Mitch Marsh fell agonisingly short of a century but not before ensuring Western Australia posted a competitive first innings total on Saturday in the Sheffield Shield match against Queensland at the WACA Ground.

Marsh was out for 96 just before lunch on the second day after two more rain delays held up play during the morning session by 23 and 30 minutes respectively, and the Warriors ended up being bowled out for 254 just after the break.

Marsh and Sam Whiteman rescued WA from a horror start on Friday to put on a partnership of 151 before Whiteman was out for 61 and then Marsh for 96.

Marsh looked to be cruising towards a second Shield century in his 31st first-class match but he appeared to be getting a little nervous as lunch approached.

He miscued a couple of attempted big hits from Michael Neser’s bowling and then was caught on the crease off Luke Feldman, and only managed to edge the ball to former teammate Luke Pomersbach’s waiting hands at second slip to fall four runs short of the century.

However, he and Whiteman took WA from a perilous 5-47 to end up making a competitive 254.

Ashton Agar (26) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (12) looked for quick runs before the Warriors were bowled out.

Feldman (4-58) was the pick of the Queensland bowlers while Ben Cutting (2-50) and Neser (2-62) toiled hard. Captain James Hopes (1-28) and offspinner Nathan Hauritz (1-49) claimed a wicket each.

However, play was marred by news that former WA skipper and opening batsman Marcus North’s older brother Lucas was killed in an accident in Perth on Friday.

Marcus North found out shortly after being dismissed for four on day one and was granted a leave of absence from the match with his place in the WA side taken by Luke Towers.