Henriques and Smith dominate with centuries

It is not often that Steven Smith takes a back seat when he scores a century but that was the case on the second day at Drummoyne Oval as Moises Henriques provided the most eye-catching strokeplay with his own hundred to put New South Wales in firm command against Tasmania.

The pair added an unbroken third-wicket stand of 186 as New South Wales moved into the lead after dismissing Tasmania for 268 inside the first 20 minutes of play with Mitchell Starc taking 5 for 40.

After two sessions where the run rate barely escaped two an over there was major acceleration after tea with 174 runs coming in 39 overs with Henriques and Smith cashing in against a tired attack on a slow, batting-friendly surface which Tasmania had failed to make the most of.

Henriques, batting at No. 4 after the injury to Kurtis Patterson, reached both his milestones with sixes, a clip off the legs to reach fifty then a thumping blow down the ground to bring up a century from 144 balls.

Smith, who had a quiet game last week against Queensland with scores of 0 and 21, got to his hundred a short while later off 234 balls. There were times he found scoring hard work against tightly-packed ring fields - between lunch and tea he added 20 off 87 deliveries - but was barely in trouble against an attack that couldn't find any help.

Sam Rainbird was the only Tasmania bowler to have success. He struck an early blow when David Warner edged a slash to the keeper and then returned shortly before tea to claim a well-set Daniel Hughes who could not believe when he drove a catch to point. As Smith and Henriques show, it was not a day to gift your wicket.

Tasmania could not extend their first innings very far when play resumed with them 6 for 258. Steve O'Keefe struck in the first over to trap Alex Pyecroft lbw and Starc did the rest, including an excellent delivery that speared through Test captain Tim Paine. From 3 for 221, Tasmania's last seven wickets fell for 47.