Pyke leads from the front

Riding high after a first round victory against Northern Territory, Victoria was led by their skipper, Wendouree batsman Heath Pyke, who struck an unbeaten 112.

In his seventh appearance at the ACCC, Pyke struck eight fours and two sixes as he grinded away against the West Australian bowlers for more than four hours.

Having won the toss, Victoria found itself in early trouble as it slipped to 4-86 before Pyke was joined by Wendouree teammate Tristan Dixon.

Dixon turned the momentum back in the Victorians favour with 42 from 53 deliveries in a 75-run stand with the captain.

Leigh Kentish’s arrival at the crease increased the run-rate further as the Swan Hill native immediately went on the attack, launching three sixes in his innings.

With Pyke controlling the attack at the other end, the pair put on 150 in just two hours before Kentish was dismissed for 84 (106).

Shepparton all-rounder Ramadan Yze (8) cleared the boundary in the final over as the side finished their 96 overs on 7-330.

Play will resume today with a scorecard of the action at http://cricvi.co/Zd22ti.