Wishart steered the side -- a perilous 89 for five at one stage -- to 254 for seven wickets at stumps, figuring in an unbeaten 80-run stand with captain Heath Streak (45 not out).

Sent in on a dampish, greenish pitch, Zimbabwe were in early trouble as openers Dion Ebrahim (eight) and Trevor Gripper (nine) struggled with the seam and swing of pace bowlers Paul Wilson and Darren Wates.

With the first Test against Australia only six days away, Zimbabwe must be concerned Ebrahim and Gripper have failed to post a partnership above 26 in four innings on tour.

Australian vice-captain Ricky Ponting, attending an Australian training camp here ahead of the Test, said the openers would face a torrid time on the bouncy WACA pitch from Australian pacemen Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie.

"We've got probably the best bowling line-up in the world so they can expect a pretty tough time," he said.

Zimbabwe coach Geoff Marsh -- the former Australian Test batsman -- said: "Western Australia bowled well, they swung the ball and it was always going to be tough.

"The pleasing thing for us was we were in a bit of trouble and we fought our way through."

Wishart's 213-ball knock (17 fours, one six) followed a century in a practice workout against grade side Rockingham-Mandurah and an unbeaten 63 in Wednesday's win over a Cricket Australia Chairman's XI.