Victoria well on top of WA in Shield game

1 Oct 2012, 8:23 pm   -   Source: AAP

Victoria skipper Andrew McDonald notched a century to put the Bushrangers well on top of WA after two days of the Shield cricket match in Perth.

A slashing century by captain Andrew McDonald and nice double from Peter Siddle helped put Victoria in a commanding position in their Sheffield Shield clash with Western Australia at the WACA Ground.

At stumps on the second day, the Warriors were 4-91 in their second innings, still trailing by 109 runs.

Any hope of avoiding a second successive outright defeat on home soil to start the season rests with brothers Shaun and Mitchell Marsh, the not-out batsmen.

Mitchell will resume on 36 on Tuesday with former Test batsman Shaun on 28.

They came together with the Warriors in deep trouble at 4-39 and added 52 before stumps.

Victorian skipper McDonald, who made the wise decision to bowl first on the opening day when the Warriors were skittled for 175, laid the foundation for Victoria's response of 375 with a dashing century.

McDonald, who hit a boundary to secure first-innings points for his side, made 101 from just 88 balls, his 11th first-class century.

He hit 16 fours and one six, before falling to Nathan Coulter-Nile the very next ball after he reached the milestone.

McDonald was complemented by the late flurry from Siddle, who then claimed two top order wickets in successive balls in WA's second innings.

Siddle hit 13 fours and two sixes in making 87, he and No.11 Jon Holland putting on 70 runs for the last wicket to torment the struggling home side.

Siddle then removed opener Liam Davis (16) and captain Marcus North, whose golden duck gave him a pair for the match after a seven-ball duck in the first innings, with successive deliveries to be on a hat-trick in Perth for the second time in as many Shield matches.

Last season, he was denied the hat-trick when wicketkeeper Ryan Carters dropped the easiest of catches, this time he missed out when a thick edge from Adam Voges landed just in front of Chris Rogers in gully.

Siddle was delighted to have finally notched his maiden first-class half-century.

"It has been in the back of mind every now and again and the boys have a little bit of joke about it that I won't be able to get it," he said.

"It was nice to be able to get us a to a respectable total and a nice lead, hopefully we can get it done tomorrow."

He said they would be aiming to break the Marsh partnership early on the third day.

"There is a little partnership here," he said.

"But we are in a good place here and we know if we bowl good areas and keep it patient they like to play the big strokes.

"There are going to be plenty of opportunities and we have to be ready to take them."

Test hopeful Mitchell Johnson again bowled impressively in the Victorian first innings to continue his encouraging start to the season.

The former ICC Cricketer of the Year bowled with excellent pace and maintained a good line and length, beating the bat numerous times in finishing with 3-73 from 24 overs.

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