Ashes hopeful Marcus Harris has served notice he won’t give up his Test spot without a fight, making a crucial century in hot, blustery conditions at Sydney’s Drummoyne Oval before supporting skipper Peter Handscomb to a ton of his own.

In an encouraging sight for Australian selectors, both Harris and Handscomb soared to triple figures on day three of the Sheffield Shield clash before Victoria declared their second innings at 3-290, a lead of 338 runs over NSW.

The pair’s partnership of 261 for the second wicket was a first-class record at the inner west venue.

In reply, NSW were 1-33 at stumps, still 306 runs short of their target, having lost Dan Hughes for 18 with just 10 minutes’ play remaining.

NSW paceman Trent Copeland said the strong winds had made the bowlers’ task more difficult but was quick to praise Harris and Handscomb.

“I’ve played cricket for a long time and I don’t think I’ve played in those windy conditions since Wellington - which is called Windy Wellington for a reason. So it was tough work bowling into it,” he said.

“It was really difficult today. It’s not often you see the bails off the whole day, basically, and the ball - you probably wouldn’t have given that ball to your dog to play with by the end of it.”

Harris was dropped in the 60s by Matthew Gilkes off the bowling of Sean Abbott - a reprieve NSW could ill afford, with Tanveer Sangha and Abbott toiling without reward for most of the day.