Western Australia 279 and 1 for 13 trail New South Wales 8 for 477 dec (Patterson 134, Nevill 101*, O'Keefe 57, O'Connor 5-131) by 185 runs

Australia Test incumbent Kurtis Patterson continued his sparkling form with yet another century while New South Wales captain Peter Nevill made his first hundred in two years to put the Blues in complete control of the clash with Western Australia at Bankstown Oval in Sydney.

Patterson made 134 from 229 balls with 15 fours and two sixes as the Blues piled up 8 for 477 declared. He has now made six centuries in his last 11 innings at all levels dating back to his Shield century against Western Australia in Perth in early December.

The span includes two centuries for New South Wales, two for the Cricket Australia XI, a Test century for Australia and a grade century for his club side St George in Sydney.

Nevill piled on the pain in the afternoon reaching his 10th first-class century and his first in two years before swiftly declaring with a lead of 198. Steve O'Keefe also added 57 in a partnership of 125 with his captain.

WA debutant legspinner Liam O'Connor took five wickets in a tireless effort. He bowled Jack Edwards through the gate with another superb wrong 'un, and took the last three wickets to fall to finish with 5 for 131 from 38 overs, as the Warriors could only manage eight wickets in 150 overs of toil.

WA's task to save the game on the final day was made even tougher when they lost Sam Whiteman just before close. He edged a ball to the gully off Sean Abbott driving away from his body with Patterson clinging onto the sharp chance. Cameron Bancroft and Josh Inglis survived to stumps but WA still need 185 runs to make New South Wales bat again, or to bat most of day four to avoid defeat.