Western Australia have steadied following the worst possible start to their first innings after bowling NSW out for 344 early on day two of the Sheffield Shield match at the WACA Ground.

WA’s innings began disastrously on when Doug Bollinger’s first ball to Cameron Bancroft trapped him plumb in front and left the Warriors 1-0, but Marcus North and Marcus Harris survived until lunch.

North, the leading Shield run-scorer this season, has looked solid moving to 15 while Harris has lived dangerously, but is still there on 28 with WA’s score 1-44 to be 300 behind NSW.

Earlier, Jason Behrendorff’s first career five-wicket haul helped WA dismiss NSW for a solid 344.

Behrendorff came to national prominence this summer for his starring role for the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League.

He backed that up claiming 5-65 in his first Shield match since for the first ‘five-for’ in his 12-game career.

NSW’s innings was set up on the opening day after captain Peter Nevill won the toss, chose to bat and opener Ryan Carters make 104 for his third century of the Shield season.

Ben Rohrer also added a handy 77 before some late wickets left NSW coming into the second day at 7-291.

However, handy runs to Abbott (34), Manjot Singh (12) and Bollinger (6 not out) helped NSW get well beyond 300.

As well as Behrendorff’s heroics with the ball, Mitchell Marsh finished with figures of 2-46 and Michael Hogan claimed 2-54.