Adam Voges carried Western Australia to within striking distance of first innings points by stumps on day two of their Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales at the WACA.

After bowling out NSW for 344 during the morning session on Friday, WA fell to 1-0, 3-127 and then 5-209 in reply but by stumps had recovered to be 5-263 with Voges unbeaten on 73 and wicket-keeper batsman Sam Whiteman alongside him on 27 not out.

The pair have combined for an unbeaten 54-run partnership to have the home side within 82 of first innings points in the match that could decide top spot on the Shield ladder.

WA’s innings began disastrously when Doug Bollinger delivered a terrific opening ball to Cameron Bancroft, trapping him plumb in front and leave the Warriors 1-0, but Marcus North (69) and Marcus Harris (49) steadied things with a 107-run second-wicket stand.

Harris looked comfortable at the crease before he was caught behind off Sean Abbott with the score, before North took over, forcing Bollinger into some poor bowling and duly cashing in.

However a lower leg complaint hampered the Shield’s leading runscorer’s movement, and he found himself run out by Abbott.

Captain Voges and Mitch Marsh then added 68 before Marsh’s impatience in the long form of the game again let him down and he was caught hooking at deep square leg off Abbott, who was the pick of the Blues’ bowlers with 3-29.

Earlier, Jason Behrendorff collected his first career five-wicket haul finishing with 5-65 as NSW added 3-53 in the morning session, with Ryan Carters (104) and Ben Rohrer (77) the major contributors from the match’s opening day.

Handy runs to Abbott (34), Manjot Singh (12) and Bollinger (6 not out) pushed the Blues’ total past well past 300.