Tasmania paceman Jackson Bird has given the Tigers the early advantage over NSW in their Sheffield Shield clash, making a successful return to his old stomping ground.
Despite a fluent 37 from captain Michael Clarke, NSW were 4-86 at lunch on day one at Bankstown Oval on Wednesday, with Steve Smith (41) and Brad Haddin (6) the not out batsmen.
Former Bankstown junior and Australia A representative Bird (2-20) quickly made inroads after Clarke won the toss.
Bird had Peter Nevill (1) lbw with his first ball and then caught Scott Henry (0) in the slips off Luke Butterworth (1-12) in the third over as NSW slumped to 2-1.
He then had Nic Maddinson (0) caught in the slips by Ricky Ponting, ending a fruitless 19-ball innings for the highly touted left-hander.
Bird, last season’s Sheffield Shield rookie of the year, didn’t concede a run until his 21st delivery.
Clarke and Smith were rebuilding the innings with a partnership of 57, before the Blues skipper was bowled by Adam Maher (1-19).
Coming off a half century in the Blues’ first Shield game in Perth, Clarke again looked in touch, striking six boundaries.
Smith also found the boundary fence six times.