Zimbabwe held on for a thrilling draw in their three-day tour match on Sunday after Western Australia scored 266 for four chasing 270 to win.

Western Australia began their run chase aggressively with opener Mike Hussey and wicketkeeper Ryan Campbell, promoted to number three, putting on 128 in 100 balls for the second wicket.

Hussey smashed 79 from 79 balls and Campbell hit 59 from 57 balls, but Marcus North (31 not out) and Shaun Marsh (six not out) could manage only 11 runs from the 38th and final over in a tense finish.

All-rounder Peter Worthington also clubbed 45 off 27 balls for Western Australia as Zimbabwe's bowlers gave up seven runs per over.

Western Australia captain Hussey had declared on his team's overnight score of 207 for six, still trailing Zimbabwe by 123 runs on the first innings at the WACA Ground in Perth.

Trevor Gripper took advantage of the second opportunity to bat at the WACA before the first Test against Australia starting there on Thursday by scoring 54 before Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak declared at 146 for six.

Zimbabwe coach Geoff Marsh said the tourists would benefit from playing in such a tense match.

"It's good to have a checkpoint going into the Test to make sure that our guard's up," Marsh told reporters.

"Hussey played very well and Campbell, they're two good players. They're on the verge of playing for Australia.

"They got away from us and from there on the pressure was on.

"For us it was good, but we would have been disappointed to lose the game, but it was good that we were under pressure from those guys."