NSW on brink of title after rainy day

New South Wales 447 and 3 for 59 lead Western Australia 180 by 326 runs
Scorecard

New South Wales are effectively one day away from lifting the Sheffield Shield after most of the fourth day of the final against Western Australia was washed out in Canberra.

The Warriors began the day needing something miraculous from their bowlers to skittle the Blues cheaply and set up a chase. What they got instead was 1 for 13 from a dour 13.4 overs before the rain set in for the rest of the day.

The only wicket to fall was that of Ben Rohrer, who edged behind off Jason Behrendorff for 27, and when the wet weather arrived New South Wales were 3 for 59 with captain Steven Smith on 31 and Kurtis Patterson yet to score.

Their lead had moved along to 326 and as the hosts of the final, they had no need to push for a victory; a draw would be enough for them to claim the title.

Even the most optimistic Western Australia fan would struggle to work out a way for them to win the match from this position. They would need to run through the remaining seven New South Wales wickets in the first hour of the final day to even attempt a chase.