Redbacks have ascendancy

Wes Robinson's maiden first-class century was the day-one highlight in an otherwise disappointing batting performance by Western Australia in its Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield clash against South Australia at Adelaide Oval.

At stumps on day one the Warriors are 7-233, with Robinson's unbeaten knock of 109 the backbone of the innings. The 27-year-old hit seven boundaries and faced 280 balls in his six-hour stint at the crease.

Steve Magoffin, who came in with only 15 minutes left in the day's play, is the other not out batsmen and has scored two runs.

Off-spinner Dan Cullen was particularly influential early and finished with 3-62 from 30 overs while Mark Cleary toiled hard to collect two wickets.

Peter George dismissed Warriors captain Marcus North on the stroke of lunch and Allan Wise got a breakthrough with the new ball to finish the afternoon with 1-54.

Robinson had been well supported by the aggressive Luke Ronchi with the pair posting a 74-run sixth wicket partnership before the latter was caught behind for 49.

Fellow opener Liam Davis and Adam Voges also spent a fair amount of time with him in the middle but the visitors kept losing wickets each time the contest appeared to turning in their favour.

The Redbacks won the opening day but would have been disappointed they weren't in an even stronger position - missed opportunities in the field proving the only negative in a promising performance.

Aaron O'Brien dropped Robinson in the slips when the opening batsman was on 72 while Dan Cullen gave Ronchi a life when he was just eight - the off-spinner grassing a tough chance at mid-wicket.

By the end of the day the two fielding errors cost the home side 78 runs.

Earlier, Cullen bowled a double-wicket maiden in the first session and stemmed the flow of runs while he claimed Voges' scalp just as he and Robinson were looking comfortable at the crease.

His first wicket, that of Davis, helped arrest a shaky opening by the home side. Davis was hitting the ball to all parts of the park and his innings of 39 included six boundaries and a mid-wicket six off Wise.

His pull shot into the members' area saw the Warriors reach 50 at just a touch under four per over.

But his entertaining cameo came to an end when he edged a ball to Michael Klinger at first slip.

Luke Pomersbach lasted just four balls and was sent back to pavilion after padding up to an off break.

North was the other batsman dismissed in the first session - he was well caught by Cameron Borgas in the covers right on lunch.

During the second session, the West Aussies added 2-73 with Voges dismissed for 28 and Theo Doropoulos for a duck.

Stumps Day 1, South Australia v Western Australia, Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield, Adelaide Oval

Western Australia innings
L.Davis c Klinger b Cullen 39
Robinson not out 109
Pomersbach lbw b Cullen 0
North c Borgas b George 2
Voges c Klinger b Cullen 28
Doropoulos c Manou b Cleary 0
Ronchi c Manou b Cleary 49
Heal lbw Wise 2
Magoffin not out 2
Extras: 2 (1lb, 1b)
Total: 233 (7 wickets; 96 overs)

FoW: 1-68, 2-68, 3-83, 4-146, 5-147, 6-221, 7-230

Bowling:
Wise 19 - 5 - 54 - 1
George 17 - 4 - 43 - 1
Cleary 24 - 8 - 58 - 2
Cullen 30 - 9 - 62 - 3
O'Brien 6 - 0 - 14 - 0