WA on verge of comeback victory

Western Australia requires only 57 runs to beat Queensland and complete a remarkable Sheffield Shield comeback at the WACA Ground.

The Warriors ended day three of their day-night clash against the Bulls at 2-170, with eight wickets in hand and a full day's play remaining to claim their first four-day win of the season.

It was only one day earlier that the home side were 5-86 and then 7-125, chasing Queensland's first innings total of 353.

But with Jonathan Wells 85 not out and Adam Voges, unbeaten on 51, at the crease, that poor start is well and truly behind them.

The pair came together when the score was 2-59, with Cameron Bancroft (23) and Michael Klinger (one) dismissed in consecutive overs.

At 28 years of age, Wells scored his maiden first class century only two matches ago and is now averaging more than 76 run in his past five innings and more than 48 runs per innings for this Shield season.

Young quick Simon Mackin provided the spark for the Warriors, taking 5-21 in 5.5 overs in an impressive spell after tea on day three just when the Warriors needed it.

The Bulls were in a strong position at tea, at 3-93, with a lead of 181 runs. Usman Khawaja was unbeaten on 58 and looking to put the result out of question. Sam Heazlett was with him on 29.

However, 51 minutes and less than 11 overs later, Queensland were all out, having added only a further 45 runs to the scoreboard.

Mackin, a towering right-armer, finished with figures of 6-33 from 15.5 overs, while Hilton Cartwright chimed in with 2-38, including the crucial wicket of Khawaja, for 61.

The in-form Test batsman was again the backbone of the Bulls innings, after the top three - Matt Renshaw, Joe Burns and Marnus Labuschagne struggled, adding a total of five runs between them from 96 balls faced.

Openers Renshaw and Burns were both back in the pavilion in less than six overs after play resumed, having both scored just two apiece, adding only one each to their overnight scores.

Conversely, Khawaja, after hitting 157 in the first innings, found the WACA boundary with regularity and brought up his 50 from just 56 deliveries.

David Moody did the damage early for WA and finished with impressive figures of 2-16 from 13 overs.

Mackin bowled a good line and length and was rewarded with four catches behind the wicket and an lbw to give him 11 wickets for the match.

The 24-year-old said WA always felt they were in the contest, they just needed a few things to go their way.

"We were creating opportunities and didn't always take them. But we always felt we were in the game and at any point we could crack it open," Mackin said after play.

"We came out after tea and we knew if we got one, we could get two and then we bowled well and eventually cracked it open.

"We're dying for a win. We're 0-4, just to get the spirit up in the change-room again would be fantastic.

"We have had a few tough days in the dirt this year so it's pretty refreshing to take a big clump of wickets like that in a session.

"Wellsy and Vogesy batted well, setting us up in a really good position to get the last 50-runs tomorrow."

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