Hardie, Fanning heroics see WA home in thriller

A hamstrung Sam Fanning teamed up with captain Aaron Hardie to complete an incredible two-wicket win for Western Australia over Queensland at the WACA Ground. 

Player-of-the-match Hardie finished 80no from 128 deliveries to hold the WA innings together as they lost three wickets early on the final day to slip to 8-161 in pursuit of 201. 

In a see-sawing contest, the sight of Fanning, who had torn his hamstring earlier in the match, was yet another twist, and the left-hander held firm with his captain in an inspired partnership. 

Fanning, 25, was forced to crab-walk between wickets owing to his injury, which also curbed any chance for a quick single between the pair. 

Yet they soldiered on, Hardie doing the bulk of the scoring and taking most of the strike while his partner battled through 82 deliveries. 

Bartlett was a standout performer for Queensland, picking up three wickets today to take his match total to nine and toiling determinedly until the end.

But it was Fanning who had the final say, tucking the ball through square leg and ironically ending the match with a two. 

Queensland captain Mitchell Swepson cycled through his quicks on in a desperate bid for the final two wickets, though even as WA edged towards victory, he opted not to bowl himself.

The match gives new WA head coach Beau Casson a first-up win in the Shield, while Queensland coach James Hopes will be licking his wounds following two defeats in the One-Day Cup.