Moises Henriques's morning became Sean Abbott's afternoon as Western Australia made a good fist of their run chase against NSW in the Sheffield Shield.
By stumps on day two, Sam Whiteman (81 not out) and Cameron Green (31 no) had helped WA to 2-152 chasing NSW's 6-(dec) 443 at Adelaide's Gladys Elphick Park.
For much of the day it had been either the Henriques or Abbott show as the pair positioned NSW nicely in the match.
Day one star Henriques (167) hit three boundaries in the opening hour and added 33 to his overnight score before being caught by Cameron Green at mid-on from the bowling of Matthew Kelly (1-79).
It was part of a 3-10 mini-collapse by the Blues, who had also lost 3-17 on day one.
Daniel Solway (86), who formed a 244-run partnership with Henriques, looked to be homing in on his second first-class century before he played on to Ashton Agar (2-106).
And when Agar quickly picked up Jason Sangha (7) the Blues innings looked at risk of petering out.
Enter Abbott (60 no) and Nevill (56 no).
The pair put on 118 runs in quick time, the latter helping himself to four sixes in a hugely entertaining knock.
Not content with his heroics with the willow, paceman Abbott (2-42) then set about putting a dent in WA's reply.
He had arguably WA's best two batsmen, former Test players Cameron Bancroft (23) and Shaun Marsh (6), back in the pavilion inside 18 overs to leave the chase in the balance at 2-71.
"I got sick of getting out cheaply and feeling like I wasn't doing a job," said Abbott of his batting while admitting getting Marsh out was more important.
"I was a bit in the bush there with the bat for a while.
"Conditions today suited batting.
"I don't really like sitting on the sidelines and watching cricket - I'd prefer to be out there batting or bowling and playing, so that probably spurred that on a bit."
Test spinner Nathan Lyon, bowling at first-class level for the first time in seven months, had figures of 0-35 off 12 overs.
Australian Associated Press
