Try as they might South Australia could not make the breakthrough needed to secure an outright win over Western Australia on the final day of the Pura Cup match in Perth on Monday.

Western Australia held on for a face saving draw after conceding first innings points on the second day of the match.

An unbeaten century to Chris Rogers and fifties to Brad Hogg who was unbeaten and Murray Goodwin staved off outright defeat.

Western Australia resumed their second innings at the overnight score of 52 for two.

After hearing about his selection for Australia A overnight Marcus North added four runs to his overnight score falling on 27 (45 balls) when he played a delivery from the lean right-armer Paul Rofe onto his stumps in the fourth over of the day. Western Australia were 65 for three at that stage and the Redbacks had broken the North-Goodwin third wicket partnership worth 52 runs.

Ryan Harris had Goodwin when the latter attempted to guide a ball to third man. Goodwin only managed to feather an edge to the keepr and fell four balls after posting his fifty. Goodwin made 52 from 89 balls.

Ryan Campbell and Chris Rogers took Western Australia to lunch with the score on 155 for four wickets.

After just over an hour at the crease Campbell 45 (62 balls) lofted Redbacks captain Greg Blewett to point fielder Ryan Harris. Campbell was caught after playing a mature innings with Western Australia reaching 188 for five wickets and ending an eighty run partnership.

Brad Hogg and Chris Rogers took Western Australia to tea at 251 for five.

Then, just nine minutes short of three hours spent together at the crease time was called and the match was declared a draw with Rogers not out 110 (290 balls, 16 fours) in six hours and three minutes, and ice cool Brad Hogg ending on 79 from 171 balls with 10 boundaries.

The Redbacks used eight bowlers in their efforts to break this partnership. They departed from the discipline of the WA first innings when they bowled outside off all day infrequently sending a straight ball in to excite the nerves of the youngsters.

Rofe and Harris claimed two wickets each and the only other wicket fell to Blewett. Damien Fleming, Mick Miller, John Davison, Mark Higgs and Ben Johnson were the other bowlers used.

Commenting on his selection for Australia A, Brad Williams said after the match, "I thought I struggled a bit in this game."

"To get that selection is good for me. I am looking forward to just getting another game under my belt. It has been a while since I played a bit of cricket so it is good to get out in the middle."

"It has been about six weeks since I played a fair dinkum game out in the middle so I did struggle a little bit with match fitness. So I am looking forward to getting another game under my belt."

Marcus North was surprised by his selection for Australia A, "It was a big surprise, yeah," he enthused.

"I got a phone call this morning from a friend. I am very happy about being selected. It is a good experience I guess. It was a big surprise and I am just thrilled to be involved.

Greg Blewett talked about a frustrating day in the field. "We had a few chances I suppose. We dropped Cambo [Ryan Campbell] fairly early, but I am not sure that would have made a difference or not. A lot of balls went past the bat."

"The wicket was up and down but certainly those last two guys who were in at the end batted superbly and their concentration was top class.

"We threw everything at them but at the end of the day they just hung in there. It is a bit frustrating to come out of a game with just two points after being is such a good position."

Mike Hussey was in praise of the South Australians. "I thought South Australia played very well over the whole four days really."

"We showed a lot of character again. In the one-day game we showed a lot of character in the middle, and in this game it was again in the middle we had some great partnerships.

"In particular Bucky Rogers [Chris Rogers] and Hoggy [Brad Hogg] did a fantastic job for us.

"To get away with a draw in the position we were in was a great effort.

"I have a great faith in these guys. We have a great bunch of guys and a lot of character in our squad. I did have a lot of faith that we could get through.

"I always thought we were a chance because they didn't really have anyone who could blast out a couple of wickets, say the like of a Mark Harrity. They did have very good line and length bowlers. I knew we had good players with good concentration. If they were bowling tight and disciplined lined and lengths I thought we could get through.

"I did have a look at their attack and thought there was much of a same-ness about it. Good bowlers bowling a disciplined line and length. I thought that they may struggle to bowl us out twice and it probably proved that way in the end.

"I thought that South Australia on the whole played the better cricket. I thought we were a little bit rusty. We will get stronger and stronger as the season wears on. They have got three games under their belt whereas this is only our first real hit-out."

Hussey didn't expect to be picked for the Australia A side. "Whenever an opportunity comes up you need to be scoring runs at that time. I didn't score as many as I would have liked against the Englishmen and again in this match.

"I had a good chance in that first innings to go on and make a big score to put my name up there. It wasn't to be, but it gives me an opertunity to get into some good form for the Warriors and help WA climb that Pura Cup ladder.

"I am just doing the same things that I have always done in my career. Sometimes you have patches where it just doesn't go your way. If you keep the faith in your ability and keep working hard off the track it has got to turn around for you.

"Chris [Rogers] is a good one to show that. He just keeps working hard keeps doing the same thing year in year out and you get your good times. You just have to ride your good times and your bad times and hopefully you come out a better player at the end of it.

Chris Rogers obviously enjoys batting against the Redbacks. "The last three or four innings have been really good. I don't know what it is about the Redbacks but it as been fantastic."

"I was in early so I knew I was one of the players expected to bat a long time. I just went out there and tried to dig in and do a job. I did feel pressure because they bowl quite tight and well. I just managed to have a bit of luck, and I am happy with that.

"The way I looked at it was I had to bat through, and if the other guys could bat and score quickly then maybe come the last session we could think about it. For me I was just happy to hold up an end.

"The way I have finished last year and the way I have begun this year has been really good. More so for the confidence. It just helps to know you can score runs at this level. I scored a few against England and felt in pretty good nick then. To come and back it up against the Redbacks was just fantastic." c

© 2002 David Bebb

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.