Victoria are well placed after day one of their match against Western Australia in Alice Springs, as they chase a berth in a third successive Sheffield Shield final.
The Shield-leading Bushrangers ended the day at 5-106, just 40 runs shy of overhauling the Warriors' modest first-innings tally of 146.
Western Australia earned a stunning innings win over Victoria just a fortnight ago, but the contest in the Red Centre was markedly different from the outset.
Impressive early bowling from James Pattinson (1-35) and Chris Tremain (2-49) left WA reeling at 4-17.
Middle-order batsman Ashton Turner dug in for 59, as did NT-born rookie spinner D'Arcy Short, who played a resilient innings of 42 to help push out the Warriors' total beyond 100.
Recalled legspinner Fawad Ahmed took a wicket with his first ball of the Shield season, en route to 3-14 from 7.3 overs.
Western Australia fought back with the ball, notably though Jason Behrendorff, who removed Travis Dean without scoring in the first over.
Behrendorff, in his first match since taking a record 14 wickets in last month's win over Victoria, then had danger man Aaron Finch dismissed for 29 to finish day one with figures of 2-29.
Marcus Stoinis (46) top-scored for the Vics, only for his watchful innings to end late in the day, caught behind off Short's bowling.
Western Australia are one of four teams chasing Victoria in the race for a spot in the season decider.
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