Joe Mennie's seven-wicket haul and Callum Ferguson's unbeaten century on Wednesday gave South Australia some hope of avoiding Sheffield Shield outright defeat against Western Australia.
The Redbacks recovered from a disastrous start to the match to sit at 2 for 206 in their second innings at stumps on day three at the WACA Ground.
South Australia still trails the Warriors by 69 - with the home side bowled out for 368 earlier on Wednesday in reply to the Redbacks' miserable first innings total of 93 - but has a chance to deny Western Australia its outright victory, thanks in part to the rain which saw play abandoned on Tuesday.
Ferguson finished the day with 113 as he combined with Michael Klinger (80 not out) to post an unbeaten 195-run partnership to help the visitors recover from massive trouble at 2 for 11.
Ferguson said he was trying not to let his quest to get back into the Australian set-up distract him.
"I would have thought I'd need a few more runs yet to force my way in," he said.
"The innings was extremely pleasing from a personal point-of-view, but more importantly we really needed it from a team perspective."
"We had to work hard but it was a pretty good effort."
Earlier, Mennie helped to deny the Warriors a bigger first innings lead than the 275-run advantage they finished with as he took 7 for 98.
The 22-year-old, in just his third first-class game, produced the second-best bowling performance by a South Australian player in the competition at the WACA.
Mennie, who moved from New South Wales to take up a rookie contract at the start of the season, also became the fifth-youngest player to take seven wickets in a Shield innings at the ground.
Ferguson said he was delighted to see Mennie enjoy success with his seven-wicket haul.
"He works really hard and he's always grabbing the coaches for extra work ... I'd like to think he's got the potential to play for Australia," he said.
Wes Robinson (91) top-scored in the WA innings but fell just short of his third Shield ton, instead recording his fourth-straight half-century in the competition.
Craig Simmons added 60 in his first domestic match since February 2009 but the Warriors missed the chance to post an even bigger lead which looked likely when they were 1 for 197.
Western Australia began the day at 1 for 183 but the 127-run stand between Simmons and Robinson soon ended and wickets began to tumble as the batting side tried for quick runs.
Mitch Marsh (38 off 30 balls) and Adam Voges (26) were among those to make starts, but they could not stop the hosts losing their final nine wickets in just 40 overs.
SA's innings then started disastrously as Nathan Rimmington, who finished the day with 2 for 46, dismissed Daniel Harris and Tom Thornton in the first six overs.
But Ferguson's seventh Shield century, and his first since his ton against the Blues almost a year to the day, came as both batsmen made it to stumps with few problems.
AAP
Tags: cricket, sport, perth-6000, wa, adelaide-5000, sa, australia First posted December 07, 2011 21:56:41
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