Nic Maddinson was the sole shining light for NSW as the Blues reached a shaky 5-129 at lunch on day two of their Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania at Bellerive Oval.

After resuming their first innings at 2-23 in reply to the hosts’ 272, the visitors lost three early wickets in Sunday’s first session.

But a half century from Maddinson (69 no out) steadied the ship.

The 23-year-old left-hander brought up his 50 from 69 deliveries including seven boundaries and a six.

He was supported by Peter Nevill (20 not out) in an unbroken 63-run partnership.

In just the second over of the day Kurtis Patterson (12) chipped a Ben Hilfenhaus (2-34) delivery to be caught at second slip.

Seven overs later night watchman Nathan Lyon (12) was gone after an inside edge played onto his stumps off the bowling of Jackson Bird (2-33).

Not long after Blues skipper Moises Henriques (1) was out, trapped lbw by Andrew Fekete (1-37) with his first delivery of the match.