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Connolly helps take Western Australia to draw

Cooper Connolly made 70 on the final day Getty Images

Western Australia 188 (Goodwin 53, Thornton 3-25, Manenti 3-40) and 324 for 6 (Connolly 70, Cartwright 64, Goodwin 55, Thornton 3-77) drew with South Australia 333 (McSweeney 68, Hunt 58, Haskett 3-89)

Emerging allrounder Cooper Connolly top-scored with a fighting half-century to help Western Australia thwart South Australia in a Sheffield Shield draw.

Connolly's polished 70 and fifties from Hilton Cartwright and Jayden Goodwin led WA's final-day resistance in the rain-marred day-nighter at Adelaide Oval.

WA started Tuesday's final day 85 for 2, trailing by 60 runs, with SA hoping to engineer a victory push.

But Goodwin followed his first-innings half-century with 55 in another knock of substance, and Cartwright made 64 to defy SA. The pair combined for a 105-run stand for the third wicket, soaking up more than 40 overs from SA's bowlers.

Hanno Jacobs broke the partnership when he bowled Goodwin, ending his 156-ball knock. Cartwright departed only 10 runs later, launching at a full, wide delivery from Henry Thornton to Jake Lehmann at point.

WA were 185 for 4 but again steadied with Connolly and Aaron Hardie featuring in a 101-run partnership. But the duo were dismissed in a three-over span as Thornton struck at dusk.

Connolly, a match-winner for Australia in the Adelaide ODI against India last month with an unbeaten 61, hit 11 fours from 135 balls but edged a Thornton cutter.

The SA paceman bowled Hardie in his next over, leaving WA 301 for 6 as the game drifted through the final session.

SA sit with one win from five games in their title defence, the same as fellow strugglers WA. Pacesetters Victoria and Queensland are a dozen points clear with one round remaining before the BBL break.

West Aust 3rd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st34SM WhitemanCT Bancroft
2nd36CT BancroftJ Goodwin
3rd105HWR CartwrightJ Goodwin
4th10HWR CartwrightC Connolly
5th111AM HardieC Connolly
6th5AM HardieJL Curtis
7th23CJ RocchiccioliJL Curtis