Joel Paris has made an eye-catching return to Sheffield Shield action, playing a key role in Western Australia’s thrilling victory over South Australia at the WACA Ground.
Chasing their second win of the season, WA declared yesterday at 6-205, setting the Redbacks 344 to win.
The South Australians dug in and at one point looked like they might chase the total down before WA’s bowlers made a series of breakthroughs.
Paris bowled beautifully throughout the afternoon, keeping the run rate down. The classy left-arm paceman’s persistence paid off as he dismissed Chadd Sayers caught behind for just one before having Joe Mennie (four) also nicking to keeper Josh Inglis soon after.
That left WA with just one wicket to get to win the match and in the second last over it was Paris who finished with the ball in his hands when he caught Adam Zampa.
“It was nice for it just to go in nice and cleanly,” Paris told SportFM.
“The belief in the group at the moment, we knew how it important it was to get six points in Perth and build some momentum I guess going into Melbourne next week.
“We just hung in there and I’m really proud of everyone’s efforts.”
Eight balls left in the day, nine wickets down and Zampa gets a short ball… Then this happened!
Match report from the WACA: https://t.co/QOFGD5Vmrg#SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/uu63kAXXlV
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 2, 2019
Paris also go rid of the dangerous Tom Cooper (lbw, four) in the first innings, bowling 40 overs across the match in his first match at Shield level since a hamstring injury back in October.
The 26-year-old was also in the runs in WA’s first innings. Paris was 49 not out before the West Australians declared at 8-492.
WA DECLARE 7-492 💪
Plenty of fire works late in the innings, with Aggers (65) and Joely (49*) putting on 102 runs for the the eighth wicket!
Joely whacked his first ever 6⃣ & then had the audacity to dance down the wicket and do this!! 🤩#WESTISBEST #SheffieldShield #WAvSA pic.twitter.com/GEIruvsR5C
— WACA (@WACA_Cricket) November 30, 2019
Paris said his shortened run up worked well again and he expects to put his hand up for the clash with Victoria, starting at the MCG on Saturday.
“There were no speed guns,” he said. “I thought it got better as the game went on, which doesn’t normally happen with fatigue. So to be able to maintain that throughout the whole game is a massive positive. Time will tell over the next little bit as to how it goes.
“I pulled up fine. Obviously your normal soreness after four days out in the field. We’ll see how I go over the next couple of days and make a decision from there.”