UWA student athlete Alex Bevilaqua began his First Class career with a bang, staring down New South Wales in a Shield win at the WACA.

Bevilaqua joined fellow UWA student athletes Matt Kelly and Will Bosisto in the Warriors side that is heavily focused on youth and development.

After NSW captain Peter Nevill elected to bat, WA put together a decent effort with the ball, claiming all the opposition scalps for 204 runs. Two wickets to Matt Kelly, as well as a wicket a piece for Bosisto and Bevilaqua positioned WA well after skipper Mitch Marsh took the first four wickets.

Both Bosisto and Kelly fell cheaply in WA’s first innings, where Bevilaqua made his mark. The pace bowler, batting at ten, put on the fireworks for some big hits, taking Australia’s Nathan Lyon for three sixes in one over. His 36 off 23 balls was the highest strike-rate across all innings, and also included two fours.

The towering quick has been labelled a ‘beanpole’ and a ‘hippie’ in the media in recent days, and is sure to improve his selection chances with several WA players expected to make national selection for a tour of South Africa.

WA coach and cricket great Justin Langer was full of praise for the youngster.

“He’s a bit of a hippie, which I like,” the coach said. “He’s a ripping bloke. The boys love him.”

Matt Kelly is also making a case for himself to earn a permanent place in the WA line-up, returning figures of 4-25 in his second innings.

With the Shield table looking tight, the win is crucial for WA, who now look to face Tasmania at Blundstone Arena.

Media references

Louis Humberstone

Graduate Officer, UWA Sport Marketing, Communication and Events

marketing@sport.uwa.edu.au

6488 3768