Phillip Hughes edged closer to a Test recall and Phil Jaques made a strong return from injury as NSW cruised to victory over Western Australia in their one-day cup clash at North Sydney Oval.

The seven-wicket win with a bonus point lifted the Blues to second on the table with five points after just one match, trailing Queensland’s 13 from four games.

NSW paceman Burt Cockley claimed a career-best 4-39 to help bowl Western Australia out for 179 and the Blues won comfortably at 3-184 from 36.4 overs on a pitch that was a little slow.

Third-gamer Wes Robinson hit his highest score of 78 from 91 balls for the Warriors in a lone hand.

NSW oozed class in their top-order batting.

Opener Hughes, seeking a call-up for the first Test against the West Indies in Brisbane on November 26, crashed 72 not out from 109 balls with seven fours and one six, blossoming after a slow start of 29 from 72 deliveries.

Former Test opener Jaques hit a 51-ball 50 at No.3 after recovering from back problems which restricted him to just three Sheffield Shield games last summer.

Dropped on two at gully, Jaques made the most of his chance and was moving freely after three back operations.

Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin made a neat return from finger surgery for the Blues, gloving three catches and scoring 27 at No.4.

Jaques is likely to open alongside Hughes in Tuesday’s Shield game against the Warriors at the SCG but says he likes batting at No.3 in the one-day competition.

“I had a few butterflies. I think the fielding probably got them out of the way,” said Jaques, 30.

“I enjoyed batting at three. I started my career at three in club cricket and played a bit at three in England.

“It’s a new role, a new challenge and it’s good to be back in the team.

“I’m happy in the role and Phil and Davie (Warner) have done a good job up there so there’s no reason to change.”

Even with Warner dropped for the Shield game, NSW still have three openers to choose from, with Test batsman Simon Katich plus Jaques and Hughes.

“We’ll keep it to ourselves,” Jaques grinned, before adding: “I’ll probably be back in the top (with Hughes) but we’ll see what happens.”

Katich had sent the Warriors in to bat and the visitors lasted only 44.1 overs.

Opener Robinson looked in command before he was out caught behind to Cockley in the 29th over at 4-136.

Leg-spinner Steven Smith, 20, and 19-year-old debutant quick Mitchell Starc took two wickets each in further promising signs for the Blues and Smith hit an unbeaten 31.

NSW were without national squad members Brett Lee, Doug Bollinger, Moises Henriques, Nathan Hauritz and Shane Watson and injured pair Michael Clarke and Nathan Bracken.

The Blues, who have finished last in each of the past three seasons in the one-day competition, are growing in confidence after claiming the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 final against Trinidad and Tobago in India.

The loss is the second in three one-day games for Western Australia.

Warriors coach Tom Moody said he was pleased for Robinson but disappointed at the lack of support for the opener.

“We felt 250 was going to be a reasonable total and we were in a position to do that. It went pear-shaped really between 29 and 33 when we lost four wickets.”

© AAP 2012

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