Marsh hits 94, Khawaja shines with unbeaten 64 in drawn match

Result: Western Australia and Queensland drew in a thrilling match that saw both teams putting up strong performances. In their first innings, Western Australia scored 465 runs, with Inglis leading the charge with 122 runs, followed by Whiteman with 102 and Connolly with 79. Neser was the standout bowler for Queensland, taking 5 wickets for 68 runs. Queensland responded with a solid batting performance, scoring 367 runs. Clayton top-scored with 85, while Labuschagne and McDermott contributed with 77 and 68 runs respectively. Gannon was the pick of the bowlers for Western Australia, taking 5 wickets for 57 runs. In their second innings, Western Australia declared at 263 for 6, with Marsh leading the way with 94 runs. Wildermuth was the most successful bowler for Queensland, taking 3 wickets for 38 runs. Chasing a target of 262 runs, Queensland managed to score 120 for 1 before the match ended in a draw. Khawaja was unbeaten on 64, while Labuschagne provided support with 35 runs. Overall, it was an evenly contested match with both teams showing their strengths in batting and bowling.

Mitchell Marsh smashed 94 as a specialist batter before the Sheffield Shield match between Western Australia and Queensland petered out to a draw on a sedate WACA surface.

Set 362 runs off 62 overs, Queensland never went for the target and the match ended when the captains agreed to call it off midway through the final session on the last day.

Opener Usman Khawaja looked in fine touch and finished 64 not out to ensure Queensland avoided any late nerves. Captain Marnus Labuschagne tuned up for the Test summer with an unbeaten 35 on the back of his 77 in the first innings.

With Test allrounder Cameron Green facing a long stint on the sidelines due to a back injury, a number of players in the match were under the spotlight. Test aspirant Matthew Renshaw made an untimely double failure after edging behind to Matthew Kelly on 15 having scored just six runs in the first innings.

WA counterpart Cameron Bancroft, another possible option to open for Australia if Steven Smith shifts down the order, fared even worse after making a pair earlier in the match.

"He's [Bancroft] so resilient. He's been through so much in his career. He'll be fine," WA captain Sam Whiteman said after the match.

Batting at No.4, Marsh top-scored in WA's second innings of 263 for 6 dec after rescuing his team from a top-order collapse. He also scored 13 in the first innings, but did not bowl in the match.

"Mitch is in for a big summer. His workloads are going to be managed very carefully by Cricket Australia. We are hopeful we might see Mitch with ball in hand for the next Shield match," WA coach Adam Voges said after play on day three.

Allrounder Aaron Hardie, who looms as a like-for-like replacement for Green, missed the match due to a quad injury but is likely to return for WA's next Shield match against Tasmania starting on October 20 at the WACA.

With WA resuming on 106 for 3, a lead of 204, there was intrigue over how they would approach the situation. Marsh had mostly been watchful late on day three, but was in a trademark aggressive mood as he reached his half-century with a push that rocketed to the boundary.

Fringe Test quick Michael Neser threatened by targeting a crack, but Marsh was unperturbed as he put the foot down. His most belligerent shot was smashing a short delivery from debutant Tom Straker that thudded into the ground's famous grassbanks.

Marsh tried to reach his century with one mighty blow, but mistimed and holed out much to his chagrin as he threw his bat in the air.

Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis backed up his first-innings century with a quick-fire 48 to claim Player-of-the-Match award. His confidence was obvious and he toyed with legspinner Mitchell Swepson, who had the last laugh but struggled to have much impact across the match.

The pitch flattened considerably after tough early conditions when WA lost the wickets of Bancroft and Jayden Goodwin off the first two balls bowled by Neser, who was Queensland's standout bowler with six wickets for the match.

"Phenomenal bowler and I was very happy how he started the season," Labuschagne said of Neser, who could also be in the Test mix.