Standing up in big games and pressure situations is what Ashton Turner does best, and why WA coach Adam Voges was so keen to bring him back into the Sheffield Shield side after a long absence.

Two months after his player-of-the-final performance in Perth Scorchers’ record fifth title, the unflappable leader was at it again to give WA the upper hand in a rain-affected second day of the shield decider at the WACA Ground.

Turner (49no off 84), in just his second shield game in two-and-a-half years, came to the crease with his State in massive trouble after losing 4-11 and 3-1 amid a devastating Will Sutherland spell and Mitch Perry’s epic catch at point to dismiss Hilton Cartwright for a duck.

By the time he left the field alongside gloveman Josh Philippe (25no off 29) with an early stumps called due to bad light, the score had grown to 5-175 and the momentum had firmly shifted in WA’s favour, trailing the Vics’ first-innings score or 195 by just 20.

Turner combined with fellow all-rounder Aaron Hardie (45 off 86) for a counter-attacking 84-run fifth-wicket stand before the latter became Sutherland’s fourth victim when he totally mistimed a pull shot to Marcus Harris at mid-off.

The 30-year-old is just one run away from being the first half-century maker of a low-scoring affair dominated by the seamers.

“Part of the reason we brought him in when Shaun (Marsh) retired was, yes he’s had a terrific season in all formats and been scoring runs, but just his experience and calmness he brings and his leadership qualities and I thought we saw that again today,” Voges said.

“You lose three quick wickets, Scott Boland is bowling particularly well and we’re under a bit of pressure, to be able to come out and counterpunch the way that he did and have that partnership with Aaron Hardie and to wrestle the momentum back our way was outstanding.

“I think it’s still really evenly poised at the moment, we’ve obviously had a couple of nice partnerships late in the day today which is good and certainly we’ll try to get as many as we can in this first innings.”

Sutherland, who took 4-44, conceded that WA were just in front, especially with the bonus-point scenario.

WA got the maximum one bonus point with their bowling, by taking all 10 wickets within 100 overs, with Victoria now only able to equal that after getting bowled out for under 200 which would mean the hosts would take the title if it ends up being a draw.

“I’d have to say they’re probably just in front, obviously with the bonus-point scenario as well,” Sutherland said.

“There’s been a lot of wickets in two days and hopefully we can get a normal result and don’t have to rely on the bonus points.”

WA were 0-42 after dismissing Victoria for 195 early in the day with openers Cameron Bancroft (26 off 72) and Sam Whiteman (20 off 55) both making starts.

It came after the reigning champs needed just 35 balls to take the remaining two wickets of Victoria’s first innings.

The Vics started the second day on 8-194 and added just one run to be bowled out for 195.

Opener Ashley Chandrasinghe didn’t add to his overnight tally of 46, despite facing 14 deliveries, carrying his bat during a remarkable 280-ball, 403-minute knock.

Chandrasinghe broke the record for the slowest 46 in shield history, previously held by Queenslander Bryce Street (203 balls, 285 minutes) from the final two years ago, and is now one of only two players to carry their bat in a shield decider after Tasmanian Jamie Cox back in 1997-98.

Australian Test squad member Lance Morris was WA’s the leading wicket-taker with 3-53 from 20 overs in his first appearance at any level in two months to further push his Ashes case.

Reliable left-armer Joel Paris (2-34 off 22), Kelly (2-50 off 23.5) and all-rounder Aaron Hardie (2-29 off 14) all chimed in with two wickets apiece.