The Western Warriors have defeated Tasmania by sixty-four runs in the Mercantile Mutual Cup match at the WACA Ground, cementing top spot in the standings and almost assuring themselves of a home final in a month's time.

The Warriors grabbed the bonus point by skittling the Tigers for 206 in the thirty-ninth over, Graeme Cunningham (68) the last man out after skying an edge to Ryan Campbell to hand the wicketkeeper six catches for the match.

The Warriors now sit eight points clear of second-placed South Australia with two games remaining, with Tasmania fifteen points adrift in fourth place but with a game in hand.

Warriors captain Tom Moody said that, while it was a timely result and good to get the extra point, he was disappointed that the Warriors finished softly after having the Tigers stranded at 4/13 in reply to their total of 7/270.

"Unfortunately we didn't finish the Tasmanians off the way we should have finished them off," Moody said after watching Shane Watson (25) and Dene Hills (42), and then Cunningham and David Saker (26), combine to frustrate the Warriors attack.

"That's what we've done well the two previous games (against New South Wales and Victoria)," he said. "We made it pretty loud and clear after the game that we certainly need to make sure we finish teams off and do better than that when we get in the position."

The Warriors' victory was spurred by another stubborn partnership between Murray Goodwin (71) and Mike Hussey (53), who managed a century stand after arriving together at the crease with their side struggling at 3/108.

The pair set about proving Tigers captain Jamie Cox wrong for choosing to bowl after winning the toss, a decision which proved fruitful early with the wickets of Campbell (28), Justin Langer (26) and Simon Katich (32).

All three edged deliveries to 'keeper Sean Clingeleffer after making starts at the crease, with Josh Marquet's (2/46) medium pace beating the latter two.

Continuing on from last week's 257-run record domestic one-day third wicket stand against New South Wales, Goodwin and Hussey then cleverly increased the tempo without taking any unnecessary risks.

Goodwin quickly passed the fifty mark, making it four half-centuries from six one-day innings this season for the former Zimbabwean batsman, and the Warriors had found the momentum they were seeking.

Just as the pair looked to break another record, however, their alliance was broken. Approaching the state's record fourth-wicket partnership mark of 110 set by Mike Veletta and Geoff Marsh in 1990-91, Daniel Marsh lured Goodwin out of his crease before spinning the ball past his bat to hand Clingeleffer an easy stumping.

After registering his own half century, Hussey soon holed out to Marsh from Scott Kremerskothen's bowling with the score on 235 and the home side was suddenly left with five overs at the crease in which it needed to score quickly.

Brendon Julian (22) joined Moody (10) in the quest but soon watched his captain depart, caught by Shaun Young at long off. And, after making some quick runs himself - including those gained from a powerful straight drive to the boundary - Julian became Kremerskothen's third victim in a row in the last over.

Tasmania's run chase began disastrously when the efficient Darren Wates (2/21) and veteran Jo Angel (2/23) combined to generate some genuine pace and much movement off the pitch. The pair produced a series of seaming balls to hand 'keeper Campbell four catches in the opening six overs, from the bats of Michael DiVenuto (1), Young (7), Cox (4) and Marsh (0).

Campbell's catch to remove Cox was one of the best of the season, the twenty-eight year-old falling away to his right and gathering the ball just centimetres above the ground.

At 4/13, Hills and Watson then battened down the hatches and produced a half-century partnership. But when Watson was bowled by Julian (2/50), it sparked another Tiger collapse which saw the visitors lose 4/39 in just eight overs.

Cunningham let loose late in the innings to frustrate the Warriors, especially left-arm wrist spinner Brad Hogg (2/44 from 4.4 overs). Despite another half century partnership between the former ACT player and Saker, though, Hogg had the last laugh and snared both scalps to tidy up the Tigers' innings.

Moody said ripping through the Tasmanian top order like the Warriors had done early on sometimes worked against the bowling attack.

"As silly as it sounds, when you really do take the backbone of a side out - and the four wickets we had taken were the four experienced players in their top order - it's a hard act to follow," Moody said.

"The people who come in after that come in with a carefree, swashbuckling attitude, and therefore they chance the runs."

Moody added that, while a home final was likely, the Warriors needed one more victory to take an unnassailable lead over the rest of the competition.

"I think there's work to do in guaranteeing that we've got top spot, and also work to do to make sure that we are at the peak of our powers," he said.

"Certainly today we didn't reach our full potential."

With three matches remaining compared to the top three sides' two, the Tigers remain in the hunt for a berth in the Final and can still snare a maximum 12 points (plus bonus points).

While victory against the Warriors could have catapulted Tasmania to equal third on the ladder, they will still be buoyed by the chance to do the same against Queensland in Brisbane next Friday.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd