Chris Pike at the WACA Ground
Western Australia and Queensland have played out a draw in the Sheffield Shield at the WACA Ground with the Bulls taking home two points from the batting-dominated contest.
Queensland did well to make 458 over five sessions to surpass WA's first-innings total of 9-406 (declared) and without key bowlers Ben Laughlin and Grant Sullivan, played out time on the final afternoon as the Warriors moved on to 1-132 before stumps was called.
Wes Robinson had moved to 67 and Shaun Marsh finished on 20. Luke Towers was the only wicket to fall when he became Glen Batticciotto's first Sheffield Shield victim, caught at slip for 41.
The Bulls had no way of going for the outright win after Laughlin and Sullivan went down injured in the Warriors first innings rendering them unable to bowl again in the second innings, so their batsmen had to dig in - and they did just that.
Ryan Broad top scored with a strong 103 that was the sixth first-class century of his career and earning him man-of-the-match honours, with Lee Carseldine (80) combining with him for much of day three in a partnership worth 104.
First innings points for the Bulls then appeared a long way off when they fell to 5-234, bringing Chris Simpson and Chris Hartley together.
But after a slow beginning to their partnership, they got cracking before stumps on day three.
Both of them advanced to half-centuries to help Queensland to 5-358 heading into day four and still needing a further 49 for the two points.
Those plans took a hit when Steve Magoffin bowled Simpson for 70 and Ashley Noffke claimed his first wicket for WA by having Hartley caught at slip for 68.
However, Ben Cutting and Laughlin saw off any danger and ensured Queensland surpassed WA's total of 406 with relative ease as they came out playing some big shots.
Cutting was eventually out for 34 when Marcus North had him caught behind, but Laughlin continued on to 35 before being caught at mid off from the bowling of David Bandy.
Bandy also claimed the last wicket of Scott Walter for a duck after a brief cameo from the injured Sullivan who finished on 13 not out.
It was a tough slog for the Warriors bowlers on a lifeless wicket.
Brett Dorey didn't bowl on the final day and finished with 2-54 off 24 overs, Noffke had 1-74 off 33, Magoffin had 2-71 off 26, Brad Knowles claimed 1-98 from 32, North picked up 2-82 from 36 and Bandy snared 2-40 off 10.
It was a tame finish to the game with two of Queensland's strike bowlers out of the attack, and WA having little to bat for other than time in the middle.
Robinson looked solid for his 67, while Carseldine bowled a long spell of 19 overs with a mixture of spin and medium-pace as time was played out meekly.
Individual highlights other than Broad saw WA captain North hit 107 and Queensland left-armer Scott Walter take 6-121.
Western Australia first innings 9-406 (dec)
Queensland first innings
Broad c North b Magoffin 103
Kruger c Towers b Dorey 2
Townsend b Dorey 23
Carseldine c Bandy b North 80
Batticciotto c Ronchi b Knowles 13
Hartley c Voges b Noffke 68
Simpson b Magoffin 70
Cutting c Ronchi b North 34
Laughlin c Towers b Bandy 35
Walter lbw b Bandy 0
Sullivan not out 13
Extras: 17 (6b, 2lb, 8nb, 1wd)
Total: 458 (10 wickets; 167 overs)
FoW: 1-9, 2-93, 3-197, 4-232, 5-234, 6-373, 7-375, 8-431, 9-445, 10-458
Bowling:
Dorey 24 - 11 - 54 - 2
Noffke 33 - 9 - 74 - 1 (1nb)
Magoffin 26 - 11 - 71 - 2 (7nb)
Knowles 32 - 6 - 98 - 1 (1wd)
North 36 - 9 - 82 – 2
Bandy 10 - 1 - 40 - 2
Voges 4 - 1 - 23 - 0
Robinson 2 - 0 - 8 – 0
Western Australia second innings
Towers c Simpson b Batticciotto 41
Robinson not out 67
Marsh not out 20
Extras: 4 (1lb, 2nb, 1wd)
Total: 132 (1 wicket, 52 overs)
Bowling:
Cutting 9 - 2 - 24 - 0 (1w)
Walter 8 - 3 - 21 - 0
Carseldine 19 - 5 - 49 - 0 (1w, 1nb)
Batticciotto 15 - 3 - 37 – 1
Broad 1 - 1 - 0 - 0
Match drawn
Man of the match: Ryan Broad (Queensland).