Western Australia survived a dramatic final-day collapse to secure a tense draw against New South Wales, denying departing coach Greg Shipperd a winning farewell in their Sheffield Shield clash at Cricket Central.
Chasing 273 for victory, Western Australia appeared out of contention for much of the day but clung on at 139 for 9, with the final wicket refusing to fall in a nail-biting finish. New South Wales pushed hard in the closing stages, taking late wickets to bring the contest alive, but ultimately ran out of time.
The match had seemed destined for a draw when NSW declared their second innings at 373 for 8, setting up a challenging target with only two sessions remaining. However, the hosts sparked hope with a flurry of wickets after tea. Cameron Green and Sam Whiteman fell in quick succession, and momentum briefly swung NSW’s way.
Liam Hatcher led the charge with the ball, finishing as the competition’s leading wicket-taker for the season, while Sean Abbott played a key role in the late surge. Western Australia stumbled badly in the final hour, losing 4 for 3 and slipping to eight down, with the pressure mounting under fading light.
Abbott dismissed Joel Paris to leave WA on the brink, and when Cameron Gannon fell with four balls remaining, NSW were within touching distance of victory. But Corey Rocchiccioli and the last man held firm to deny them.
Earlier, Cameron Green’s first-innings 135 had been the standout performance for Western Australia, while Josh Philippe contributed strongly across both innings for NSW.
The draw meant neither side could give their outgoing coaches a winning send-off. NSW finished second-last on the table, while Western Australia ended the season at the bottom, confirming consecutive wooden spoons.