A career-best innings from Hilton Cartwright has lifted Western Australia to a dominant position in their must-win final-round match against NSW in Perth on Saturday.
Cartwright hit the ball to all corners of the WACA in a sparkling run-a-ball knock of 170 not out as Western Australia declared late on day three 402 runs in front.
Having established a 127-run on the first innings, the home side scored at 4.4 over before the declaration came at 4-275.
NSW were unable to survive two overs late in the day with Nic Maddinson dismissed for four as the Blues ended a disastrous day at 1-6.
A win for Western Australia would be enough to push NSW out of next week's final, provided South Australia lose to Tasmania in Hobart.
Cartwright, who played a single Test against Pakistan earlier in the summer, struck five sixes, including one that landed on top of the players' pavilion.
Ashton Turner offered invaluable support with a more sedate knock of 44.
Paceman Trent Copeland (3-72) was the pick of a toothless-looking NSW attack that struggled without the services of Test call-up Pat Cummins.
Earlier, the NSW bottom-order were unable to lift the side from danger.
Resuming at 5-242, NSW were bowled out for 309, with only some lusty blows from No.11 Doug Bollinger (32 not out) seeing the visitors passed the follow-on mark.
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