Harris hundred gives Western Australia hope

Western Australia 421 and 2 for 240 (Harris 129*) lead Victoria 381 (Rogers 112, Rimmington 3-79, Agar 3-100) by 280 runs
Scorecard

Opener Marcus Harris scored his third first-class century to give Western Australia a strong lead at stumps on day four of the Sheffield Shield final in Hobart. It was a difficult day for Victoria, who lost 7 for 93 in the first part of the day and then lost James Pattinson to a hamstring injury. At the close of play, the Warriors had a lead of 280, with Harris on 129, Adam Voges on 15 and the total at 2 for 240.

A draw would be sufficient for Victoria to claim the title, so Western Australia might be inclined to declare overnight or early on the final morning. They had Harris to thank for giving them such a healthy lead in a short space of time; he scored at nearly a run a ball during his 134-ball innings, which featured 15 fours.

Cameron Bancroft (38) and Michael Klinger (45) both made contributions at the top of the Western Australia order after Victoria were bowled out for 381. It was an excellent morning's work for the Warriors, who began the day having claimed only three wickets. But a double strike from Ashton Agar - Marcus Stoinis bowled and Matthew Wade lbw next ball - changed things.

Nathan Rimmington picked up three wickets, including the key breakthrough when he had Peter Handscomb caught and bowled for 48. The Victorians were dismissed with a deficit of 40 but their day went from bad to worse when Pattinson left the field while bowling the second over of his second spell, with what Victoria confirmed as "a slight hamstring injury".

Pattinson's international career has been impressive but very stop-start due to a series of injuries, and this left hamstring injury comes after he hurt the same hamstring while playing in Victoria's Shield match against Queensland in Alice Springs earlier this month. This is his first state match since then.