Test star Scott Boland ripped through the Western Australian top order as Victoria romped to a 348-run victory at the WACA against the cellar dwellers.
Set a formidable 463 for victory off the back of twin tons from BBL player of the tournament Sam Harper, Western Australia were knocked over for just 114 with Boland snaring 6/22 from 11.5 overs.
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The 36-year-old dismissed every member of the hosts’ top six to take the 13th five-wicket haul of his first-class career.
Having taken two scalps on Wednesday evening, Boland picked up where he left off on the final morning, claiming three more wickets in the space of just 21 balls.
He then came back during the extra half an hour to end Joel Curtis’ (59) resistance and seal victory.
Five of Boland’s wickets were caught behind the stumps as he had the ball darting viciously off the wearing WACA surface, while Sam Whiteman was trapped lbw.
As well as taking 20 wickets at an average of 24.95 in Australia’s 4-1 Ashes victory earlier this summer, Boland has nabbed 21 wickets at 13.71 during the current Shield season.
MATCH CENTRE: Western Australia vs Victoria scorecard
Ladder leaders Victoria secured hosting rights for next month’s Shield final with their sixth win of the season.
On day three, Victoria declared its second innings at 4-274 with opener Sam Harper unbeaten on 141 from 156 balls, his fifth first-class hundred and second of the match.
The aggressive wicket-keeper batter has relished a move to the top of the order, having plundered 119 from 109 deliveries in the first innings, including a 27-ball fifty on the first morning.
The other shining lights for the Victorians were captain Will Sutherland and Sam Elliott.
Sutherland smashed an unbeaten century from No.8 in the first innings, and also took two wickets in each innings.
While Elliott took 5/75 from 15.2 overs in Western Australia’s first innings.
It was the third time this season that the 26-year-old towering quick, who is the son of former Australian opening batter Matthew Elliott, has bagged a five-wicket haul.
He has taken 28 wickets at 14.57 this season.
Harper smashes double ton for Victoria | 01:33
In Hobart, Test all-rounder Beau Webster scored an unbeaten century to lead Tasmania back into their clash with New South Wales.
Webster remained unbeaten on 108 (260) with Tasmania posting 454, leading by 234 runs at the dinner break ahead of the Blues’ second innings.
Test opener Jake Weatherald fell for 95 yesterday, helping the hosts set a tricky target for NSW to chase under lights against the pink ball.
In the other match of the round, South Australia picked up a three-wicket victory at the Gabba on Wednesday after Queensland lost 6/8 in their second innings.
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