Two more pieces in Victoria's Pura Cup cricket final puzzle fell into place here today, even though the Bushrangers just failed to score an outright win over Western Australia at the MCG.

No.3 Matthew Mott hit his highest first class score of 154 while Jon Moss showed he is a more than capable replacement for allrounder Ian Harvey with 62 as the Vics came agonisingly close to scoring an outright win ahead of Friday's final against Queensland at the Gabba.

Set 292 to win off 84 overs, the Vics finished at 7-287 but looked to be heading for defeat when they crashed to 4-94.

But Moss, playing only his second game, and Mott almost rescued the Vics with a 167-run sixth wicket stand.

Victorian skipper Paul Reiffel was particularly delighted to see Mott back amongst the runs after a recent rough trot.

"It was a huge bonus for him and for us and his confidence will be sky high going into the final," Reiffel said of Mott who used to play for Queensland.

As a result of today's draw, the Vics finished eight points adrift of leaders the Bulls but 10 points clear of Tasmania and New South Wales in second place and will now contest their second straight Gabba final.

Last year the Vics could only draw the final, handing the title to the Bulls, but this season head north far better prepared, even though they have not won outright in Brisbane since 1983-84.

Not only are the Bulls missing Matthew Hayden, Michael Kasprowicz and Andrew Symonds to international duty and possibly Martin Love to injury, the Vics have shown they are able to cover missing Aussie stars such as Shane Warne, Damien Fleming and Ian Harvey.

Moss' inclusion in particular has boosted the Vics, who for so long have been unable to cover Harvey when he is on international duty.

And the batting line-up, already one of the strongest in the country with the likes of Matthew Elliott, Jason Arnberger and Brad Hodge, now looks even better with Mott's return to form.

The gritty Queenslander, whose 23 in 130 minutes in the first innings was painful to watch, was in sparkling touch today in scoring his first century of the season.

For Western Australia, today's result completed a miserable season with the Warriors finishing in second last place but at least opener Mike Hussey ended the season in style, making 137 in his team's second innings of 4(dec)-295.

© 2001 AAP