Ronchi steps in to save Warriors

Western Australia 286 and 7 for 109 (Ronchi 49*) beat Queensland 106 and 285 (Lynn 139, Magoffin 5-27) by 3 wickets
Scorecard

Luke Ronchi and Nathan Coulter-Nile stopped a final-day disaster as Western Australia beat Queensland to avoid the wooden spoon. The Warriors were 6 for 37 chasing 106 before Ronchi and Coulter-Nile (30) added an essential 66 to set up the success in Tom Moody's final game as coach.

Ronchi hit the winning runs to finish unbeaten on 49 off 53 as Western Australia moved to fourth, while Queensland will finish second and travel to Melbourne for Wednesday's final. The hosts had started the day by adding 76 to their overnight total, with Chris Lynn reaching 139 before they were dismissed for 285.

Steve Magoffin was the Match of the Match after taking 5 for 27 in the second innings, giving Western Australia what should have been an easy chase. However, Ben Cutting (3 for 32) and Chris Swan (3 for 35) quickly ruined the top order, with Swan on a hat-trick after having Wes Robinson lbw and Marcus North caught behind first ball.

Luke Pomersbach (19) fell to Swan before Cutting knocked over Matt Johnston and Michael Swart before the lunch break. The interval allowed the Warriors to recover and they handed Queensland their first home Shield defeat of the season.