PERTH suffered a shock first innings defeat on a bizarre first day of Premier Cricket against Melville at Tompkins Park on Saturday.
Batting first, Melville lost plenty of wickets early to be in all sorts at 8-49, before Tom Scollay managed a match winning half-century to lead the side to 91 all out.
Jacob Van Galen was terrific with the ball taking 4-28, while fellow quick Liam Guthrie secured three wickets for the away team.
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READ NOWAt 3-32, Perth looked likely winners before another batting collapse saw the side lose 7-31 to be bowled out for 63.
Drew Porter was outstanding with a five-wicket haul, while Tom Kerr-Sheppard produced four wickets in a stirring display.
Melville finished the dramatic day at 2-44, with Porter completing his performance as he stands 17 not out.
Second grade will need to bat all day if they are to overhaul Melville’s imposing target of 5/318.
In third grade Perth will defend 201 after Kai Hickey, 65, played an excellent hand with Jason Hill (51) providing lower order support with his maiden fifty.
The fourth grade game is at a tense stage. Perth is 7-93 chasing 115 for victory.
Geoff Hammond with 4-23 and Ethan Carrington 3/13 were the pick of the bowlers.
The Annual T20 Presidents XI versus Rigg XI memorial game will be held on February 19, the event doubles as the Past Players Day with all welcome and funds going to HeartKids Australia.
South Perth has already secured first innings points against Bayswater-Morley in an intense day at Richardson Park. Batting first, the Sky Blues were in trouble at 3-2, before Rob Jones (68no) and Darius D’Silva (38) combined to push the side towards a competitive total. Eventually, the hosts were bowled out for 134, with Nathan Rimmington doing the damage for the Bears with 6-48.
Jonty Wilde was economical for his two wickets, with the Bears doing it without their skipper.
Alex Bevilaqua and Sam Birchall then destroyed the Bears batting lineup, as the visitors were bowled out for 81. Bevilaqua took 5-25, while Birchall secured career best figures of 4-32, with Mitch Todd and Stephen Jennings the only batsmen to pass 20.
South Perth finished 1-14 in the second innings, with Rimmington taking his seventh wicket for the day.