Two-Test tweaker Ashton Agar has taken the key wicket of NSW skipper Steve Smith on the stroke of lunch to keep Western Australia in the hunt for a home Sheffield Shield final.
The key dismissal has reduced NSW to 7-188, meaning their tail-enders will have to scrape together 24 runs with three wickets in hand after lunch on a tricky fourth day pitch to secure a home final back in Canberra.
Smith (89) was on track to lead his side to victory in the Manuka Oval nail-biter before holing out to Jason Behrendorff at long-on from the bowling of Agar (2-57) on the third last ball before lunch.
The Test hero had been viciously attacking Agar, and had hit a big six down the ground off his bowling the previous over.
While the winner of the match will host next week’s Shield final, the loser may also still slip in if Victoria hangs on for at least a draw against final hopefuls Queensland in their clash at the MCG.
Victoria are currently 1-174 in their second innings on the final day, still 99 runs behind the Bulls’ first innings score.
NSW started their final day with a tricky 110 run chase with eight wickets in hand on an unpredictable fourth day Manuka Oval wicket.
The Warriors got off to the best possible start, dismissing both Ben Rohrer (15) and Kurtis Patterson (1) cheaply.
Warriors part-time spinner Marcus North (3-46) was getting great purchase on the fourth day deck, dismissing all-rounder Sean Abbott (4) not long after wicket-keeper Peter Neville (3) was sent packing.
And while Smith found a reliable partner in Stephen O’Keefe (14 not out), the temptation to finish the game quickly off Agar, who took a five-wicket haul in the first innings, may come back to bite the Blues.