South Australia has held on for a gritty draw against Western Australia in its rain-affected Sheffield Shield clash at Adelaide Oval.
Under the bright lights and with the pink ball, skipper Ben Manenti and all-rounder Liam Scott held strong for the final 12 overs.
Manenti won the toss and sent Western Australia in, and things started beautifully for the home side when Spencer Johnson dismissed Cameron Bancroft with the first ball of the match.
The visitors steadied after falling to 3-62, thanks to a 133-run partnership between Jayden Goodwin (139) and Ashton Turner (79), but Brendan Doggett continued to chip away with wickets throughout the innings.
He claimed the figures of 5-97, as WA were dismissed for 373.
South Australia struggled early, losing its first three wickets for just two runs, but Henry Hunt once again dug in for his side.
The gutsy opener brought up his second Shield ton of the summer, finishing with 106 from 249 deliveries, as he and Manenti (73*) guided SA to 253.
Joel Paris was prolific for the visitors, taking 5-34 from 20 overs, while Jye Richardson finished with 3-47.
Cameron Bancroft found his touch in the second innings, crafting 105* from 255 deliveries, as Goodwin continued on his fine game with 69 to follow up his first-innings century.
WA declared with a lead of 363 runs, leaving the home side 90 overs to chase down the total.
Connor McInerney (25 from 86 balls) and Jake Lehmann (53 from 65) provided some strong resistance for South Australia, but a steady flow of wickets left Ryan Harris’ men in a precarious position.
Harry Nielsen (40 from 86) and Liam Scott 33* (106) dug deep, and when the rain started to fall, it looked like South Australia would hold on for the draw.
As 10pm approached, SA were left to face 12.5 overs with five wickets in hand. Nielsen’s brave knock came to an end soon after the delay, but Scott and Manenti (21* from 34) ensured South Australia held firm.
The drawn result means Western Australia retain the Rod Marsh Cup.
South Australia will travel to Hobart to face Tasmania in its next Sheffield Shield clash, starting on Friday 6 December.