Hauritz takes five in New South Wales win

New South Wales 291 and 278 beat Western Australia 205 and 165 (Robinson 39, Hauritz 5-39, Cameron 3-33) by 199 runs
Scorecard

Nathan Hauritz has sent a loud and clear message to the Australian selectors by bowling New South Wales to victory on the final day against Western Australia at the WACA. Hauritz collected 5 for 39 from 27 overs to help the Blues to their 199-run triumph, less than a fortnight after being axed from the Test side to make room for Xavier Doherty.

Doherty has been retained for this Friday's second Test in Adelaide but Hauritz has improved his chances of a recall at some point during the series, with excellent final-day work that earned him the Man of the Match prize. Western Australia were chasing 365 but hit trouble when Hauritz ran through the specialist batsmen, removing four of the top five.

He began with Michael Swart caught at bat-pad for 39, before adding the opener Wes Robinson, who was caught at slip for a painstaking innings of 39 from 201 deliveries. Hauritz also collected the in-form Shaun Marsh, who was caught behind for 27, and Adam Voges also fell caught behind to Hauritz for 13, to leave the Warriors struggling at 5 for 136.

The fast bowler Mark Cameron, who joined the side mid-match when Doug Bollinger was rushed off to Adelaide to bolster the Test squad, picked up 3 for 33 as the local lower order failed to offer much resistance. It was a good couple of days all round for the New South Wales Test hopefuls, after Usman Khawaja and Steven Smith both made half-centuries on the third day.

The win has confirmed New South Wales as the competition leaders, with three victories from their five matches. Western Australia have not quite shown the improvement they would have hoped for under their new coach Mickey Arthur and are on the bottom of the table with one win from four games.