South Australia set Western Australia a challenging target of 414 runs with a day and much of a session to play on day three of the four-day Pura Cup match in Perth today.

A century to 24-year-old middle-order batsman Chris Davies and a half-century to Shane Deitz was the back bone of the innings with their 141-run seventh wicket partnership the big highlight of the day.

At stumps, Western Australia had lost both openers Scott Meuleman and Michael Hussey cheaply. The third-wicket pairing of embattled champion Zimbabwean batsman Murray Goodwin and Warriors Young Gun Marcus North had survived to the 24th over and had reduced the margin by 52 runs.

The day started well for the Warriors after John Davison had been on a rampage with six fours in his knock of 30 (41 balls) in the role of nightwatchman protecting his captain Greg Blewett. With the fourth ball of his new spell, Michael Clark deceived Davison with a slower ball that was driven to Goodwin in at cover. The Redbacks had lost their second wicket for 51.

Opener David Fitzgerald was bowled by Williams after he had made his way to a conservative 22 from 77 balls. The third Redbacks wicket fell on 75.

Greg Blewett 10 (26 balls) got a start but failed to go on with it. His wicket was the second of three to fall in a six-over period, when he was cramped up playing outside off and gave a catch to Hussey at first slip, when the score was 84 for the fourth wicket.

At 100 for five, Mark Higgs four (six balls) became the third in the trilogy, caught at mid-wicket by Chris Rogers after pulling Jo Angel in his very first over.

Davies and Mick Miller 9 (31 balls) moved the score to 124 for the sixth wicket when Miller was bowled by Angel, bringing Shane Deitz to the crease.

It took Deitz 38 minutes to get started with a four to the third man his first scoring shot. Deitz posted his seventh first-class fifty of his career after two and a quarter hours at the crease from 95 balls driving Angel to the long-off boundary for his eighth boundary. Then two balls later on 52 became Matthew Nicholson's first wicket when he drove at cover edging to North at gully.

Davies and Deitz posted 141 for the seventh-wicket with a particularly rich patch immediately before and after the drinks break in the middle session and another rich vein of runs in the four overs after tea.

Davies posted only his second century in his 22-match first-class career with a fine leg glance for three runs. It took him 168 minutes from 134 balls and included 13 boundaries. He was joined by Harris after the fall of Deitz's wicket but lasted only two further overs bringing his score to 125 (170 balls), falling victim to Nicholson with a tired shot that he played back onto his stumps.

With the eighth wicket down, South Australia declared at 271 after 77 overs and with a lead of 413 runs.

Brad Williams found better form with the ball bowling from the Members' End. He picked up three wickets for 65 runs. With two wickets each Jo Angel (two for 50) and Matthew Nicholson (ytwo for 60) were next best. Clark added one wicket (for 55) to his five-wicket haul in the Redbacks' first innings. Brad Hogg went wicket-less.

The Warriors were asked to see out 24 overs in the late afternoon with the WACA lights on to enhance visibility.

The wickets of the openers Scott Meulemen and Michael Hussey were the only wickets to fall in that time and did so in consecutive overs.

Hussey played and missed a leg glance at a delivery from Ryan Harris which struck him on the pad and the umpire was unable to give him the benefit of the doubt. In just over three-quarters of an hour he had staved off infrequent attacks at the stumps until he got three straight balls in a row. He scored just nine from 32 balls. His attitude had seemed to be survival until stumps the following day.

In the following over, Scott Meuleman played back to the bowler Paul Rofe and a sharpish chance was held. He played a supporting role scoring just four runs from 45 balls.

Having scored a duck in the first Warriors innings, Goodwin arrived at the crease after the wicket of Hussey fell. He defended two dot balls and was at the other end when Marcus North joined him after the fall of Meuleman's wicket. North was quickly off the mark and on his third ball Goodwin too scored a single to evade the ignominy of a pair of ducks in a game.

At stumps the third wicket pair had brought the score along to 52, with Goodwin on 21 (34 balls) and North 23 (33 balls).

The question being asked of the Western Warriors tomorrow is whether they can either overhaul the target of 414 set by the Southern Redbacks or whether they can survive till stumps and deny the Redbacks outright points.

Chris Davies said aftewards: "We knew we had to bat for time really. Anything over 300 runs was going to be a bonus for us. So it was the batters' responsibility to bat until tea time and then after tea. We didn't have any set target. We knew that if we batted till after tea we would have a reasonable score to let WA chase."

Due to a stiff sou'westerly breeze blowing all day and high humidity, he>described the conditions as: "Pretty good for batting considering."

"The wicket wasn't too bad, there were a couple that kept low. Pretty nice conditions to bat in. It wasn't too hot and it wasn't too cold. It was a good day.

"Thats my second first-class century and my highest score. My first was against Queensland up at the 'Gabba. at the end of last year. I am looking forward to making one at home in front of my home fans.

"I am very happy with today's performance and now hopefully the team can go on and get six points tomorrow."

© CricInfo

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.