THE top two Sheffield Shield sides were left to settle for draws yesterday as a mixture of rain and plucky batting halted their final day quests for victory. Victoria will feel most hard done by after rain in Sydney left the visitors just two wickets shy of leapfrogging Tasmania into first place.

Players left the field around midday due to bad light at the SCG and did not return, with New South Wales 8-116 and still 86 runs in arrears. The Blues entered the day three down but lost quick wickets to keep a result in play, with Scott Boland (5-41) proving ominous as ever.

In the end, Nathan Lyon (17* off 47) did enough to help keep the Vics at bay and ensure the race for Sheffield Shield final places remains wide open with two rounds left to play. The result also sets up a top-of-the-table clash between Victoria and Tasmania, starting on March 1.

Meanwhile over in Hobart, Western Australia denied the Tigers a home victory by batting out day four, chasing a mammoth 450 runs for victory. Players shook hands on the draw after Cameron Green and Cameron Bancroft brought up brilliant centuries to save the game for WA.

After Tasmania declared overnight on 8-537, the Warriors ended up posting 2-242 and hardly looked threatened by defeat. On the flipside, victory also seemed unlikely in the face of the mammoth chase, as play was called off with plenty of time to spare.

Defending its Shield crown, Western Australia remains within striking distance of the top two, placed third with games against Queensland and Victoria to come. Ladder leader Tasmania will take on Victoria next, before hosting the bottom-placed South Australia.

SCORECARDS

NEW SOUTH WALES vs. VICTORIA

RESULT: Match drawn.
POTM: Scott Boland (Victoria)

Victoria won the toss & elected to bowl.

1ST INNINGS: New South Wales 10-252 (86.5)
Jack Edwards 99 (166), Matthew Gilkes 51 (137), Blake Nikitaras 29 (55)
Will Sutherland 5-51 (17), Scott Boland 3-47 (20.5), Todd Murphy 1-47 (20)

2ND INNINGS: Victoria 6d-454 (141.5)
Will Pucovski 131 (302), Peter Handscomb 114 (226), Nic Maddinson 108 (136)
Nathan Lyon 5-153 (52), Chris Tremain 1-60 (24), Liam Hatcher 0-106 (25)

Victoria led by 202 runs.

3RD INNINGS: New South Wales 8-116 (49.0)
Sam Konstas 35 (97), Jack Edwards 19 (29), Nathan Lyon 17* (47)
Scott Boland 5-41 (14), Mitchell Perry 2-17 (10), Will Suthlerland 1-36 (12)

Match drawn.

TASMANIA vs. WESTERN AUSTRALIA

RESULT: Match drawn.
POTM: Caleb Jewell (Tasmania)

Western Australia won the toss & elected to bowl.

1ST INNINGS: Tasmania 10-183 (49.0)
Bradley Hope 63 (93), Jordan Silk 55 (58), Kieran Elliott 21 (57)
Joel Paris 4-48 (13), Cameron Gannon 3-49 (8), Corey Rocchiccioli 2-24 (8)

2ND INNINGS: Western Australia 10-271 (89.3)
Jayden Goodwin 85 (185), Joel Paris 40* (71), Josh Philippe 31 (46)
Beau Webster 3-30 (15.3), Riley Meredith 3-59 (20), Kieran Elliott 2-58 (18)

Western Australia led by 88 runs.

3RD INNINGS: Tasmania 8-537 (135.0)
Caleb Jewell 227 (319), Beau Webster 100 (175), Charlie Wakim 71 (121)
Joel Paris 3-76 (25), Charlie Stobo 2-84 (28), Corey Rocchiccioli 2-140 (39)

Match drawn.