As they prepared to return to the field for Victoria's second innings here today at the MCG, captain Simon Katich and his West Australian team-mates sensed they were more than a lazy chance.

They had looked shot on 2-16 at the end of day two and then 3-39 early on day three, but the Warriors grimly persisted yesterday and wiped off the first-innings deficit of 275.

Having recovered from the follow-on, they now had a lead of 135 on the back of Marcus North's unbeaten 200 and they knew something special might be about to happen.

"The feeling in the room before we went out, there was a lot of belief we could win it, particularly if we could get early wickets," Katich said.

Two balls into the innings, WA reaped the benefits of research - the leg-slip trap set for opener Matthew Mott worked and Victoria was one for none and the Warriors had their backs up.

A few balls later, three WA fieldsmen chased the same ball to the boundary, such was their desperation.

Such enthusiasm led to one of the greatest comebacks in domestic first-class history, a 37-run win which took WA to second spot on the Pura Cup ladder.

The match could prove the defining moment of its season, although if Tasmania beats South Australia outright in Adelaide tomorrow, the Tigers will be in the box seat to play Queensland in the final.

Katich admitted luck played its part in this match.

North should have been stumped yesterday on 55 and Brad Williams ran out Ian Harvey on the tea break with a direct hit from fine leg.

But there was also a lot of hard work, especially from North and Williams.

They are former Victorians - North moved west as a child and Willliams transferred to WA after starting his first-class career under a navy-blue cap.

Katich said North's maiden first-class ton earlier this year, against Queensland in Perth, gave him the confidence he needed at this level.

"He's a very good player ... when he first came into the side, a lot of guys who'd been playing for a while felt he was going to be someone who would really step up for us, would do a job in the first two or three years.

"(It's) not only with the bat; he's also proved vital with the ball."

Williams always wants to do well against his old state and he would have been dirty with his dismissal late in the second innings today - a big swipe that had him bowled for a duck.

Katich was careful not to criticise Williams when he returned to the rooms, knowing the real work for the paceman today lay ahead.

"At the end of the day, you can't really have a go at guys because they're trying," Katich said.

"They don't mean to get out, we were disappointed to see him get out, but that's the way he plays.

"We let him do his business with the ball and you don't want to put blokes off-side, he had a crucial role with the ball to play."

Williams finished with 4-37, while Matthew Nicholson was on a hat-trick and returned 3-13, including the last wicket of the match.

© 2002 AAP