Test hopeful Ashton Agar has fallen agonisingly short of a maiden Sheffield Shield century in the four-day match against South Australia at Adelaide Oval.

Agar who was just shy of a well-deserved ton in his surprise Test debut in Australia’s first Ashes clash in Nottingham during the winter, stumbled on 93 when he glanced down legside into the gloves of Tim Ludeman off the bowling of Redbacks rookie Trent Lawford (2-86).

Lawford’s vital breakthrough has left the Warriors on 8-403 at lunch although he and the rest of the Redbacks’ bowling brigade are facing stern resistance from Nathan Coulter-Nile and Luke Remington with the tail-end pair unbeaten on 31 and eight respectively.

Johan Botha (4-120) has been the pick of the bowlers for the hosts following his opening day haul, while Lawford has been valuable early this morning with the scalps of Agar and Sam Whiteman (65).

The Warriors resumed play at 6-269 after Agar and Whiteman salvaged the innings on day one following a collapse of 5-44 that left the visitors in strife at 6-200.

Agar wasted little in time in registering his fifth domestic 50 since debuting for Western Australia in January by scoring 12 off the second over of the morning including two boundaries.

Whiteman soon followed with his first half-century of the summer driving wide of mid-on, as he and Agar also set a new record seventh wicket stand by Western Australian batsmen in Adelaide.

The duo’s potent 147-run stand was eventually broken by Lawford when Whiteman was caught behind after coming forward on a pitched up delivery.

Agar also fell victim to Lawford’s tidy spell of bowling, but Coulter-Nile ensured the runs continued to flow with some pinch-hitting.

The 26-year-old, who recently made his one-day international debut for Australia, blasted three sixes and two fours to push WA’s total above 400 as lunch loomed.