Justin Chadwick at the WACA
A century from Warriors opener Chris Rogers has lifted Western Australia to 7-362 at stumps on day one of its Pura Cup clash against Victoria at the WACA Ground.
After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, WA lost Justin Langer for 14 before Rogers (166) and Shaun Marsh (53) combined for a 146-run second-wicket stand to set the foundations for the innings.
However, the loss of 4-37 in the final session saw the Warriors crash from 2-271 to 6-308 before Adam Voges (27 not out) and Steve Magoffin (30) steadied the ship.
Rogers, who made his Test debut for Australia last month, smashed 26 fours and one six in his 289-minute, 221-ball stay at the crease.
Marsh was less than convincing in his knock, riding his luck with a series of edges that made their way to the boundary.
Spinner Bryce McGain, who is vying for the vacant spinner's spot in Australia's Test side, struggled early before claiming the scalps of Rogers and Luke Pomersbach later in the day to finish with figures of 2-60 from 15 overs.
Victoria captain Cameron White was eager to exploit any juice in the wicket after winning the toss and electing to bowl, but with key pacemen Dirk Nannes, Gerard Denton and Peter Siddle missing, the Bushrangers lacked the firepower needed to displace WA's top order.
Clinton McKay was handed the new ball and beat the outside edge of Langer numerous times before left-armer Allan Wise trapped the former Test opener in front to leave WA at 1-27 in the ninth over.
But from there Rogers stole the show, smashing Andrew McDonald for three boundaries in one over as WA reached 1-91 at lunch.
The runs continued to flow after the break as Marsh, who was edgy early on, found some form at the crease.
Marsh notched his half-century in the 41st over but it was Rogers who continued to dominate proceedings, the left-hander notching his 24th first-class century with a powerful cover drive for four.
Shane Harwood found Marsh's outside edge to bring an end to the second-wicket stand, but WA was still well-placed at 2-173.
Rogers was dropped on 147 and 152 but his luck ran out soon after, chipping a McGain full-toss straight to White at short mid-wicket to end the 98-run third-wicket stand.
His demise sparked a middle-order collapse as North (42), Pomersbach (13) and Luke Ronchi (seven) fell in quick succession.
Magoffin led the recovery with a quick-fire 30 (including seven boundaries) but the tail-ender's resilient knock came to an end with less than 10 minutes remaining in the day.
WA innings
Langer lbw Harwood 14
Rogers c White b McGain 166
Marsh c Wade b Harwood 53
North lbw McDonald 42
Pomersbach lbw McGain 13
Voges not out 27
Ronchi c Hodge b Harwood 7
Magoffin c Mash b McKay 30
Dorey not out 3
Extras: 7 (w 1, lb 4, b 2)
Total: 362 (7 wickets; 95 overs)
FoW: 1-27, 2-173, 3-271, 4-291, 5-291, 6-308, 7-354
Bowling:
McKay 22 - 3 - 83 – 1 (1wd)
Harwood 18 - 4 - 52 - 2
Wise 15 - 3 - 44 – 1
McDonald 21 - 3 - 88 – 1
McGain 15 - 2 - 60 - 2
White 4 - 0 - 29 - 0