New South Wales coach Steve Rixon lauded Michael Bevan as the best cricketer he's seen in a decade after the brilliant left hander steered the state to an improbable draw in the Pura Cup match against Western Australia here in Sydney today.

"From what I've seen of Michael Bevan, he's arguably the best I've seen in the past ten years," said Rixon, after the former Test batsman's double century had orchestrated the Blues' escape from a disastrous 363-run first innings deficit.

"He's got a full range of shots, and he's one of the few guys who can hit the full 360 degrees.

"(Our guys) showed a lot of resolve and character and that's the sort of thing that will get you into a 'Shield' final."

It was lavish praise, but praise hard to refute, after the tenacious Bevan (203*) produced the quintessential version of a captain's innings to guide the Blues to a second innings score of 4/452 by the time that stumps were drawn half an hour before the scheduled close.

It wasn't only that he batted through the entirety of the fourth day, registered his equal highest first-class score, or became the greatest run scorer in New South Wales' first-class history. Also stunning was his capacity to continue undisturbed by the bowlers for 562 minutes and forge significant partnerships today with teammates Mark Higgs (80) and Brad Haddin (52*).

He had started the day on a score of 78, and with the Blues still facing potential ruin at a total of 3/188.

But he was ultra-methodical, combining with Higgs in a stand of 181 runs that became the state's highest for the fourth wicket against Western Australia at the SCG and then with Haddin in another of 85 at the end of the day.

He had dodged bullets yesterday, as wicketkeeper Ryan Campbell spilt a chance with his score at 8 and as a dubious lbw decision went his way on 19. But, by the end of today, very little was left to detract from his marathon performance.

"I felt I hit the ball well," said Bevan after play.

"I was under a bit of pressure out there and it was hard work, (but) it was satisfying.

"When it's that big a task, you've just got to say to yourself 'alright, let's get through this session' and maybe set some personal goals."

And he was also quick to pay credit to his teammates.

"(Greg) Mail and Higgs - they did the hard yards as well. They were good performances; it was good from their perspective as well."

Higgs and Bevan were eventually parted at the outset of the day's final session, when the former top edged a mistimed sweep at Brad Hogg (2/102) to present Simon Katich with a catch at mid on.

But splitting the partnership failed to dampen Bevan's efforts or his passage into the record books.

It was at 184 that the biggest of the milestones arrived - Alan Kippax's mantle as New South Wales' most prolific scorer of first-class runs seamlessly passing to the 31-year-old. On 203, he also equalled his own previous first-class best.

Western Australian captain Katich, for his part, tried nine of his players at the bowling crease in a bid to shift his rival skipper - various part timers utilised and opening batsmen Mike Hussey (0/6) and Scott Meuleman (0/1) even becoming closing bowlers.

But all of them found Bevan's bat and a true pitch impossible barriers to overcome.

Front line bowlers Brad Williams (1/73), Jo Angel (0/45) and Matthew Nicholson (0/61) also went without much in the way of luck at various stages of the innings as their team was forced to content itself with third - instead of second - place on the Pura Cup table.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd