Brad Haddin has boosted his chances of a Test recall with a blistering unbeaten century on day one of the Bupa Sheffield Shield clash against Victoria at the SCG.
After arriving at the crease with the Blues precariously placed at 4-117, the former Test gloveman smashed a classy 108 not out to help the hosts to a competitive first-innings total of 293 on a lifeless deck.
The visitors survived a testing four-over period at the end of the day to be 0-12 at stumps, with Chris Rogers (four) and Ryan Carters (eight) to resume the fight on Wednesday morning.
Haddin's second first-class ton of the season took 158 balls and featured 12 boundaries and two sixes.
Having batted conservatively before tea, the 35-year-old took the attack to the Bushrangers bowlers in the final session, belting his final 82 runs off as many deliveries.
Haddin, who was dropped by Jayde Herrick on 43 and 107, looked set to be stranded in the 90s after the Blues lost three quick wickets, but No.11 Doug Bollinger (one) survived long enough for his partner to get the eight runs required for his ton.
Scott Henry made the only other useful contribution for the home side with a chanceless 78 at the top of the order.
Herrick (3-72) and debutant Louis Cameron (3-61) were the chief destroyers for the visitors, while spinner Glenn Maxwell (2-12) was on a hat-trick late in the innings after dismissing Stephen O'Keefe and Mitchell Starc off consecutive deliveries.
The Blues suffered an early setback when David Dawson (four) became Cameron's maiden first-class victim in just the fourth over of the day.
Dawson, making his NSW debut after playing 23 games for Tasmania, edged to Cameron White who took the first of his three catches for the day at first slip.
Nic Maddinson (six) was the other man to fall in the morning session when he cut a ball that was too close to his body straight to White to give Cameron his second scalp.
Steve Smith joined Henry to guide the hosts safely to lunch, the latter bringing up his maiden half-century with a glorious pull shot to the boundary in the final over of the first session.
Smith lasted four balls after the resumption before smashing a full-blooded cut shot straight to Maxwell at point off Herrick to depart for 30.
The steady flow of wickets continued when Peter Nevill edged Herrick to David Hussey at second slip for 12 before Henry fended at a rising delivery from John Hastings (2-72) and was caught by White.
For the third straight session NSW lost an early wicket when Moises Henriques sliced Hastings to Alex Keath in the gully for 20 before Haddin saved the day.
First Posted 13 November, 2012 6:04PM AEST
