PERTH, March 2 AAP - Neither severe flu nor South Australia's bowling attack could dislodge Simon Katich as he steered Western Australia to 4-184 at tea on day one of the Pura Cup cricket match at the WACA.

Test hopeful Katich, with just three first class matches to play before a side is picked for the Ashes tour in June, has made his way to an unbeaten 73 in tough 37C temperatures.

His 90-run partnership with captain Tom Moody put the Warriors in a commanding position after the Redbacks had claimed two quick wickets in the opening overs after the lunch interval.

Moody, playing his 300th first class match, smashed nine boundaries on his way to 55 off 67 balls before he was clean bowled by Mike Smith (1-27) to make the score 4-177.

The home side won the toss and elected to bat after a prayer and a minute's silence was offered in memory of Sir Donald Bradman, who passed away in his Adelaide home on Sunday at the age of 92.

Openers Marcus North and Michael Hussey opened for WA on a grassy pitch that looks sure to crack as the game wears on with 35C plus days forecast for Perth.

They both survived early chances before Hussey was caught for nine by Mike Smith in the gully off Mark Harrity (3-47).

North, who was grassed by Redbacks captain Darren Lehmann while on three off the bowling of Brett Swain, added 63 with Katich before he became Harrity's second victim, caught at slip by Greg Blewett for 35.

That brought Murray Goodwin to the crease, but the former Zimbabwe batsman was again unable to carry his one-day form into the first class arena and was clean bowled for four, taking his average for the season to 13.4.

© 2001 AAP