Ronchi century adds to New South Wales' pain

Western Australia 8 for 499 (Ronchi 148, Robinson 141, Doropoulos 65, Smith 3-164) v New South Wales
Scorecard

	Luke Ronchi was relieved to reach his century after being dropped on 99 © Getty Images Enlarge
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Luke Ronchi survived a dropped catch on 99 to post his fourth first-class century as Western Australia compounded New South Wales' woes on the second day in Sydney. At stumps on a rain-affected day the Warriors had reached 8 for 499, with Steve Magoffin on 2 and Josh Mangan on 5.

The weather meant play couldn't get underway until 3.15pm, which gave Ronchi a long wait on his overnight score of 79. He was desperate to reach triple figures having been dropped from the state side last summer during a batting slump and it was only thanks to Phil Jaques that he got there.

When Ronchi was one short of his hundred, he was put down by Jaques at short cover off the bowling of Burt Cockley, and he capitalised on the chance to finish with 148 from 154 balls. It was his first century in first-class cricket in two years, since he blasted an unbelievable 51-ball ton at the WACA in 2007-08.

Ronchi had support in a 180-run sixth-wicket stand with Theo Doropoulos, who made 65 before he was caught off Cockley's bowling. Ronchi eventually fell to Stuart Clark but there was little else for the Blues to cheer on the second day, especially with the young left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc off the field with a side strain.