The explosive wicket-keeper was the last man out for 115 as the Warriors fell 55 runs short of their target of 304 to take the six outright points, with the visitors consolidating their position at the head of the Shield table.

 

Man of the Match Damien Wright bowled 15 frugal overs and took 3-19, while veteran all-rounder Andrew McDonald was the best of the bowlers, finishing with 4-66 and playing the major role in dismissing the Warriors for 249.

 

Beginning the fourth and final day on 2-57, requiring a further 247 runs to become the first WA team in 17 years to successfully chase a fourth innings target in excess of 300.

 

Opener Liam Davis and nightwatchman Nathan Coulter-Nile began confidently to wipe 13 runs off the target, but a horror collapse of 6-59 all but put an end to the home side's hopes of victory.

 

Davis was first to go, leg before wicket to Wright for 34, and Michael Swart was on his way three balls later, bowled by the Bushrangers paceman for no score.

 

McDonald then got into the act with two wickets in two deliveries - John Hastings taking a screamer to get rid of Mitch Marsh for one, and trapping Luke Pomersbach in front for no score.

 

Coulter-Nile's brave resistance ended on 31, with Bryce McGain taking another classic catch from the bowling of McDonald, and when Steve Magoffin lobbed a gentle catch to Rob Quiney off Darren Pattinson and was out for 11, the visitors were one step closer to a home final with the Warriors on 8-129.

 

But Ronchi and Brad Knowles combined for a century stand for the ninth wicket which gave the home side a glimmer of hope that they could pull off an unlikely victory.

 

The second new ball did the trick, as Knowles fell to that man Wright for a brave 36 with 67 runs still required for victory. Ronchi was now forced to take risks in order to give the Warriors a chance of winning the game, and he took one too many as he glided Pattinson to third man where sub fielder Michael Hill was waiting to take the catch that sealed victory for the Vics.

 

The Bushrangers moved back to the top of the Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield table with 35 points from nine matches, three ahead of Queensland. The Warriors are in sixth postition on 14 points, two adrift of fifth-placed South Australia, and needing maximum points in their last game against the Bulls, beginning in Brisbane next Wednesday, to avoid the state's first wooden spoon in almost half a century.

 

The WACA State Match Committee has made two changes to the Warriors' team for the match against the Bulls. All-rounder Matt Johnston is set to make his first class debut, while paceman Ben Edmondson is the other inclusion.

 

Out of the team go left-arm spinner Aaron Heal, who has been 12th Man in the Warriors' past three Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield matches at the WACA Ground, along with paceman Michael Hogan.

 

 

 

Marcus North (Captain), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Liam Davis, Ben Edmondson, Matt Johnston, Brad Knowles, Steve Magoffin, Mitch Marsh, Luke Pomersbach, Wes Robinson, Luke Ronchi, Michael Swart.