Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Western Australia were able to “dodge a bullet” after an unheralded tail-ender and some timely rain ensured they avoided defeat in their first competitive match under new coach Beau Casson.
WA had slumped to 5-87 and 7-134 in Friday’s One Day Cup season-opener against South Australia at the WACA Ground, with Henry Thornton ripping through them with 4-52, before new recruit Kieran Elliott (53no off 71 balls) helped lift the home side to a respectable 9-238.
In reply, South Australia were cruising at 0-58 after 7.4 overs before rain forced the match to be abandoned.
Jake Fraser-McGurk (46no off 33 balls) had looked set to rip the contest apart, but with the rain not allowing the Redbacks to face at least 15 overs, South Australia were forced to share the spoils in a ‘no result’.
WA had to rely on a fast-bowling veteran to get them to a competitive total.
Elliott arrived at the Warriors from Tasmania looking for more opportunities after being restricted to just 13 first-class matches for the Tigers.
The 31-year-old was expected to make an impact with the ball after being handed his one-day debut by WA.
But after the Warriors sunk to 7-134, it was with the bat that Elliott truly flourished.
Coming in at No.8, he struck an unbeaten half-century to lift WA out of trouble.
His 69-run, eighth-wicket stand with Brody Couch (39) ensured the Warriors avoided complete disaster, with the subsequent rain then also coming to WA’s aid.
“Jake batted incredibly well, so potentially we dodged a bullet with the rain the way we were heading,” Elliott conceded after the match.
Elliott, who finished with figures of 0-27 from 3.4 overs, was handed his WA cap by recently-retired paceman Matt Kelly at the start of the match.
“It was a big move coming from Melbourne to Tassie and now to WA,” Elliott said.
“Kel’s a mate of mine, he has been for a number of years. There was a bit of emotion there, him having been such a good person and good cricketer for WA over a long period of time.
“I haven’t had a white-ball opportunity before, so it was great to get out there.
“I probably wouldn’t have had scoring a half-century on my bingo card this morning, to be honest!”
