SA book finals berth in a final-over thriller

The West End Redbacks have locked themselves in for the JLT One-Day Cup finals after a nail-biting five-run win against the Western Warriors at Drumoyne.

The win guarantess the Redbacks a spot in the JLT Cup finals to be played at Hobart's Blundstone Arena next week. WA were left sweating on Victoria's run chase after the Bushrangers had bowled out NSW for 144 in Sunday's other match, while a win against the Cricket Australia XI on Tuesday would also put them into the top three.

Callum Ferguson has made his mark on the summer with his highest List A score after scorching the vaunted Western Australia attack for an incredible 169 as the Redbacks piled up 7-330.

But the Alchol.Think Again Western Warriors seemed on track for an incredible win as Michael Klinger and Mitchell Marsh each posted centuries that helped push the match into the final over.

En route to 143, Michael Klinger became just the second person behind Brad Hodge to pass the 5,000 runs mark in Australian one-day domestic competition.

But when Klinger and Marsh (124) fell in consecutive balls in the 48th over to Chadd Sayers, the match swung back in South Australia's favour.

"It was a beautiful wicket to bat on but it took a little longer to get in on," WA skipper Marsh said. "It was a bit slower today, but we just couldn't quite get there.

"I thought they bowled really well up front. Maybe we could have gone a bit earlier but if one of us (he or Klinger) was in there we would have won that easily."

For Ferguson, whose decision at the toss to bat first paid dividends, the win was "a real character builder".

"Knowing those two players (Klinger and Marsh), the quality of those guys, I thought we needed to pull something out of the bag," Fersuson said.

"We needed a new batter at the crease, because it was a tough one to start on. We did that and things went from there, it's a fantastic win, a real character builder for us."

Complicating matters for South Australia, front-line quick Dan Worrall pulled up lame in his fourth over and hobbled off the ground. A Redbacks spokesperson said he had left knee soreness and would have an MRI for further assessment.

"One Worral went down, it made task for our bowlers a lot more difficult. To make up those overs and come up with a win is a fantastic effort," Ferguson said. 

Ferguson won the toss and opted to bat first, but the Redbacks lost openers Jake Weatherland (11) and Alex Carey (8) by the seventh over to leave them at 2-31. Ferguson and Tom Cooper (46) then put on 107 together before a brilliant diving catch from Mitchell Marsh removed Cooper.

Jake Lehmann and Ferguson put on 131 together before Ferguson fell, his 138-ball knock including 23 boundaries and two towering sixes.

Lehmann was Jhye Richardson's third victim, falling for 46, as the WA left-armer finighed with 3-60 from his 10. Matthew Kelly (2-52) and Simon Mackin (2-69) were WA's other wicket-takers.

Quick Joe Mennie returns to the Redbacks XI following the birth of his daughter, replacing Spencer Johnson, while Tom Andrews comes in for Michael Cormack.

Western Australia head into the game unbeaten and eyeing a direct path to the tournament final in Hobart, while South Australia can secure a top-three finish with a win. 

South Australia: Carey (wk), Weatherald, Ferguson (c), Cooper, Ross, Lehmann, Valente, Mennie, Worrall, Andrews, Sayers.

Western Australia: S Marsh, Klinger, Bancroft (wk), M Marsh (c), Turner, Cartwright, Short, Richardson, Kelly, Moody, Mackin.