Blues chip away on another rainy day

New South Wales 2 for 151 (Katich 48*) trail Western Australia 8 for 499 by 348 runs
Scorecard

	Phil Jaques is trying to get his career back on track after back surgery and he scored 40 © Getty Images Enlarge
Related Links Report : Warriors take points despite Katich ton Report : 2nd day bulletin Matches: New South Wales v Western Australia at Sydney Series/Tournaments: Sheffield Shield | Australian Domestic Season Teams: Australia | New South Wales | Western Australia

Another rainy day in Sydney has reduced the match to a battle for first-innings points after only 47 overs were bowled on the third day. New South Wales were on 2 for 151 with Simon Katich on 48 and Usman Khawaja on 25, and they needed a further 349 to overtake Western Australia's 8 for 499.

The second day had also been severely curtailed by the wet weather and the Warriors declared on their overnight total when the start of play was delayed until 2.15pm. There was plenty of interest in how the Blues' opening pair of Phil Jaques and Phillip Hughes would fare and while both men made starts, neither made full use of the opportunity.

Both have opened the batting for Australia in Tests in the past 18 months but find themselves on the outer leading into the home summer. Hughes posted 32 from 65 balls, including four fours, before he was caught driving Ashley Noffke.

Jaques, who is trying to give his prospects a kickstart after surgery on his back, scored 40 before he was caught off the bowling of the legspinner Josh Mangan. Katich and Khawaja then began their stand, which had reached 54 at stumps, and they will need a productive final day free of rain to overhaul the Warriors' first-innings total.