The Bushrangers went to stumps at 2-80 in their second innings, leading the Warriors by just five runs after the home side took a lead of 75 from the first time at bat.

 

Two early wickets were lost in the morning session as veteran paceman Damien Wright claimed Michael Swart (four) and Mitch Marsh (no score) to leave the battle for first innings points evenly poised with the Warriors on 5-100, halfway towards passing the Bushrangers' first innings total of 199.

 

Nightwatchman Steve Magoffin toiled ably and reached 21 before he became Bryce McGain's second wicket for the innings.

 

Luke Pomersbach and Luke Ronchi then swung the momentum back in favour of the home side with a century stand for the sixth wicket. Both men passed 50 as the Warriors also made it to 200 safely and claimed first innings points.

 

Both men fell after the second new ball was taken, with former England paceman Darren Pattinson trapping Pomersbach in front for 74 and clean bowling Ronchi for 55.

 

Just as he had done towards the end of the first innings of the last game against Tasmania, some lusty hitting from Michael Hogan brought about valuable runs towards the end of the Warriors innings. The number 11 struck three boundaries and a six in his 21 from only 20 deliveries which enabled his team to scramble to 274, a lead of 75.

 

Wright and Pattinson both claimed three wickets for the Bushrangers, while McDonald and McGain picked up two apiece.

 

The Warriors were in search of early breakthroughs in the Victorian second dig, and Hogan delivered with the vital scalp of Chris Rogers, who was caught behind by Ronchi for three.

 

Aaron Finch was on his way a short time later, with Ronchi taking a superb diving catch low down to send the Victorian number three on his way for six to leave the Bushrangers on 2-15.

 

Nick Jewell (32 not out) and David Hussey (39 not out) steadied the ship with an unbroken third wicket partnership of 65 which has ensured the visitors remain firmly in the contest with two days remaining.

 

Play resumes at the WACA Ground on day three at 10.30 tomorrow morning and can be heard live and exclusively on Sport FM 91.3.

 

The junior Bushrangers fared much better against WA on the other side of the continent, with Victoria wrapping up the inaugural Futures League title after defeating their opponents by 170 runs in the three-day match held at Junction Oval in Melbourne.

 

WA was dismissed for 203 in its second innings - the same total as they had made in their first time at bat - after the home side had set a target of 374 to claim outright points on the final day.

 

Scarborough opener Marcus Harris top-scored for the visitors with 74, but as was the case in the first innings, too many players failed to convert their starts into a decent total.

 

Luke Towers made 38 in a 75-run first wicket stand with Harris, but the only other batsman to pass 30 was Northern Territory product D'Arcy Short (33).

 

Off-spinner Daniel Salpietro took 4-67 to go alongside the 4-49 he picked up in the WA first innings, while Bushrangers rookie paceman Steve Gilmour took 3-29 and Australian Under 19 World Cup-winning all-rounder Alex Keath snared 2-24.

 

Victoria claimed the Futures League crown after second-placed New South Wales could only manage a draw in their three-day match against the ACT in Sydney. WA finished sixth having won two outright matches.