mark Harrity (3/51) and Brad Young (1/44) had combined to slow the rate and remove that pair, the visitors' attack continued to find life difficult. Murray Goodwin (33), Justin Langer (26) and Simon Katich (20) kept the scoreboard ticking over with handy cameos, and then Mike Hussey (36*) and Brad Hogg (27*) added an unbroken 57 from the final 45 balls of the innings.

And the pain didn't end there either literally or metaphorically for the visitors. Already cursed by the losses of Paul Wilson, Chris Davies and Mick Miller to injury, the Redbacks watched in horror as left arm paceman Brett Swain took a heavy tumble when fielding a cover drive from Martyn in the 19th over.

Swain appeared to seriously injure his shoulder and departed the field immediately. It is understood that he has been taken to a local hospital in order for the injury to be fully assessed.

Not all is lost yet, however. An analysis of Western Australia's score needs to be set within the context that the home team's runs were scored on a pitch that has played beautifully to this stage of this match. With the likes of Darren Lehmann, Greg Blewett, Ben Johnson, Jeff Vaughan and David Fitzgerald in their line-up, the Redbacks certainly have the resources to make a good fist of the chase.

GILCHRIST SPARKLES AS WARRIORS OPEN SEASON

The ever-dangerous Adam Gilchrist has found himself at the heart of a sensational start from Western Australia to its ING Cup match against South Australia at the WACA Ground in Perth this afternoon.

Led by a sparkling half-century from the Australian vice-captain, the Warriors have reached a mark of 2/135 after 25 overs.

That score has come predominantly from some sweet driving down the ground by Gilchrist (84), who has taken maximum toll of a combination of loose bowling, an easily-paced pitch and a lightning fast outfield.

Jason Gillespie made a more than satisfactory start for the visitors, bowling a maiden to Gilchrist's opening partner, Damien Martyn (34), from the River End.

But the scoring rate escalated rapidly thereafter, with 14 runs crashed off the next two overs and then a massive 62 runs being plundered in the space of just six overs at a later stage. Gilchrist's half-ton arrived from a mere 40 balls.

Young pace bowler Paul Rofe suffered the most, seeing 34 runs smashed from his only three overs. And matters weren't proving much more satisfactory in the field, with left arm paceman Brett Swain appearing to dislocate his shoulder (and being forced to leave the field) after diving to stop a drive from Martyn in the covers.

It was only when captain Darren Lehmann turned to the left arm bowling combination of paceman Mark Harrity and spinner Brad Young after the drinks break that things took a turn for the better for the Redbacks.

Harrity beat a driving Martyn with a ball that cut away from the right hander off the seam to have him caught behind following an opening stand of 107.

And then, crucially, South Australia's torment at Gilchrist's hands finally came to an end in the 23rd over when he mistimed a ball and ballooned a catch to Jeff Vaughan backpedalling from his position at mid off.