On a soggy first day at the WACA ground, Sam Konstas was unable to attend his first Ashes audition of the 2017 Sheffield Shield summer as 2017 South Wales lost badly to Western Australia.
Rain delayed play on Saturday in Perth after the NSW opener, who turned 20 this week, was hit for 4 off 25 balls. Kurtis Patterson, a teammate, was also out for eight runs from thirty-six balls after WA won the toss and sent NSW in on a damp green pitch in cloudy conditions.
Another Ashes prospect, Tasmanian opener Jake Weatherald, struck 67 off 99 balls against Queensland in Brisbane on the same day as Konstas’ low score.
NSW was ahead 35 for 3 when play was halted by rain in Perth.
After captaining Australia A to a century in India, Konstas arrived in Perth full of energy, but the WACA’s bowler-friendly pitch made batting considerably more difficult.
He escaped two lbw appeals, then Joel Curtis, the wicketkeeper, made a difficult catch off his inside edge off Matt Kelly’s bowling.
However, WA’s left-arm seamer Joel Paris’s excellent opening spell was finally rewarded as he lbw Konstas. With seven maidens in eight overs, Paris’ stats are 1 for 1.
Patterson was caught behind by Cameron Gannon, and Test all-rounder Cameron Green dismissed opener Blake Nikitaras for 9 from 57 deliveries after making a spectacular grab at second slip off spinner Corey Rocchiccioli.
Oliver Davies and Matthew Gilkes were attempting to rebuild after joining forces at 23 for 3 in the 20th over, however rain stopped play after 25.1 overs and the teams never resumed.
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