A patient knock from Steve Smith has put NSW in a strong position for first innings points at tea on day two of their Sheffield Shield match with Western Australia at Blacktown International Sportspark.
Displaying the qualities which have him in contention for a spot on Australia’s four-Test tour of India next month, Smith equalled the top score of the match just before tea as he moved to 45 not out at the break.
The Blues remain 79 runs shy of WA’s first innings total of 242, but Smith’s innings, which included six boundaries, has given them the upper hand on a deck that is proving troublesome for batsmen.
Including Smith, nine batsman have passed 20, but none have gone on to post a half century with openers Scott Henry chalking up 39 and David Dawson 26.
Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin looked in sharp touch but his innings was cut short when he was caught at short mid-off when trying to hooker a quicker delivery from Nathan Coulter-Nile (2-39).
Another Test hopeful, Moises Henriques, is nine not out at the break having already impressed on Thursday with the ball, when he combined with captain Stephen O’Keefe (4-55) to restrict WA.
O’Keefe ended the Warriors’ first innings after just 15 minutes of play on Friday, trapping Jason Behrendorff for a duck.
On Thursday, John Rogers (45) and Sam Whiteman (41) helped lift the bottom-placed Warriors past 200 after O’Keefe had a big hand in restricting their top order to another disappointing start.