Tasmania's tail didn't wag, but it stood firm against Western Australia's pace attack during a tense final session as the Pura Cup match ended in a draw at the WACA today.

The Tigers resumed this morning at 0-13 and batted all day to reach 7-237 at stumps, still 20 runs short of the home side's first innings of 7(dec)-594.

West Australians will probably remember the game for centuries by Justin Langer (133), Damien Martyn (189) and Murray Goodwin (141).

Or maybe for veteran Jo Angel's continued climb up the list of Australia's leading Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup wicket takers. Angel finished the game with 7-104 to join NSW spinner Greg Matthews on sixth position on the all-time list with 353.

Tasmanians will remember the tense final session when the Tigers withstood WA's fired-up pace quartet, on an unpredictable WACA deck, after resuming from tea at 5-163.

Although the pitch played true for most of the day, the Tigers had already lost Shane Watson (30) and Michael Dighton (0) in the afternoon session, LBW from balls that kept low on the usually bouncy strip.

All-rounder Daniel Marsh looked like he was going to save the match as he batted for 125 minutes in front of the grand stand bearing the name of his famous father, Rod.

But Angel struck, drawing an outside edge that presented Adam Gilchrist with a simple chance to send Marsh back to the pavilion for 47 with the score 6-209.

Shaun Young then redefined the term slow play, at one stage rooted on 11 for 62 minutes. But after moving to 15 with a boundary off Brad Williams (2-65), he was dismissed one run later, after 116 minutes, when the fiery blond rattled his stumps.

The Tigers made a comfortable start to the run chase in the opening session.

Jamie Cox contributed 63 but the Tigers could have done without one attempt to add to his tally which resulted in the run out of in-form skipper Ricky Ponting.

There was little doubt the captain represented Tasmania's best chance of reaching the 257 needed to force WA to bat again. He proved as much from the outset, duplicating his whirlwind first innings 58 by smashing six fours to reach 29 before being run-out.

The first 40 runs of a 49-run partnership between the pair came from boundaries as the Tigers set about saving the match.

It looked like the only way the Warriors could remove the Australian No.3 was by run out and even that took a magnificent effort.

It came when Cox pushed the ball straight back down the pitch past Gavin Swan (0-71) and took off for a single.

Ponting, running to the non-striker's end, appeared safe as he set off but Williams swooped on the ball and threw the ball past Ponting's shoulder to scatter the stumps.

Gilchrist said after the match he had no regrets over holding off his declaration until an hour before stumps yesterday and he was pleased with his bowlers' efforts.

"They toiled well today, they stuck at it," he said.

"If we had bowled with the discipline on the first day that we showed today, we probably would have been in a bit better position.

"The Tasmanians fought well, but we're a bit disappointed not to get the result given we were in a commanding position."

Ponting was also happy with the fight his side showed to hang on for the draw.

"The wicket did a bit today, it was a bit up and down and there was a bit of movement off the cracks," he said.

"I thought our guys gutsed it out well to keep ourselves in the game for a whole day."

© 2001 AAP