Sheffield Shield Final: Special Sam Whiteman hundred leads WA to drought-breaking Shield final victory

One of the greatest batting marathons ever in a Sheffield Shield final from Bunbury’s Sam Whiteman has led Western Australia to a drought breaking win, 23 years in the making. The opener’s defiant batting vigil lasted for a full day of cricket across Saturday and Sunday at the WACA Ground — coming to the crease on day three and not beaten until after tea on the penultimate day. Victoria finally dismissed him for 123, just 33 balls short of the longest ever innings in a final. The game was called a draw just before midday, with Western Australia’s bonus point advantage meaning they won the final. It was Whiteman’s third final, with the State not having won the competition since the 1998-99 season. Dunsborough pace man Lance Morris is also a Shield champion at the end of a coming-of-age season, taking two second-innings wickets. The ton, which came after Whiteman was dismissed controversially for 85 in the first innings, left WA in an almost unassailable position, 393 runs ahead with four wickets in hand at stumps on day four. Unlike the first innings, Whiteman was forced to ride out a dangerous period before stumps on Saturday. Opening partner Cameron Bancroft was removed for a third-ball duck when test seamer Scott Boland found his outside edge and WA cricket legend Shaun Marsh went soon after, beaten by the off-spin of Matt Short for just 13. Short got Hilton Cartwright for just 12 as Victoria began clawing their way back into a contest they had trailed in since the morning of day one. But it was the Bunbury gun and emerging all-rounder Aaron Hardie (119*) who batted them out of the game.