Mitch Marsh has given WA a flying start to their chase in a crucial One-Day Cup game against Queensland, hammering 36 from only 27 deliveries in his first appearance of the domestic season.
Fresh off some strong form for Australia in their recently-completed One-Day International series against South Africa, the veteran smashed five boundaries to go with a pair of sixes at the top of the order as his side set about chasing the visitors’ first-innings total of 261.
His brisk knock ended when he was adjudged lbw to Bulls fifth-gamer Tom Whitney, not appearing particularly happy as he made his way off the WACA Ground.
Marsh made his intent clear early by taking the chase’s second over from young seamer Tom Straker for 14, backing up a six which hammered into the sightscreen with boundaries on either side of the wicket.
Left-armer Oli Patterson was not spared from his assault at the other end, with a sublime on-drive which sailed over the boundary rope his shot of the innings.
Queensland’s stand-in captain Mitch Swepson held himself back from the attack, instead calling upon change seamers Hayden Kerr and Whitney.
And it was the latter who did the trick for the 34-year-old, courtesy of an in-swinger which hit his front pad after he made a reasonable stride towards the ball’s trajectory.
Marsh’s departure left WA at 1-56 in the eighth over.
After a rain-affected no result against South Australia and a thumping nine-wicket defeat at the hands of Tasmania in their first two games, they will likely only be able to afford only one more loss — if any at all — if they are to break back into the top two and secure a place in the final.