WA could still make the final if they can win their final match against Tasmania next week
Western Australia 9 for 391 dec (Inglis 115, Bancroft 113, Paris 102*, Sutherland 4-81) and 5 for 269 dec (Whiteman 104) beat Victoria 207 (Kelly 4-43) and 206 (Paris 5-33) by 247 runs
Joel Paris completed a memorable all-round match with a five-wicket haul to go alongside his maiden first-class century as Western Australia kept their Sheffield Shield title hopes alive with a 247-run victory over Victoria.
Paris took five of the nine wickets Western Australia needed on the final day – the job completed with more than a session to spare – including Victoria’s three premier top-order batsmen in the space of three overs while the other breakthroughs were shared around.
Victoria had resumed on 1 for 43 and in the seventh over of the day Paris found Marcus Harris’ outside edge and in his next he removed Peter Handscomb, who fell hooking for the second time in the match, although it owed as much to Matt Kelly’s alertness of the boundary.
Before this season, the last time a player had scored a hundred and taken a five-wicket haul in the Sheffield Shield was 2010 – but it has happened three times this summer:
Ashton Agar v South Australia
Joel Paris v Victoria
Kelly took the catch at long leg, knew he was losing his balance over the rope, tossed the ball back and managed to regather it despite being on his knees.
Paris’ fine morning continued when he pinned Nic Maddinson lbw to leave Victoria 4 for 63 and from there it never looked like the home side would be denied.
Josh Inglis took an excellent catch down the leg side to remove Matt Short and soon after lunch Seb Gotch played a loose stroke to be caught behind.
Paris had Will Sutherland and James Pattinson caught at first slip to complete his five-wicket haul before Jake Carder’s part-time spin nipped out Scott Boland and Cameron Gannon claimed the final wicket – captain Shaun Marsh taking his third catch at slip.
Western Australia still need a victory in their final match against Tasmania to have a chance of making the final in a three-horse race with Queensland and New South Wales who face each other in Sydney.