Queensland declaration sets up exciting final day

Western Australia 7 for 417 dec and 6 for 153 (Voges 53*, Harris 51) lead Queensland 7 for 279 dec (Lynn 85, Hartley 69*) by 291 runs
Scorecard

Western Australia ended the penultimate day with a lead of 291 runs after Queensland declared with a trail of 138 runs in their first innings in pursuit of an outright win.

Queensland, resuming on 2 for 111, lost Peter Forrest off the second ball of the day, and two overs later saw Michael Philipson depart, Nathan RimmIngton accounting for both the wickets.

However, Chris Lynn and Chris Hartley added 121 runs to steer the home side out of trouble. Lynn top-scored with 85, including 13 fours and a six, but his exit was followed by the dismissals of Jack Wildermuth and captain James Hopes in quick succession, and Queensland declared their innings shortly before the tea interval. Nathan Coulter-Nile and Rimmington picked up two wickets each.

Western Australia, powered by half-centuries from Marcus Harris and captain Adam Voges, played ball and scored at a brisk pace to move the game forward. They came together once two wickets fell after the opening stand of 62. Once the third-wicket stand of 41 was broken by Peter George, WA lost three more wickets as Shaun Marsh, Sam Whiteman and Ashton Agar fell for single-digit scores. Voges' 53 not out led them past 150 as Hartley pouched five catches behind the stumps.

"I think the way [Western Australia] played this afternoon they showed they do want to set us something," Hopes told AAP. "The whole idea [of the declaration] was once we started to lose a few wickets this morning, our goal was to get past the follow-on then pull out.

"We need to keep the chase at a reasonable level. I think what we've done this afternoon, if we come out and bowl well in the first half-hour and get another couple of wickets then we are starting to dictate what we're chasing rather than waiting for them to declare."