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Marsh falls shy of century as WA-Bulls fight out a draw

3 minute read

WA allrounder Mitch Marsh has been dismissed for 94 in his team's Sheffield Shield draw with Queensland at the WACA Ground.

Mitch Marsh.
Mitch Marsh. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

Star allrounder Mitch Marsh has fallen just short of a century as the Sheffield Shield match between Western Australia and Queensland fizzled out to a draw.

Chasing 362 for victory in a minimum of 62 overs, Queensland finished at 1-120 off 35 before the captain's shook hands at 4.22pm local time at the WACA Ground on Friday.

Bulls veteran Usman Khawaja scored 64 not out and Marnus Labuschagne 35no, but opener Matt Renshaw (15) was caught behind off the bowling of Matt Kelly.

It followed Renshaw's dismissal for six in the first innings, dealing a blow to his hopes of earning a Test recall.

WA opener Cameron Bancroft also harmed his Test chances with a pair of ducks.

The news was better for Marsh, who produced a solid knock in WA's second innings total of 6-263 declared in a strong warm-up for the five-Test series against India.

Marsh (94 off 142 balls) struck 14 fours and one six to put himself within one mighty blow of three figures.

But his attempted pull for six off the Jack Wildermuth (3-38) skied into the air, with wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson taking an easy catch.

Marsh started walking off as soon as he made contact, and flipped his bat into the air in frustration.

The 32-year-old, who experienced soreness during Australia's recent white-ball tour of the UK, was playing the Shield match as a batter only to protect his body.

"It was nice for him to get some runs, and he looked really good at the crease," WA captain Sam Whiteman said.

"He would have loved a 100, and we would have loved to have seen it. But he batted really well."

WA wicketkeeper Josh Inglis is behind Alex Carey in the Test pecking order, but he enhanced his reputation with scores of 122 and 48 against Queensland.

Bulls bowling allrounder Michael Neser snared 5-68 in the Warriors' first-innings total of 465.

Queensland replied with 367, before WA's declaration shortly after lunch on day four left the Bulls in a fight to survive for a draw.

Bulls captain Labuschagne was surprised WA waited so long before declaring.

"Once they sort of got through that safe period, I thought they may have tried to push the game forward a little bit quicker and then tried to let us have a bat for longer," Labuschagne said. 

"But it's also round one. I don't know what's happening backroom for them with their fast bowlers. 

"They're all things you need to consider when you are making a declaration."

Whiteman felt the pitch was holding up too well to declare earlier.

"The feedback was that it was a pretty good wicket, and that if you got in, the ball runs away pretty quickly," Whiteman said.

"We played it on the safe side. They've got a pretty dangerous batting order and our bowlers did a lot of work yesterday, so we were mindful of that."

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