Sheffield Shield: Western Australia open latest title defence with draw against Queensland

Western Australia has begun its chase for a fourth straight Sheffield Shield title with a draw against Queensland at the WACA Ground.

The two teams shook hands at around 4pm on Friday, with WA nine wickets shy of winning the match and the Bulls 242 runs short of an unlikely chase.

It means the three-time reigning champions in both the four-day and one-day formats are winless from their first three matches across both competitions.

That’s ahead of Sunday’s 50-over match against the Bulls and their next shield assignment at home against Tasmania.

Victoria and Tasmania also shook hands on a limp draw at Junction Oval and New South Wales and South Australia also shared the points in Sydney.

Sam Whiteman and Josh Inglis made twin centuries in the first innings to steer WA to 465. Queensland finished their first dig 98 runs behind.

Inglis was named player-of-the-match with scores of 122 and 48.

Mitch Marsh and Hilton Cartwright continued after steadying a wobbly ship on Thursday afternoon. Marsh raced past his half-century and towards a ton, but the all-rounder skied a ball he hoped to park on the western bank and was caught at fine-leg on 94.

Josh Inglis and Cooper Connolly didn’t accelerate the run-rate like a team desperate to send their opponents in to face the music. The hosts went at 3.86 an over in the third innings, only just faster than Queensland while they were batting for a draw.

Matt Renshaw feathered a ball off Matt Kelly for 15 and missed another opportunity to impress national selectors.

Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne, who have their Test spots down in permanent marker, saw out the rest of the day.

Kelly was the most probing of the WA quicks with 1-27.

Corey Rocchiccioli, who is widely tipped to play for Australia A early next month, battled for a second time in the match and finished with 0-32 from seven overs.