A defiant NSW put a dent in Western Australia's ambition of making the Pura Cup final by digging in for a thrilling draw at the WACA Ground today.

The Blues were outplayed for the entire match but the pesky duo of Mark Higgs and Nathan Bracken (8) survived 56 minutes to help foil the Warriors' plans.

Bracken fell in the third last over leg before to Brad Hogg (1-49) but Higgs (18no) and Stuart Clark (0no) were able to negotiate the final 14 balls.

Hogg thought he had Higgs with the third last ball which just scraped over the off stump.

The result left the Warriors in third place on the Pura Cup table on 18 points. Queensland leads with 28 then South Australia has 20 with fourth-placed Tasmania (16) and Victoria (12) currently battling it out at the MCG.

NSW finished 9-311, some 95 runs short of its victory target, but remained anchored to the bottom of the standings, and winless in the four-day game since November.

A three-hour plus stand between Michael Bevan (72) and Michael Clarke (81) earlier looked like leading the Blues to safety but three wickets in eight balls around tea turned the game WA's way.

Part-time bowler Marcus North (1-30) had Bevan caught on the long on boundary by Hogg after the left-hander strained his hamstring running a second in the previous over.

And Clarke fell lbw to Kade Harvey (2-36) in the next over but not before he'd reinforced his position as one of the hottest prospects in Australian cricket with an effortless display.

Team officials didn't expect Bevan's hamstring strain to be a problem ahead of Sunday's ING Cup final against Queensland at the Gabba.

Brett Van Deinsen (0), who is carrying a back injury, lasted just four balls after the interval before Harvey trapped him in front for his second wicket.

Shane Lee (28) and Graeme Rummans (12) both fell chasing quick runs after it became a tempting option with 151 needed off 23 overs and five wickets in hand.

Don Nash made an entertaining 24 before Brad Williams (3-78) had him caught behind for his third scalp of the innings.

But after losing the eighth wicket the Blues dug in for the draw.

The Warriors earlier looked like running through the Blues line-up with openers Grant Lambert (11) and wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin (41) back in the pavilion within the opening hour.

Haddin threw away an enterprising start by continuing to sky the ball through cover and was caught by Chris Rogers to hand Jo Angel (2-74) his 400th first-class wicket for Western Australia.

© 2002 AAP