Agar ensures Western Australia claims Shield draw

Ashton Agar has posted a rearguard half-century to ensure Western Australia escape with a draw in their Marsh Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania in Perth.

Agar's unbeaten 76 piloted the hosts to a 323-run lead in their second innings before the opposing captains shook hands shortly before tea on Sunday's final day at the WACA Ground.

Agar combined with Joel Paris (23no) for an 85-run 10th-wicket partnership, taking the Warriors to 9-383 before play was called off.

Left-arm paceman Paris batted through a hamstring injury and had Cameron Bancroft as a runner.

The defiant stand dashed any Tasmanian hopes of pulling off an unlikely victory, which had seemed a possibility when Jackson Bird ripped through WA's tail.

Bird (5-78) was prolific with the new ball, snaring three wickets in an over including the much-needed scalp of Josh Inglis (40).

But Agar and Paris held out, leaving the visitors frustrated.

WA resumed at 2-148 and lost Mitch Marsh in the first over, the allrounder caught and bowled by Bird on 53.

Marsh hurt his hand after he struck the wall in the change room following the dismissal, although Western Australia are unsure as to the extent of the injury,

Older brother Shaun followed soon after, nicking off to a Sam Rainbird delivery on 85 after adding 11 runs to his overnight score.

Marcus Stoinis (57) proved the steadier for the hosts while also scoring at a decent clip, bringing up his half-century off just 75 balls.

The powerful allrounder was caught at first slip off Riley Meredith before the hosts went to lunch at 6-261.

Australian Test skipper Tim Paine provided the highlight of day three, breaking a 13-year drought to post his second career first-class century.

Paine top-scored with 121 and debutant Lawrence Neil-Smith finished 39 not out in a defiant ninth-wicket stand, as the visitors posted 397 in their first innings.

The 34-year-old played down the achievement, saying the century "meant nothing to him".

Wicketkeeper Paine also snared a superb diving catch down the legside to dismiss Cameron Green for a duck off the bowling of Bird.

Western Australia XI: Sam Whiteman, Cameron Bancroft, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh (c), Marcus Stoinis, Josh Philippe, Josh Inglis (wk), Ashton Agar, Cameron Green, Jhye Richardson, Joel Paris

Tasmania XI: Jordan Silk, Alex Doolan, George Bailey, Matthew Wade (c), Ben McDermott, Caleb Jewell, Tim Paine (wk), Sam Rainbird, Jackson Bird, Lawrence Neil-Smith, Riley Meredith