Warner and Marsh strike maiden centuries

New South Wales 5 for 248 (Warner 114, Hughes 54, Coulter-Nile 3-75) trail Western Australia 382 (North 158, M Marsh 111, Cummins 3-111) by 134 runs
Scorecard

David Warner's maiden first-class century has kept alive New South Wales' slim hopes of hosting the Sheffield Shield final. The Blues need full points from their match against Western Australia to have any chance of hosting the decider and at stumps on the second day, they were 5 for 248 in reply to the Warriors' 382.

Warner fell late in the day for 114, the first breakthrough for the debutant fast bowler Matt Dixon. At the close, Steve O'Keefe was yet to score and Ben Rohrer had 1, and the Blues needed another 135 runs to take first-innings points.

Phillip Hughes made 54 and was the first to depart, one of three wickets for Nathan Coulter-Nile, who also picked up Phil Jaques (13) and Simon Katich for 1. Nic Maddinson chipped in with 44 before he was run-out by Mitchell Marsh, who earlier in the day had become Western Australia's fourth-youngest centurion.

Marsh, 19, beat his brother Shaun by 54 in reaching his maiden first-class ton and he finished with 111, a strong contribution in his 248-run stand with Marcus North. The Western Australia captain North made 158, while the teenager Pat Cummins had the best figures for the Blues, with 3 for 111.