Western Australia 1 for 85 trail New South Wales 8 for 444 dec (Smith 103, Henriques 91, Solway 65, Hughes 53, Cummins 52) by 359 runs
Steven Smith made his displeasure clear at the umpiring decision that ended his century at the SCG but had flicked the switch from T20 back to red-ball mode pretty seamlessly despite conditions and tactics that stymied his scoring rate.
Smith's 103 was his 42nd first-class century, taking him past 1000 first-class runs for the year in just eight matches, and from 290 balls comfortably his slowest. It was halted when he was given caught behind attempting to ramp a short ball from Marcus Stoinis over the keeper.
His frustration at the decision was obvious as he walked off and it remains to be seen whether there is any interest from the match referee. "I got given out, didn't I. You are allowed to be disappointed at times," he said. "I didn't feel as though I hit it, but that happens and you've just got to move on."
The century helped New South Wales to declare on 8 for 444 at tea on the second day before Australia's possible Test attack at the Gabba found life equally tough going as Western Australia reached 1 for 85 at the close although Shaun Marsh was dropped at slip off Nathan Lyon in the final over.
Smith - who resumed the second day on 59 off 216 balls - admitted he scored slower than he would have liked on an SCG surface and outfield that made strokeplay difficult, while Western Australia deployed run-saving fields.
"I guess after playing the T20s it was about getting back into red-ball cricket, finding the right way to go about it. It was a bit slower than I would have liked, but it wasn't easy, the wicket was pretty slow, you could see there were no slips for the majority of the innings - a bit of a ring field - and the square is quite soft as well…but it was good to spend some time in the middle."
For the second time in the season Smith shared a large stand with Moises Henriques as the pair added 141 for the third wicket. It followed their 197-run stand against Tasmania at Drummoyne Oval and as on that occasion it was Henriques who was the more fluent as he struck 91 off 116 balls before chipping a catch to midwicket to give away a century.
New South Wales increased the tempo in the middle session with Pat Cummins compiling a neat half-century in his first match back in whites since the Ashes. A depleted Western Australia attack remained honest with the highlight being the excellent delivery from left-armer Liam Guthrie which nipped away from round the wicket to take Peter Nevill's off stump.
Cummins and Josh Hazlewood shared the new ball, pushing Mitchell Starc to first change, but it was Starc who provided the breakthrough when he bowled Josh Philippe round his legs. It appeared as though the New South Wales quicks managed to get the ball reversing quite early and with their extra pace that could be a key advantage as they look to make it four wins from four.
