Big Bash League: West Coast’s Harley Reid and Fremantle’s Murphy Reid face off ahead of Perth Scorchers final

A pair of WA’s rising AFL stars faced off with bat and ball ahead of Perth Scorchers’ blockbuster Big Bash League Qualifier, with West Coast’s Harley Reid taking on Fremantle’s Murphy Reid in the middle of Optus Stadium

Western derby bragging rights were on the line as the pair bowled one delivery apiece to each other — but the result could be termed a draw, with neither able to lay bat on ball against what their rival sent down.

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Harley had the first crack with the ball while Murphy claimed batting rights and the Eagle’s delivery had some heat behind it, beating Murphy’s cover drive well outside his off stump.

The Scorchers’ mascot Blaze had position behind the stumps but was not able to take the ball cleanly, sending it rolling away towards the boundary.

Harley said he had taken some advice from one of the Scorchers’ sidelined stars.

“I need a real cricket ball, the rubber cricket ball just swung,” he said.

“(Ashton) Agar told me to cross-seam it so it would’t swing, but it still swung on me. I reckon it must’ve been the pace behind it.

“I actually used to play cricket until I got drafted, I used to love a Saturday, going out there playing with my local cricket club.

“It was pretty cool to be out there and see how they all warm up ahead of a big game.”

Murphy produced a similar effort in his turn with the ball, though his effort looked slightly slower than his fellow Victorians.

But the result proved the same, with Harley beaten as he flashed outside his off stump.

Murphy said having the chance to play cricket in the middle of the venue was “very cool”.

“It was very hot out there,” he said.

“The ball definitely came a bit quicker than I thought, Harley whipped it in. You get a bit of swing on those plastic rubber balls.

“It was good fun though.

“It’s cool to get out there in a different sort of setting.”

Harley was slated to deliver the ceremonial first ball in the Scorchers’ season opener against Sydney Sixers alongside fellow rising Eagle Tom McCarthy, but some wild weather in the lead-in to the game left him sidelined.

West Coast’s Reid has reported to pre-season training in immaculate condition ahead of his third campaign at AFL level, while Murphy will be looking to back up a Rising Star-winning debut campaign.