TEENAGER Teague Wyllie has struck his maiden first-class century to put Western Australia (WA) in the box seat in their Marsh Sheffield Shield clash with NSW at the WACA Ground.

WA were bowled out for 258 in the final act of day two, giving them a lead of 78 after NSW were rolled for 180 on day one.

On a tricky pitch where only one other batter has reached 50 thus far, Wyllie was a class above, cracking 15 boundaries on the way to 104 off 204 balls.

It comes just six months after the right-hander became the youngest Shield champion when he helped WA break a 23-year title drought in just his second match in April.

And it appears Western Australia may have found another diamond in the rough with the form of debutant Sam Fanning.

The 21-year-old scored 32 runs off 161 balls at a painstaking strike rate of 19.88 to help quell the NSW attack on a bowler-friendly wicket.

Tail-ender Matt Kelly then posted an unbeaten 47 off 86 balls to ram home WA’s advantage.

NSW’s own debutant Ben Dwarshuis (4-48 off 20 overs) was the pick of the bowlers, with his early onslaught leaving WA in trouble at 39-3.

The hosts were still in strife at 100-6 before Wyllie, Joel Paris (25) and Kelly buckled down.

WA started the day at 18-2 and Hilton Cartwright (16 off 56 balls) was the first to fall yesterday after he was adjudged lbw to Jack Edwards (2-44).

But WA received a couple of lucky breaks just before lunch.

Wyllie survived a confident leg-before shout from paceman Liam Hatcher and next over Fanning was lucky to be given not out after being struck on the pads by Australian Test spinner Nathan Lyon (1-42 off 17 overs).

Fanning’s strike rate of 19.55 at the lunch break didn’t make for pretty reading but his grit on a tough batting surface proved crucial in steadying the ship..
Wyllie’s determination also proved vital, especially once Fanning departed. (AAP & CRICKET.COM)