Josh Inglis 85 keeps Western Australia unbeaten

Josh Inglis issued a reminder to national selectors with a match-winning 85 as Western Australia continued their unbeaten start in the Marsh Cup with a tense two-wicket victory over South Australia at the WACA.

Chasing 267, after Redbacks captain Henry Hunt notched his first List A century, Inglis appeared to be guiding WA to a comfortable win until he was part of a late collapse of 5 for 34.

Still needing 13 runs, stalwart Andrew Tye eased the nerves with lusty hitting, including the match-winning six off spinner Ben Manenti, as WA reached the target with nine balls to spare.

Inglis, playing his third match since missing out on the T20 World Cup after a freak injury playing golf, was back to his belligerent best with nine boundaries and a six in his 70-ball knock.

It was WA's fifth straight victory to skip clear of second-placed South Australia, who have three wins and two losses.

"It was a bit dicey towards the end...but it was nice to get over line and AJ (Tye) to hit the winning runs," Inglis said.

After receiving a dressing down from coach Jason Gillespie following their capitulation in the Sheffield Shield earlier in the week, South Australia were far more competitive on a friendlier pitch for batting amid warm conditions nudging 30 degrees.

Hunt, who has been tipped as a future Test opener, played the short ball well to continue his good form in Perth after looking a class above his team-mates in the Shield match.

"It's nice to get the first one (century) off but disappointing we couldn't get the win coming so close at the end," he said.

He found a willing ally in Nathan McSweeney in a second-wicket century stand, but South Australia's slow start ultimately backfired. Tye became WA's most prolific wicket-taker in 50-over cricket when he claimed Nathan McAndrew on the last ball of South Australia's innings.

It was his 104th career wicket to overtake Kade Harvey, who is the current WA cricket general manager.