Gilchrist leads WA to bonus point victory at WACA

Warriors skipper Adam Gilchrist led his side to victory in its opening one-day cricket match against South Australia with a man-of-the-match performance at the WACA today.

The Warriors claimed a bonus point when they dismissed the Redbacks for 213 in reply to their 5-269.

Gilchrist smashed 84 runs off 67 balls to set WA on the way to victory.

But he was challenged for best-on-field honours by rejuvenated Warriors paceman Brad Williams (4-44), who claimed the vital wicket of Redbacks vice captain Greg Blewett for 80 in his best ever one-day haul.

South Australia's efforts mirrored that of their hosts with a brilliant opening knock and a standout pace performance.

The Warriors looked set for a score well in excess of 300 after Gilchrist and Damien Martyn (34) opened the innings in blazing fashion before left arm paceman Mark Harrity (3-51) struck.

Gilchrist had promoted Australian teammate Martyn in a bid to quell the destructive influence of Test teammate and South Australian speedster Jason Gillespie.

The plan worked as the pair saw Gillespie off and in the process compiled 107 runs off 19 overs.

The Redbacks' hopes of containing the Test pair looked lost after paceman Brett Swain left the field in the 19th over with a fractured left collarbone.

SA was already missing pace mainstay Paul Wilson, who succumbed to a knee injury last week and Gillespie was not troubling the WA top order.

The Redbacks needed a hero and Harrity answered, claiming Martyn two balls after his teammate had been escorted off the ground.

The usually flamboyant strokemaker was willing to play the anchor role to Gilchrist's raging bull and made just 34 when he presented a simple edge to Redbacks keeper Graham Manou.

At the other end, Gilchrist was in a venomous mood, plundering 84 runs from 67 balls before becoming Harrity's second victim when he skied an attempted drive to Jeff Vaughan at extra cover.

The Redbacks made a solid start to the run chase, reaching 147 before Williams had Blewett brilliantly caught at backward square leg by Mike Hussey.

With captain Darren Lehmann back in the pavilion for 1 thanks to an excellent catch by Hussey off all-rounder Darren Wates (1-45), the Redbacks were always going to struggle.

A brave resistance by all-rounder Brad Young (44) was not enough and the Redbacks fell two runs short of denying WA the bonus point.

Leg spinning all-rounder Brad Hogg cleaned up the tail, claiming 3-10 of 3.2 overs.

Lehmann said the loss of Swain, coupled with the absence of Wilson and the imminent departure to international duty of Gillespie, would severely test the Redbacks' bowling stocks.

"They're a little bit slim," he said.

"But if you look on the bright side it gives the young blokes a chance and they've got to step up and get a taste of first class cricket and hopefully play well."

Gilchrist admitted to being pleasantly surprised at his form considering he'd barely picked up a bat since returning from the Ashes tour.

"It was surprisingly good, obviously if you get a couple away early it helps," he said.

"I was a little bit fortunate, I probably nicked a couple of Dizzy (Gillespie deliveries) that could have gone to hand but went to the boundary.

"You've got to cash in on a day like that."