By Chris Pike
Ryan Carters' third Sheffield Shield century of the season has New South Wales in a solid but not dominant position after day one against Western Australia at the WACA Ground.
Carters continued his breakout Shield season for the Blues with 104 on Thursday as the visitors went to stumps at 7-291 when wicketkeeper Peter Nevill was lbw to Michael Hogan from the last ball of the day.
It could've been much better for the Blues.
Jason Behrendorff has been the best of WA's bowlers with the left-arm paceman picking up 3-43 but the rest of the Warriors attack has been below-par on a good batting wicket.
Carters was again the star for NSW and he has now scored 574 runs this Shield season at an average of almost 64.
Carters felt that honours were relatively even as the second-placed Blues desperately seek the six points to take another step towards the Shield final.
"There's no point pretending that you are not aiming for what you are aiming to achieve as long as it doesn't distract you from focusing on the particular moment in front of you," Carters said.
"It's always at the front of our minds and in every game we play we are here to win because we want to make the Shield final, and win it.
It was slow going for NSW early on and Nic Maddinson never looked comfortable at the crease.
He was dropped on nought and three, but didn't capitalise and fell for 11.
NSW were then 2-72 shortly before lunch with Scott Henry gone for 18, but both Carters and Ben Rohrer made batting look easily after the break.
Rohrer was dominant racing to 77 from 108 balls before he was caught behind by Sam Whiteman off Behrendorff.
That ended Rohrer and Carters' 110-run partnership before Kurtis Patterson joined Carters in a 52-run stand.
Carters was caught behind off Mitch Marsh and NSW then lost Patterson for 29 and Trent Copeland for 11 before Nevill fell for 30.
Sean Abbott is at the crease, yet to score.