Josh Inglis helped the home side recover after Jon Holland had caused problems in the afternoon
Western Australia 6 for 291 (Bancroft 113, Inglis 88*) v Victoria
Cameron Bancroft overcame a blow to the jaw before play to score his third Sheffield Shield century of the season on a keenly-contested opening day against Victoria.
Josh Inglis was unbeaten within sight of his century at the close as an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 90 with Joel Paris lifted Western Australia from a precarious 6 for 201 when Bancroft’s fine innings was ended by James Pattinson’s superb catch at deep square leg.
Both teams retain hope of reaching the final next month although will need to win their two remaining matches.
Victoria opted to bowl first and managed two breakthroughs before lunch with Sam Whiteman sharply held off an inside edge at short leg and Shaun Marsh edging to first slip.
The afternoon session belonged to left-arm spinner Jon Holland as he claimed the huge wicket of Cameron Green and then had Hilton Cartwright caught behind – at the second attempt – against a delivery that jumped from a length.
When Jake Carder was also well caught by Seb Gotch, giving Will Sutherland his second wicket, Western Australia were in trouble at 5 for 114 but the innings was revived by Bancroft and Inglis as they added 87.
Bancroft, who was struck in the face by Cameron Gannon’s arm during warm-ups, brought up his century in style against Holland hitting and a six and then a four two deliveries later.
After he had fallen to Mitch Perry, Victoria would have had hopes of wrapping up the innings in the day but Inglis and Paris counterattacked impressively. Inglis had 12 boundaries by the close and Paris had the confidence to drive the final ball of the day of Pattinson over mid-off.