Justin Langer issued the challenge.

Steve Waugh - surprise, surprise - accepted.

He hasn't lost his sense of occasion.

Langer, the Western Australia captain, made a freewheeling 163 not out against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground, setting the Pura Cup match alight by chasing fast runs and making a bold declaration that triggered a thrilling limited overs-style run chase on the final afternoon.

The Blues were set 303 from 52 overs for outright victory.

Waugh clobbered 117 not out and the seriously in-form Simon Katich purred to an unbeaten 71 in 45 balls to get the defending Pura Cup champions over the line with 4.4 overs and five wickets to spare.

They made 5-303.

The revered NSW and Australian skipper hustled to the crease at 3-70 in the 11th over after Michael Slater (17 off 21 balls) and pinch hitters Nathan Pilon (19 off 16) and Don Nash (13 off eight) had given the Blues a flying start.

Waugh immediately found the boundary through cover in an ominous sign. Driving on the rise, hitting powerfully, clearly enjoying the thrill of the chase, he raced to a half century from 46 balls, almost decapitating a few fieldsmen along the way.

And then a rarity - Waugh played a hook shot, believed to be his first since 1998.

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