RESULT
Sydney, November 03 - 06, 2009, Sheffield Shield

Match drawn

Player Of The Match
141
wes-robinson
Report

Warriors take points despite Katich ton

A Simon Katich century was not enough for New South Wales as Western Australia took first-innings points in a drawn match at the SCG

Cricinfo staff
06-Nov-2009
Western Australia 8 for 499 dec and 2 for 24 drew with New South Wales 402 (Katich 108, Smith 90, Khawaja 61, North 4-82, Noffke 4-105)
Scorecard
A Simon Katich century was not enough for New South Wales as Western Australia took first-innings points in a drawn match at the SCG. Ashley Noffke and Marcus North picked up four wickets each to keep the Blues to 402, which ensured the Warriors came out on top in the rain-affected game.
After wet weather ruined much of the second and third day's play, New South Wales needed a further 349 on the final day to take the lead. They were in with a chance while Katich and Usman Khawaja built their 145-run second-wicket partnership but the loss of Khawaja for 61 and Katich for 108 in quick succession gave the Warriors the upper hand.
Katich fell off Noffke to a brilliant catch from Josh Mangan, who snared a rebound after Theo Doropoulos at gully couldn't grasp Katich's cut shot. It gave Noffke, who finished with 4 for 105, something to cheer after he had Katich caught at gully for 3 off a no-ball.
The Blues still refused to give in as the young allrounder Steven Smith guided the lower-order effort with 90, which was his highest first-class score. When he fell to North, who grabbed 4 for 82, the Blues still needed 118 runs with only the last-wicket pair remaining.
A controversial finish was possible as the No. 11 was Grant Lambert, who replaced Burt Cockley during the match after Cockley was called into the Australian ODI squad. Western Australia were unhappy with the move as Cockley is a genuine tailender, while Lambert is a fast-bowling allrounder who has opened the batting for the Blues and has six first-class half-centuries to his name.
In the end, it didn't matter as Lambert remained unbeaten on 14 with New South Wales still well short of Western Australia's 499. There was just enough time for the Warriors to bat again and they made 2 for 24, with the New South Wales spinner Beau Casson grabbing both wickets in a confidence-boosting spell after he bowled poorly in the first innings.