O'Keefe's five-for knocks WA out for 216

New South Wales 1 for 24 trail Western Australia 216 (Turner 81, Cartwright 59, O’Keefe 5-65, Somerville 4-61) by 192 runs
Scorecard

Steve O’Keefe picked up his eighth first-class five-wicket haul © AFP

Steve O’Keefe has bounced back from a tough few months by claiming five wickets as New South Wales dismissed Western Australia for 216 on the first day of their Sheffield Shield clash at the SCG. It was O’Keefe’s first match in any format since the Pallekele Test against Sri Lanka in July, during which he suffered a hamstring injury that ruled him out of the rest of the tour.

After returning home from that trip, O’Keefe was fined $10,000 by Cricket Australia for a drunken incident at a Sydney hotel, after which he said he would stay off alcohol for the whole Australian summer. However, a finger injury ruled him out of the Matador Cup and the opening Sheffield Shield round last week.

His 5 for 65 was the perfect comeback, and he was ably supported by fellow spinner William Somerville, who collected 4 for 61 after Western Australia won the toss and chose to bat. The Warriors had wobbled to 6 for 99 before a 90-run stand between Hilton Cartwright (59) and Ashton Turner (81) rescued the innings.

In reply, New South Wales had reached 1 for 24 at stumps, with Daniel Hughes on 16 and Kurtis Patterson on 1. Opener Ed Cowan had fallen to the spin of Ashton Agar for 7.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.


Source: ESPN Crickinfo

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