A brilliant century from Travis Head and gutsy performance by an injured Nick Benton kept South Australia's Sheffield Shield hopes alive - but it was the three quick bowlers that the captain paid tribute to.
The one-wicket win over Western Australia at the WACA Ground gives South Australia a chance of making the final with a win over Tasmania in the last round at Glenelg.
The Redbacks moved to 40.67 points behind Victoria (46.62), Queensland (45.66) and NSW (44.13) on the Shield table.
Head's stunning 134 in 139 balls that included 73 in 58 deliveries on the final day gave the Redbacks a chance, chasing 274.
But it required a brave effort by Benton to hit the winning runs against Joel Paris (5-87) after dislocating his shoulder on day one.
"We didn't really want Benno to go out there, he's in a bit of pain, but that shows his character," Head said.
"He was always going to bat. I would have rathered him not have to go out there, but fortunately the scans have come back really well and there's no surgery required. He won't play again this season."
While Head's 134 was outstanding, pacemen Joe Mennie, Daniel Worrall and Chadd Sayers all put in strong performances.
"It's a big effort with Benno going down to have only three quicks and they came back out on day three and it was an extraordinary effort," Head said.
"Joe Mennie is still sitting on top of the wickets, "Frankie" Worrall has been unbelievable the last four or five games and Chaddy again did what he does best even though he was unlucky in the first innings."
WA coach Justin Langer conceded his team's season is over and that it deserves to be after losing 6-57 to start day three and conceding 76 runs in 49 balls to Head and Mennie on day four.
"The feeling in the camp in there is that it's season over, let's be realistic about it," Langer said.
"Even if we had won today, I'm not sure we are singing the team song because of the way we performed this morning. That's not good enough to win a Sheffield Shield anyway."
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