NATHAN Coulter-Nile’s first interstate match in nearly a year reminded fans, selectors and most strikingly, South Australia’s top order, that he remains one of Australia’s most potent white-ball bowlers.

The speedster worked up to genuine pace and claimed three important wickets to set up Western Australia’s second win in the JLT Cup competition.

All six teams will qualify for finals, meaning that individual victories carry little weight, but Coulter-Nile’s performance in the five-wicket win augers well for the Warriors this season.

Fellow quick Jason Behrendorff will make his comeback in the next week or two while all-rounder Marcus Stoinis is also about to return as WA get close to their strongest pace attack in several seasons.

Coulter-Nile remains the key figure is that attack and claimed 3-46 from 10 overs, including the vital scalp of Redbacks opener Jake Weatherald for a duck, to restrict the visitors to 9-237.

The SA left-hander was coming off a hat-trick of State centuries at the WACA Ground given he scored 152 and 143 in the Sheffield Shield match last season and 106 not out in SA’s big win over NSW on Thursday.

But he was rushed by Coulter-Nile’s pace and poked an attempted pull to square leg while Jake Lehmann edged behind and Joe Mennie heaved a catch to midwicket.

WA opener Josh Inglis produced a maiden half-century and captain Ashton Turner a bright 47 to set up WA’s run chase.

A Jon Wells six took the Warriors to 5-240 with 29 balls to spare after the right-hander (43 not out) and Hilton Cartwright (44) eased to the target.

More than 1000 spectators flooded into the WACA midway through the first innings as they made their way across the river after watching West Coast win the AFL preliminary final at Optus Stadium.