Waugh edges Blues home

PERTH, March 2 AAP - Unflappable Mark Waugh continued New South Wales' late-season charge with an unbeaten half-century to guide the Blues to a thrilling two-wicket Pura Cup victory over Western Australia.

Chasing 182 runs for victory on the final day, the younger Waugh entered with the visitors teetering at 5-72 before steering NSW to maximum points with an unbeaten 60 at the WACA Ground.

He farmed the strike from the tailenders before calmly hitting his ninth four over gully off veteran Jo Angel's bowling for the winning runs.

The victory took NSW to equal second place on the Pura Cup ladder with Victoria on 30 points, and a little closer to its first appearance in a domestic first class final in almost a decade.

The rampant Blues host leaders Queensland starting Thursday with an outright victory needed to guarantee another showing against the Bulls in the Pura Cup final starting March 14 at the Gabba.

However today's man-of-the-match Michael Slater said the Bulls would be keen to ensure the Blues don't make the Brisbane final.

"I don't think they (Queensland) will want to play us in the final," said Slater who scored 204 and 36.

"They will be looking to play their best given it is the last match before the final."

Slater's comments make plenty of sense after the Bushrangers, who host WA this week, were dealt a crushing nine-wicket defeat by the Bulls in the Sunshine State this weekend.

Victoria, which is Queensland's only other possible final opponent, hasn't won at the Gabba since December 1983.

The Blues will progress to the final if they are equal with Victoria on points because they have secured more outright wins this summer.

NSW is peaking at the business end of the competition and Slater said his team would dearly love to add another trophy to the cabinet after securing a hat-trick of domestic one-day titles last month.

"The momentum we have created over the past few weeks will hopefully see us through to the final," he said.

"It means a hell of a lot, we have played consistently well in the one-day competition but at the end of the season you want to be in the four-day final as well."

Blues captain Steve Waugh looked like a relieved man today after WA almost pulled off the biggest come-from-behind victory in Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup history after trailing by 308 runs on first innings.

"It was always going to be pretty close chasing that sort of target, the wicket was playing a few tricks and a few nerves from our batsmen," he said.

"And I thought Western Australia played pretty well, but in the end experience got us through with Mark's knock at the end."

The Australian Test captain said it had been a "pretty amazing match" after WA youngsters Chris Rogers and Marcus North epic 369-run fourth wicket stand in the second innings yesterday brought the home team back into the match.

However unfortunately for the duo, the other nineteen WA wickets fell for a combined 230 runs in the match.