South Australia held on for a dramatic draw against Western Australia in Friday's entertaining climax to the Sheffield Shield clash at Adelaide Oval.
SCORECARD
South Australia held on for a dramatic draw against Western Australia in Friday's entertaining climax to the Sheffield Shield clash at Adelaide Oval.
Tailenders Cullen Bailey (19 from 109 balls) and Peter George (five not out from 60) survived the last 21 overs (75 minutes) in a ninth-wicket partnership that denied the Warriors their second outright win of the summer.
The Redbacks finished 9-119 when stumps were drawn at 7pm (local time), still 255 runs behind WA.
The Warriors, who had built a big first-innings lead, looked certain to claim maximum points midway through the morning session when the home side slumped to 4-43 with the loss of Aiden Blizzard for 10, which compounded SA's perilous overnight score of 3-23.
But the heaven opened and heavy rained that reduced day four by 35 overs put a dampener on hopes of a result.
However Test spinner Michael Beer turned the match on its head with two quick wickets when play finally resumed halfway through the third session.
The Redbacks looked bound for defeat after slumping to 9-106. However Bailey and George's defiant stand in fading light stymied a desperate WA attack.
Young paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile, who has stepped into Mitchell Johnson's shoes with aplomb, the bowling for the vistors with 4-46 and skipper Michael Klinger (38) was SA's topscorer.
WA batsman Liam Davis was awarded man of the match for firs knocks of 89 and 93.
