Rofe powers SA to victory

Paceman Paul Rofe bowled South Australia to a 56-run victory over Western Australia on the final day of the opening Pura Cup cricket match of the summer.

Rofe picked up four of the five wickets to fall today at the WACA Ground and figures of 5-89 off 26.2 overs as WA was all out for 314 in its second innings.

After resuming at 5-144, Marcus North (80) and Beau Casson (15) survived the opening hour and it looked like the Warriors would challenge the large total.

But North fell in the first over after the second new ball was taken, just over half-an-hour before the interval.

Rofe ended the 69-run sixth wicket stand by having the left-hander caught behind trying to drive through covers.

Casson was struck in the chest in the next over by Shaun Tait (2-70) before the quick had him edging a ball to slips in his following over.

The Warriors were 7-234 at lunch but Redbacks captain Greg Blewett made the unusual decision of not bowling the opening pair of Rofe and Tait straight after the interval.

All-rounders Peter Worthington and Darren Wates gained in confidence and put together a century stand for the eighth wicket to put the Warriors in the frame for an unlikely victory.

However, Wates tried to loft the ball once too often and his agricultural shot off Rofe's bowling landed safely in the hands of Mark Cleary.

Rofe then delivered another vital blow by removing Worthington (50) caught-and-bowled with the next delivery.

The right-arm quick failed to grasp the ball cleanly at the first attempt, but it bobbed up kindly enough for him to turn around and complete the dismissal.

No.11 Paul Wilson, who was playing with a fractured jaw after a Mick Miller bouncer smashed into his face on Monday, pushed the hat-trick ball for two.

However, Rofe had Jo Angel (0) edging a simple catch to David Fitzgerald shortly after to secure the win.