Victoria recover to seal satisfying draw

Victoria 297 and 5 for 429 (Mash 86, Hodge 86, White 68, McDonald 65, Hussey 64) drew with Western Australia 3 for 608 dec
Scorecard

Victoria fought hard to earn a draw after being behind for most of the match against Western Australia at the WACA. Needing 179 today to make the Warriors bat again, the Bushrangers were guided to the safety of 5 for 429 by five half-centuries in an important team batting display.

Brad Hodge, who passed 14,000 first-class runs during the innings, led the rescue mission on a dead pitch after Lloyd Mash departed early in the day for 86. However, Hodge was unable to nail the big score needed to alert the national selectors and was caught behind by Luke Ronchi off Steve Magoffin. Hodge and Cameron White combined for an important 118-run stand that took them ahead of Western Australia's huge first-innings total of 3 for 608 declared.

White, who was dropped by Justin Langer on 21, was dismissed by Brett Dorey for 68 and Andrew McDonald, who survived a chance on 35, added his second half-century of the match as the home team's hopes of an outright win disappeared. The Warriors took two points from the game after double-centuries to Chris Rogers and Marcus North.