A bright clear sky greeted all at Tompkins Park for day three of the ACB Cup match between Western and South Australia. The hosts were 57 runs shy of the follow-on target of 259, with a new ball due in 14 overs and with just three wickets in hand.

An early breakthrough for South Australia in the third over of the day saw Marsh adding two to his overnight score and falling at 67 (160), cutting Harrity to Ferguson at point. The fielder caught it low to the ground, and Western Australia slumped to 207, eight wickets down.

Callum Thorp was bowled by Harrity after playing a handsome knock of 13 (27), which included two fours, both deft touches to third man off the bowling of Cleary. Western Australia were now nine wickets for 216, and the last pair had to face the peril of the new ball.

Clark found the long-off boundary once and then went over point boundary with a cut off the third ball of Cleary's fifth over of the day. Cleary had the last laugh though when two balls later he bowled Clark, in doing so also cleaning up the Western Australian first innings at 230 in the 10th over of the day. James had faced just eight balls without troubling the scorers. Harrity (2-56) and Cleary (1-32) were the only bowlers used by South Australia this morning, and both enjoyed success during the short session.

Short of the follow-on target by 29 runs, the Western Australians were surprised by the South Australian decision to bat rather than enforce the follow-on. South Australia had expected better from their opponants, but with the pitch expected to deteriorate during the latter part of the third day and during the fourth day, they preferred to be setting a target today rather than be chasing one on the final day.

In the fourth over, attempting a cheeky quick single with a bunt shot, Smith scored a five when the bowler Thorp retrieved the ball and threw hastily at the non-striker's end in an attempt to run out Smith. After they had completed their run, the ball crossed the boundary at long-off.

In the fifth over of the South Australian second innings, Thistle had Harris caught at third slip by Shaun Marsh for 9 (30), the first wicket falling with 19 on the board.

Higgins scored 8 (11) and was then caught at second slip by Simmons, becoming Thistle's second wicket. The South Australians were in an aggressive mood, playing their shots but now two down for 37. Cosgrove hit two sixes off the first over of James in the over immediately before lunch, both sailing a considerable distance over the mid-wicket boundary.

Lunch arrived with the score on 70 for the loss of two wickets. Cosgrove on 21 (18) and Smith on 25 (47) were the not-out batsmen. Thistle, the only wicket-taker for Western Australia, Thorp and James were the only other bowlers used.

It took a sharp catch to remove Cosgrove for 22 (25) in the second over after the lunch break. James, getting retribution for the pasting he took immediately before the break, banged it in a little short of a length and outside the off-stump. Cosgrove lofted that with a drive into the backward point region to be caught there by Voges.

Western Australia set aggressive an field for James, and it paid off immediately. Jack Smith on 27 (54) backed away from the first ball of James' fourth over, missing the ball with a push inside the line to be bowled. That was James' second wicket, barely two overs after his first, and the fourth South Australan wicket, falling at 74 in the 23rd over.

Beau Casson drew the lofted drive from Ferguson on 5(11), and he was caught at mid-off by Thistle with the Redbacks now five for 82. Thomas on 15 (73) advanced at Casson, driving through the off-side but missing to be stumped by Ronchi. His 42-run sixth-wicket partnership with Deitz was not as aggressive as the earlier partnerships had been. Stabilising through a period of spin from the Western Australians, South Australia at six for 124 were already 303 runs ahead.

South Australia went to seven for 131 when, in swinging to mid-wicket, Deitz 33 (68) gave Casson his third wicket of the afternoon, missing the ball to be bowled. The score had not progressed when the eighth wicket fell. Davison departed without scoring, pushing a ball from Jones to forward short-leg Simmons to be caught.

Forward and driving towards long-off, Cleary was decieved by Casson, bowled for 6 (11), and South Australia were nine wickets for 137. Jones wrapped up the innings with Jamie Marsh's wicket as the batsman advanced to drive and was beaten down the leg-side to be stumped by Ronchi for 2 (8).

South Australia were all out for 139 in the 49th over. Eight wickets had fallen in the middle session for just 69 runs. Ferguson and Smith provided what little backbone South Australia exhibited in their second innings. The strategy to make a pile of runs seemed to have backfired on the back of brash youthful hot-headedness. They pushed their lead out to 318 but may have failed to last just long enough to place sufficient pressure on the West Australian top order.

Western Australia attacked hard, both with fiery pace and spin bowling, all the while to aggressive fields. The pick was Beau Casson (4-37), though his spin partner Jones (2-12) was also a revelation on the deteriorating third-day track. James (2-32) bowled a particularly fiery spell, much more direct than in the first innings. Thistle (2-23) initiated the cascade of South Australian wickets.

It took a great catch by Marsh at midwicket to remove the first Western Australian. Jones on 41 (69) playing back lofted the drive at Marsh who, if he hadn't have caught it, would have copped it right in the face. Cullen on 13 (34) then had to deal with a ball from Harrity that kept low. As he slashed at the ball outside off, he touched it through to the keeper Deitz and was caught with the score on 86.

Marsh was the last wicket to fall on day three, with the fourth ball of Harrity's 11th over and the final scheduled over of the day. He drove at Harrity outside off, and the thick edge flew into the gully where Davison took the simple catch.

Western Australia have knocked 90 off a target of 319, but conceded three wickets in doing so. The reduced target of 229 runs in three sessions should be no difficult task for the four recognised batsmen remaining. The night's rest can only help their cause.

South Australia found success in the middle and end of the final session with Harrity the main thrust of their attack, reaping two wickets, and Davison getting one. Two other bowlers - Kelly and Cleary - were used but neither tasted success.

Rain is forecast late in the day tomorrow and could become a slight factor in the wrap-up of this match. No matter what, it is likely to be a gripping climax to a well-fought match on the final day.

© CricInfo

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