Blues bowlers stun WA in Shield before top-order fall

New South Wales' bowlers have rolled through Western Australia on the opening day of their Sheffield Shield match before struggling Blues' batters fell cheaply again on a lively SCG pitch.

As the Blues set out to end their 15-match winless streak, paceman Liam Hatcher bagged 4 for 56 to have two-time defending champions Western Australia all out for 141 on Monday.

But NSW went to stumps at 78 for 4, in a position to take a first-innings lead but not in the kind of command they would have liked.

They had Hatcher to thank for their position after he struck two crucial blows in a WA collapse of 5 for 7 either side of lunch. He trapped the in-form Cameron Bancroft lbw early after lunch for 34, the opener's lowest score of the Shield season so far.

Hatcher then had Ashton Turner lbw later in the same over, ripping the heart out of Western Australia.

The right-armer was also involved in the flashpoint of the day when he thought he had Joel Paris caught at slip, only for the umpires to correctly rule a bump ball.

Next delivery, Hatcher dug a ball in short and struck Paris on the helmet, prompting a long delay for a concussion check.

Nathan Lyon also bowled with great control in his second Shield match back since tearing his calf muscle in the Ashes at Lord's. The offspinner finished with figures of 2 for 18 from 18 overs, offering very little and next to no loose balls to WA's batters.

He had Teague Wyllie lbw for 5 in the first hour when the youngster played back, before WA debutant Hamish McKenzie was also lbw to the spinner for three. Lyon was unlucky not to have more wickets, drawing Paris' edge without success. He also beat Charlie Stobo in flight before wicketkeeper Matthew Gilkes failed to effect the stumping late in WA's innings.

Lyon will only play one more match after this one to round out his preparations for the international summer and the opening Test against Pakistan in Perth on December 14, as he is set to be rested from NSW's next clash against Tasmania.

Paris (24 not out) and Stobo (15) added 33 for the eighth wicket for WA, but when the visitors surrendered just after tea, NSW looked well on top.

But as has been the case in their recent losses to Victoria and South Australia, the Blues' top order again crumbled. Paris bagged 2 for 18 as he removed both Ryan Hackney and Blake Macdonald, moving the ball around nicely. Test hopeful Lance Morris also picked up a wicket on return after being rested from WA's last match against South Australia.