New South Wales is three wickets away from ending its record long winless streak after Chris Tremain rocked Sheffield Shield holders Western Australia with a stunning spell at the SCG.
Tremain claimed a five-wicket haul in just 38 balls as he ripped through the Warriors’ top order, with the visitors going to stumps at 7-104 with 31 more runs still needed to make NSW bat again.
It came after a powerful maiden century from Ollie Davies propelled the Blues to a 135-run lead on the second day of the clash.
After struggling early in response to WA’s first innings 141 to limp to 4-71, Davies shone with 13 fours and two sixes in his 129 from 143 balls.
The 23-year-old, who has impressed in limited overs cricket for the Blues and Sydney Thunder, belted a delivery over mid-on to reach his century after putting on 116 with captain Moises Henriques (51) for the fifth wicket.
The Blues have been winless in the Sheffield Shield for 15 matches over a period spanning more than 20 months, but following Tremain’s scintillating burst are on the verge of upsetting domestic cricket’s dominant side for the last two seasons.
Tremain had Sam Whiteman strangled down the leg side for one before he ripped through Teague Wyllie and Hilton Cartwright in consecutive deliveries in his next over to be on a hat-trick heading into the final session.
He narrowly missed Josh Philippe’s outside edge with the hat-trick ball, but squared him up four deliveries later to have him caught at second slip for a duck to leave WA 4-21.
Cameron Bancroft stood firm to reach stumps unbeaten on 44, with Joel Paris (26) hanging around for a crucial 45 minutes before Charlie Stobo (16 not out) pushed through to the end of play with the opener.
