Sam Konstas has joined several top-order hopes to blunder the start of their Ashes auditions on day one of the Sheffield Shield competition.
The NSW opener, who turned 20 this week, fell for four before rain stopped play on Saturday at the WACA.
Teammate Kurtis Patterson also was dismissed for eight after WA won the toss.
When rain stopped play in Perth, NSW were also in early strife at 3-35.
Konstas came to Perth with a head of steam after a century for Australia A in India.
He survived two lbw appeals, while wicketkeeper Joel Curtis dropped a tough catch off the inside edge.
But WA quick Joel Paris was ultimately rewarded for an impressive opening spell when he trapped Konstas lbw.
Cameron Gannon had Patterson caught behind and Test all-rounder Cameron Green took an outstanding catch at second slip off spinner Corey Rocchiccioli to dismiss opener Blake Nikitaras for nine.
Matthew Gilkes (12) and Oliver Davies were the not-out batters.
At Allan Border Field, the man Jake Weatherald hopes to partner at the top of the Australian order has done him a big favour on day one of their Sheffield Shield match.
Test and Queensland opener Usman Khawaja dropped Weatherald at first slip off the bowling of Jack Wildermuth when the Tasmanian had made just three on Saturday at Allan Border field.
Weatherald took full advantage of his life, hitting two boundaries in the same over.
The Tasmanian opener went on to make 67 from 99 balls to continue his strong form.
He partnered with captain Jordan Silk to rescue the visitors’ innings after Silk’s decision to bat first looked to be backfiring horribly.
Reeling at 3-33, Tasmania steadied and were 6-299 at stumps. Silk led the way with 104 and Brad Hope made 76.
Weatherald is coming into Ashes selection calculations thanks to his run of form. But he said after Saturday’s play that he had heard “nothing” from national selectors.
He is the reigning Shield player of the season and made 183 in July for Australia A against Sri Lanka.
“It was a good – a bit of luck. You need that when you’re opening,” Weatherald said of his early life.
“I was happy with how I moved after that – it was a rough little start.
“You probably get a little bit of that, ‘I get an opportunity to kick on now, have that bad shot, that rash shot, out of the kitchen’.
“Sometimes you just miss it or snick it straight to slips and you get out, so it was good I kicked on from there. I felt really good.”
He hit eight boundaries and had a crucial 80-run stand for the fourth wicket with his captain before Michael Neser took a sharp reflex return catch with one hand.
Weatherald said he and Silk tried to put the pressure back on the Queensland attack in their stand.
Silk went on to make his 104 from 170 balls and was filthy with himself when he was also out caught and bowled to Mitch Swepson.
The spinner’s catch was much more straightforward thanks to a leading edge.
Wildermuth was eventually rewarded when he trapped Hope lbw, ending his 171-ball knock.
Jake Doran (25) and Nikhil Chaudhary (nine) were the not-out batsmen, while Neser (2-53 from 18 overs), was the only multiple wicket taker.
Tasmania suffered a blow when Australian allrounder Beau Webster was ruled out of the game because of an ankle injury.
Weatherald said it appeared Webster would return to their lineup “pretty soon”
At Adelaide Oval, Centuries to Henry Hunt and Jake Lehmann have given South Australia early control of their Sheffield Shield match against Victoria.
Peter Handscomb’s decision to bowl was paying off when Mitchell Perry took his third wicket, leaving the home side in trouble at 3-58.
That brought together Hunt and Lehmann, who steadily took the game away from Victoria and at stumps SA were 3-270.
Hunt carried his bat through the day and scored a grinding 121 from 300 balls, with 10 fours and one six.
Lehmann’s 107 from 180 balls, featuring seven fours, is his fourth ton in as many Shield games going back to last season.
Victoria could have had SA in even bigger early trouble.
Hunt had made 33 and the score was 114 when he drove at a wide deliver from paceman David Moody and edged straight to Blake Macdonald at first slip.
But the chance was grassed and it proved costly for Victoria.
It was the slowest of Hunt’s 11 Shield tons and he said Lehmann’s innings had been pivotal.
“The momentum shifted when he came out – his presence at the crease, to put some pressure back on (Victoria),” Hunt said.
“To be 3-270, that’s almost a perfect day for us.”
Perry had taken 3-61 from 20 overs to spearhead the Victorian attack.
© AAP
