Sheffield Shield: West Australia hold on for draw with South Australia after Cam Green cops umpire howler

Western Australia all-rounder Cooper Connolly helped his side survive a late South Australian push for victory at the WACA Ground to keep their shield hopes alive. The game looked to be meandering for a tame draw before Aaron Hardie and Joel Curtis fell in quick succession to leave WA on edge at 6-174 with 40 minutes left in the final day on Friday. But Connolly remained steadfast, unbeaten on 51 to keep SA at bay, as the home side finished on 6-195 chasing 303 for victory. “We had every intention of trying to chase that down, it’s always tricky on a day-four wicket,” WA coach Adam Voges said. “Every time we tried to get our momentum we just lost a wicket and that stalled the chase a little. “It’s a big missed opportunity, especially in our first innings when we were 150-1 to really go big and take the game away.” The draw means WA are winless after three matches this season and have just one win in their past 10 shield matches, with Voges admitting they haven’t been able to string good periods of play together for long enough. “There are moments where we need to dominate, and we weren’t able to and that’s frustrating,” he said. “We’re doing a lot right and we’ll continue to build on that but clearly we’ve still got some work to do.” South Australia came into the day at 4-297, already leading by 205 runs as they looked to bat WA out of the game. However, the home side started brightly with Cameron Gannon removing first-innings hero Jake Lehmann and night watchman Nathan McAndrew within the first half hour. But stubborn stands from Liam Scott (33) and Harry Nielsen (31) set an imposing 303 for victory after they declared at 8-394. WA were in early trouble when captain Sam Whiteman fell for a duck trying to leave, only for Brendan Doggett to boost his Ashes claims, moving one back in to take the top of off-stump. Hilton Cartwright also fell cheaply, flicking one to mid-on to leave WA 2-37. However, Cameron Bancroft (57) picked up where he left off in the first innings, looking largely untroubled, bringing up a half-century just before tea to back up his ton on day two. He was supported well by Cam Green, who put national selectors’ minds at ease following his duck in the first innings with a well-made 41. There were a couple of nervy moments to start, but once Green was off a pair, he grew into his innings and, most pleasingly, did not look encumbered by his most recent side strain running hard between the wickets. However, his chance for a big score was cut short by what looked like an umpiring howler. He was given out caught behind off a half-hearted appeal from behind the stumps, having looked to have missed it by a fair margin. “That was probably a pivotal moment for us in particular with the chase,” Voges said. Connolly and Hardie looked to be guiding WA home before Liam Scott’s double breakthrough; however Connolly ensured their would be no further jeopardy.