The 2022-23 Australian cricket season concluded in a rather bright, sunny, moderately warm and sometimes a bit balmy with a spot of rain to wrap up the Sheffield Shield season. Western Australia were defending the shield and were aiming to match their shield successes of 1997-98 and 1998-99. The challengers to this edition of the shield were the previous finalists, Victoria, hoping for an upset at the WACA Ground. Victoria had come into the finals with red hot form by winning their last five games, including beating Western Australia in Perth on the last regular match of the season. The defending champions had over the whole season maintained dominance and control with a minor hiccup against South Australia and Victoria at the back end of the season. So the stage was set for an even contest between these two teams and it was not going to be an foregone conclusion for Western Australia.
So the stage was set for a great match of cricket and it certainly was anyone's game early on. However, by the time the hosts had reached the visitor's score and then posted 315 in response, the game had shifted into Western Australia's hands. A brilliant individual effort from Ashton Turner hitting 128 and Aaron Hardie's supportive 45 in that innings had paved the way for Western Australia's defence. Despite this, Victoria would not lay down and threw all they could with two spirited batting efforts from Will Sutherland's 82 and captain Peter Handscombe's 52 made sure that Western Australia had to fight for this shield win. Though the second innings of 210 was not enough as Western Australia were set 93 runs to chase for shield victory.
It was not an easy chase, but a patient and resilient knock from Teague Wyllie and Cameron Bancroft ensured that the hosts recorded shield victory and Western Australia's 17th overall. The win has cemented the squad and the larger player group a successful season with the win and defence of the one day competition and the Perth Scorchers winning the Big Bash League back-to-back. Six trophies into the cabinet of the WACA certainly demonstrates that there is some serious talent that is coming out of the west and that they will be the team to beat for all three formats of cricket in the new 2023-24 season. Well done Western Australia and may more shield wins come their way.
As for food, I bought a Mrs Mac's plain beef pie and a 450mL bottle of Pepsi for 11 dollars. Now I think that is usually the going rate for stadium food in Perth and across the country for such food, though being stiffed on 150mLs of cool drink and paying the same price is a bit on the rough side. Though it was sufficient as cool drink, if not rapidly consumed in warm Perth conditions, tends to warm up and become rather unenjoyable to consume. A good Pepsi, Coke or any other cool drink, has to be best enjoyed ice cold or as close to it as possible. But the pie was fine and was rather tasty and enjoyable.
I also would like to say that I was supposed to watch the final, or at least one day's play with a close friend of mine who sadly passed away earlier in March. I am still shocked and deeply saddened by his departure from our mortal realm and while it is to me, being selfish, unfair. However, I have faith in the almighty and due to our bodies being far from perfect, succumb to the cruelties of our mortal fragilities. May he rest in peace and my thoughts and prayers are with his family, loved ones and his two children. I would like to dedicate this blog entry to him and I am sure he would think that this is a load of nonsense, it is a small gesture that I can do. While this is far from Pulitzer prize winning stuff, he always enjoyed what I wrote and we would talk about all things sport between other topics having a laugh.
