Langer half-century sets up Western Australia

Justin Langer sweeps enroute to 61 © Getty Images

Justin Langer made 61 and charged Western Australia to 4 for 238 in 73.2 overs before bad light stopped play on the opening day against New South Wales at the SCG. On an overcast day when the floodlights were on throughout, Langer provided the fireworks with ten boundaries. He reached his half-century after lunch to lift WA to a position of strength at 1 for 129 before Jason Krejza spun NSW back into the game.

Krejza, the offspinning allrounder, is playing his first game of a season marred by shin splits, and he got into the act quickly, removing Langer and Shaun Marsh to push the Warriors on the back foot at 3 for 154. Thirty runs later Matthew Nicholson got rid off Adam Voges to raise hopes of a good day for the hosts before an unbroken 54-run partnership between Marcus North and David Bandy pulled Warriors out of trouble. NSW fielded two spinners on a pitch expected to assist them, and while Krejza picked up a couple of wickets, Stuart MacGill went wicketless in his 19 overs.